Tuesday, February 11, 2025

"Huda F" graphic novels by Huda Fahmy

Huda F Are You?
“Huda and her family just moved to Dearborn, Michigan, a small town with a big Muslim population. In her old town, Huda knew exactly who she was: She was the hijabi girl. But in Dearborn, everyone is the hijabi girl. Huda is lost in a sea of hijabis, and she can't rely on her hijab to define her anymore. She has to define herself. So she tries on a bunch of cliques, but she isn't a hijabi fashionista or a hijabi athlete or a hijabi gamer. She's not the one who knows everything about her religion or the one all the guys like. She's miscellaneous, which makes her feel like no one at all. Until she realizes that it'll take finding out who she isn't to figure out who she is.” -Book jacket

Huda F Cares?
“In this laugh-out-loud funny sequel to Huda F Are You?, the Fahmys are off to Disney World, but self-conscious Huda worries her family will stand out too much. Huda and her sisters can't believe it when her parents announce that they're actually taking a vacation this summer... to DISNEY WORLD! But it's not quite as perfect as it seems. First Huda has to survive a 24-hour road trip from Michigan to Florida, with her sisters annoying her all the way. And then she can't help but notice the people staring at her and her family when they pray in public--there's not as many Muslim families around like in her hometown of Dearborn. It's a vacation of forced (but unexpectedly successful?) sisterly bonding, a complicated new friendship, a bit more independence, and some mixed feelings about her family's public prayers. Huda is proud of her religion and who she is, but she still sure wishes she didn't care so much what other people thought.” -WorldCat

Monday, February 10, 2025

New Graphic Novels

 

Ash’s Cabin by Jen Wang
"Ash has always felt alone. Adults ignore the climate crisis. Other kids Ash's age are more interested in pop stars and popularity contests than in fighting for change. Even Ash's family seems to be sleepwalking through life. The only person who ever seemed to get Ash was their Grandpa Edwin. Before he died, he used to talk about building a secret cabin, deep in the California wilderness. Did he ever build it? What if it's still there, waiting for him to come back...or for Ash to find it? To Ash, that maybe-mythical cabin is starting to feel like the perfect place for a fresh start and an escape from the miserable feeling of alienation that haunts their daily life. But making the wilds your home isn't easy. And as much as Ash wants to be alone...can they really be happy alone? Can they survive alone?." - Publisher

Brownstone by Samuel Teer and Mar Julia
"Almudena has always wondered about the dad she never met. Now, with her white mother headed on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, she's left alone with her Guatemalan father for an entire summer. Xavier seems happy to see her, but he expects her to live in (and help fix up) his old, broken-down brownstone. And all along, she must navigate the language barrier of his rapid-fire Spanish -- which she doesn't speak. As Almudena tries to adjust to this new reality, she gets to know the residents of Xavier's Latin American neighborhood. Each member of the community has their own joys and heartbreaks as well as their own strong opinions on how this young Latina should talk, dress, and behave. Some can't understand why she doesn't know where she comes from. Others think she's "not brown enough" to fit in. But time is running out for Almudena and Xavier to get to know each other, and the key to their connection may ultimately lie in bringing all these different elements together. Fixing a broken building is one thing, but turning these stubborn individuals into a found family might take more than this one summer." - Publisher

Spy x Family, Volume 13 by Tatsuya Endo
“Twilight has overcome many challenges in putting together the Forger family, but now all his hard work might come undone when Yor's younger brother Yuri pops in for a surprise visit! Can Twilight outsmart Yuri, who actually works for the Ostanian secret service?” -WorldCat

Tower of God Volume Four by Siu
"Twenty-Fifth Bam must journey skyward in a mysterious tower if he has any chance of reuniting with his best friend Rachel, even if that means facing his own death. Using his strength, skill, and wits, Bam climbs higher and higher up the Tower despite the dangers. Bam makes both allies and enemies on his quest to find his friend; however her intention to reconnect with him becomes unclear as new revelations about their friendship reveal a much deeper, darker secret. " -WorldCat

Witch Hat Atelier 13 by Kamome Shirahama
"The true mastermind responsible for the havoc in Ezrest is subdued at last, but not without exacting a heavy price on Coco. She is still eager to rejoin the search for Custas, and fortunately Beldaruit knows just the spell to allow her to do so without worrying Qifrey. Meanwhile, the other witches are called to where they are most needed in the aftermath. As strings of fate never meant to interact are further entangled, the starlight reveals society’s true nature." -Amazon

Friday, February 7, 2025

New Fiction



Beloved by Toni Morrison
“Staring unflinchingly into the abyss of slavery, this spellbinding novel transforms history into a story as powerful as Exodus and as intimate as a lullaby. Sethe, its protagonist, was born a slave and escaped to Ohio, but eighteen years later she is still not free. She has too many memories of Sweet Home, the beautiful farm where so many hideous things happened. And Sethe’s new home is haunted by the ghost of her baby, who died nameless and whose tombstone is engraved with a single word: Beloved.” -Amazon

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ .Klune
“In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots--fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They're a family, hidden and safe. The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled ‘HAP,’ he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio--a past spent hunting humans. When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio's former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic's assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming. Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached?” -WorldCat

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
“Pecola Breedlove, a young black girl, prays every day for beauty. Mocked by other children for the dark skin, curly hair, and brown eyes that set her apart, she yearns for normalcy, for the blond hair and blue eyes that she believes will allow her to finally fit in.Yet as her dream grows more fervent, her life slowly starts to disintegrate in the face of adversity and strife. A powerful examination of our obsession with beauty and conformity, Toni Morrison’s virtuosic first novel asks powerful questions about race, class, and gender with the subtlety and grace that have always characterized her writing.” -Amazon

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
"Cora is a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia. When Caesar, a recent arrival from Virginia, tells her about the Underground Railroad, they decide to take a terrifying risk and escape. Though they manage to find a station and head north, they are being hunted. Their first stop is South Carolina, in a city that initially seems like a haven. But the city's placid surface masks an insidious scheme designed for its black denizens. And even worse : Ridgeway, the relentless slave catcher, is close on their heels. Forced to flee again, Cora embarks on a harrowing flight, state by state, seeking true freedom." - Publisher

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
“Welcome to Charon's Crossing. The tea is hot, the scones are fresh, and the dead are just passing through. When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own funeral, Wallace begins to suspect he might be dead. And when Hugo, the owner of a peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace decides he's definitely dead. But even in death he's not ready to abandon the life he barely lived, so when Wallace is given one week to cross over, he sets about living a lifetime in seven days.” -WorldCat

Monday, February 3, 2025

Wednesday, January 1, 2025


 

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

New Fiction


The Church of Frendo
 
by Adam Cesare
               

Clown in a Cornfield; Book Three

"Quinn has just survived yet another bloody run-in with the murderous clown Frendo, but somehow still she knows this won't be the last. Tired of being hunted and seeing innocent people hurt, Quinn believes the only way to beat the horror is to take justice into her own hands--and stop the Frendo followers herself. Little does she know that this path will take her across cornfields and state lines, to where she will have to face the most dangerous and bloody menace yet: True believers.” -Publisher


The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh

“In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, thirteen-year-old Matthew discovers a shocking secret about his great-grandmother's past as he learns about her life during the Holodomor famine in Soviet Ukraine.” -WorldCat


Thirsty by Jas Hammonds 

“In the summer before college, eighteen-year-old Blake Brenner works to join the exclusive Serena Society with her girlfriend, and turns to alcohol to cope with the pressure of pledging, as her pursuit of success begins to strain her relationships.” -WorldCat


Without Merit by Colleen Hoover

"A young woman decides to reveal the dark secrets of her seemingly-happy family before she leaves them behind, but when her escape plan fails, she must deal with the staggering consequences of telling the truth.” -Publisher


Wrath of the Triple Goddess by Rick Riordan      

Percy Jackson and the Olympians; Book Seven

“In his continuing quest to earn college recommendation letters from the gods, Percy has to pet sit the goddess Hecate's polecat and giant mastiff during Halloween week. What could go wrong?” -Amazon

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

New Fiction


Reckless
by Lauren Roberts
Powerless; Book Two
“After she conspires with the Resistance and kills the king, Paedyn Gray faces a perilous game of cat-and-mouse with Prince Kai, whom she once loved, as she uncovers revelations about her past that make her question everything she thought was true.” -WorldCat

Ryan and Avery by David Levithan
“When a blue-haired boy (Ryan) meets a pink-haired boy (Avery) at a dance--a queer prom--both feel an inexplicable but powerful connection. Follow them through their first ten dates as they bridge their initial shyness and fall in love--through snowstorms, groundings, meeting parents (Avery's) and not (Ryan's), cast parties, heartbreak, and every day and date in between.” -Amazon

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune
Cerulean Chronicles; Book Two
“In the sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea, Arthur Parnassus, headmaster of a strange orphanage, and the other inhabitants of Marsyas Island must fight to save the dangerous and magical children of the orphanage or risk the entire island falling apart.” -WorldCat

Song of Six Realms by Judy I Lin
“Seventeen-year-old musician Xue faces a lifetime of servitude until Duke Meng offers her freedom in exchange for serving as a musician in residence, but Xue soon discovers the Duke is a celestial ruler with ulterior motives and she must unlock her past to prevent an impending war in the Six Realms.” -WorldCat

Such Charming Liars by Karen McManus
Sixteen-year-old Kat's con-artist mom takes on one last heist before going straight for good, but the job takes a deadly turn. -Summary

Monday, December 2, 2024

New Nonfiction


Choosing to Live, Choosing to Die
by Nikki Tate
Assisted suicide continues to be hotly debated in families, communities and countries around the world, and there are no easy answers. Choosing to Live, Choosing to Die examines the complex issue of medical assistance in dying from multiple perspectives. - Summary

I Am a Feminist by Monique Polak
“What is feminism? Why does it still matter? What exactly does intersectionality mean? In order to answer these (and many other) questions, I Am a Feminist first examines the history of feminism and then addresses the issues girls and women continue to face today. The book also looks at the ways in which people, especially young people, are working together to create a world where gender equality is a reality, not a dream.” -WorldCat

Killing the Wittigo by Suzanne Methot
“Written specifically for young adults, reluctant readers, and literacy learners, this volume explains the traumatic effects of colonization on Indigenous people and communities and how trauma alters an individual’s brain, body, and behavior.” -WorldCat

My Body, My Choice The Fight for Abortion Rights by Robin Stevenson
“Abortion is one of the most common of all medical procedures. But making abortion illegal or hard to access doesn't make it any less common; it just makes it dangerous. For generations, people who support abortion rights have been fighting hard to create a world in which the right to access safe and legal abortion services is guaranteed. This nonfiction book for teens examines the ongoing fight for abortion rights and reproductive justice.” -WorldCat

The Dancing Plague: Europe’s Strange Affliction by Ruud Kamp
“This captivating book meticulously examines the enigmatic outbreak of a strange affliction that swept through Europe, leaving a trail of unexplained dancing, hysteria, and social upheaval. From its enigmatic onset in Strasbourg to its spread across cities, the Dancing Plague defied medical understanding and challenged the very foundations of society.” -Amazon

Friday, November 29, 2024

New Graphic Novels


Hot Mess: Diary of a Wimpy Kid #19 by Jeff Kinney
“The pressure is building for Greg Heffley, who discovers that when you mix heaps of family, a tiny beach house, and sweltering heat, it’s a recipe for disaster. Speaking of recipes—the secret ingredients behind Gramma’s famous meatballs have been closely guarded for years. Can Greg unpack all of his family’s mysteries before their vacation is over? Or will he just stir the pot?” -Amazon

Spy x Family, Volume 12 by Tatsuya Endo
“Master spy Twilight is unparalleled when it comes to going undercover on dangerous missions for the betterment of the world. But when he receives the ultimate assignment--to get married and have a kid--he may finally be in over his head! Anya's friendship scheme seems to be taking a turn for the better in the aftermath of the failed hijacking. Meanwhile, Operation Strix and Loid's true identity are in danger--a mole has been uncovered and has gone underground. Will Loid and his allies be able to catch this double agent before all is lost?” -WorldCat

The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag
“High school senior Magdalena Herrera already has adult responsibilities and a deadly secret hidden in the dark of the basement, one that drains her of energy and leaves her bleeding--until the return of her childhood friend, Nessa, forces her to face her secrets.” -WorldCat

Witch Hat Atelier 11 by Kamome Shirahama
"Silver Eve, a time for witches and normal folk to come together, nears its final day. At the procession, witches from all walks will have an opportunity to secure an audience with the king--if they display an exceptional spell. In an attempt to help Dagda and Custas, Coco desperately tries to concoct something but becomes frozen with fear. The only one who sees her in crisis is Agott, whose aid might bring them closer to the king... but farther from everything they once knew." -Cover

Witch Hat Atelier 12 by Kamome Shirahama
“As the new trial comes to an end, one of Coco's rewards from Beldaruit the Wise is the story of Qifrey's past and how he came to desire the mysteries of magic. Feeling a connection with her own desire to save her mother, Coco departs for the source of all answers: the Tower of Tomes. But it is a perilous journey to make on her own, and the secrets held within could sway even the most virtuous of witches.” -WorldCat

Thursday, November 28, 2024

New Fiction


Heart Bones
by Colleen Hoover
“After a childhood filled with poverty and neglect, Beyah Grim finally has her hard-earned ticket out of Kentucky with a full ride to Penn State. But two months before she’s finally free to change her life for the better, an unexpected death leaves her homeless and forced to spend the remainder of her summer in Texas with a father she barely knows. Devastated and anxious for the summer to go by quickly, Beyah has no time or patience for Samson, the wealthy, brooding guy next door. Yet, the connection between them is too intense to ignore. But with their upcoming futures sending them to opposite ends of the country, the two decide to maintain only a casual summer fling. Too bad neither has any idea that a rip current is about to drag both their hearts out to sea.” -Amazon

I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by Ann Liang
"Sadie Wen is perfect on paper: school captain, valedictorian, and a 'pleasure to have in class.' It's not easy, but she has a trick to keep her model-student smile plastered on her face at all times: she channels all her frustrations into her email drafts. She'd never send them of course--she'd rather die than hurt anyone's feelings--but it's a relief to let loose on her power-hungry English teacher or a freeloading classmate taking credit for Sadie's work. ... Sadie doesn't have to hold back in her emails, because nobody will ever read them--that is, until they're accidentally sent out. “ -Publisher

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
“Rival physicists collide in a vortex of academic feuds and fake dating shenanigans in this delightfully STEMinist romcom from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis and Check & Mate.” -Publisher

Never Never by Colleen Hoover
“Charlie Wynwood and Silas Nash have been best friends since they could walk. They've been in love since the age of fourteen. But as of this morning...they are complete strangers. Their first kiss, their first fight, the moment they fell in love...every memory has vanished. Now Charlie and Silas must work together to uncover the truth about what happened to them and why. But the more they learn about the couple they used to be...the more they question why they were ever together to begin with. Forgetting is terrifying, but remembering may be worse.” -Amazon

Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian
“Set against the backdrop of Tehran and Los Angeles, this tale of intergenerational trauma and love is an ode to the fragile bonds of family, the hidden secrets of history, and all the beautiful moments that make us who we are today.” WorldCat