Rion Recommends Circe

Circe is a wonderfully imaginative exploration of the Greek mythical nymph Circe, who, after discovering and using her powers as an herbal sorceress, is banished to an island to live alone for eternity. As she grows to love her island, she encounters a myriad of seafaring men seeking shelter (and sometimes more) upon her shores. The story follows her revenge upon men who abuse her as well as her relationship with Odysseus (about whom The Odyssey was written) and the birth of her son. 

 

Having recently finished The Song of Achilles, a queer reimagining of the story of Achilles and Patroclus also by Madeline Miller, I was eager to read Circe and dig more into the realm of Greek mythology. This book did not disappoint. It was at turns frightening, inspiring, and gut-wrenching, and I found myself enraptured by the tales Miller weaved throughout the book. The island on which Circe was banished, Aiaia, was drawn in such detail that I felt I could smell the salty ocean air and see the verdant forests and fields clearly in my mind’s eye. I recommend this book both for people who love Greek mythology and those who know little to none about it (such as myself). This is an excellent story about a woman finding her place in the world and coming into a true understanding both of her power and of the joys and tragedies of being human. 

Age group: Adult

 

Rion Berger

Teen Services Librarian

Clinton-Macomb Public Library

40900 Romeo Plank Rd.

Clinton Township, MI 48038

rberger@cmpl.org

586-226-5034

Pronouns: they/them

 

Meghan recommends "Robot Dreams"

"I don’t get it; was it about understanding and accepting loss?”

• My ten-year-old

What could cause such a reflective response from a ten-year-old? The answer is Robot Dreams, a delightful animated film about a dog (in world populated by animals) who is lonely, and orders himself a robot buddy. Buddies they are, and they have fun traipsing all over 1980s New York City until the fateful day they are separated while out and about. Will they ever be reunited?

The film is entirely without dialogue, but don’t worry, it’s easy to tell how every character is feeling and what they want just based on their faces and movements,  as well as small vocalizations and an evocative soundtrack, full of retro bangers. It’s often very funny, even when it’s also sad.

The film is based on a graphic novel by Sara Varon (which is also available through the library) and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2023.

There is one instance of a “rude gesture” (deployed for comedic effect); otherwise the movie is appropriate for all ages.

Ann recommends "The Lost Coast" by Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman

The Lost Coast by Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman

Clay Edison is an ex-police coroner who is now working as a private investigator. He is hired by a young man to help sort through the affairs of his recently deceased grandmother. They discover that his grandmother had been making regular payments for over 20 years to an organization only known as SFRA. As Clay starts to investigate what these payments were for, a complicated mystery starts to unfold involving fraudulent land dealings, missing persons, and murder.

Will Clay find out who is behind this criminal enterprise? The only thing he knows for sure is that there is nothing they won't do to stop him from getting too close and finding out the truth.

The Lost Coast is the 5th book in the Clay Edison series.

(for adult readers)

Phil recommends "The Lives of Brian: A Memoir"

Last year, the hard rockin’ Australian band AC/DC turned 50 and in April 2025, they will return to Detroit on what will likely be their final tour. AC/DC has had their ups and downs but they have always persevered. Their lowest point was in February, 1980 when, on the verge of superstardom in the US, their lead singer Bon Scott tragically passed away at the age of 33. The band’s survival was uncertain and building on the success of their chart topping Highway to Hell album seemed unimaginable unless they could again find lightning in a bottle with a new singer.

Enter Brian Johnson, a blue collar working man from northern England with a talent for fixing cars – and a set of lungs made for rock & roll. Fortunately, his modest local success with the band Georgie caught the attention of several members of AC/DC – and he was called in for an audition. The rest is history and his first album with the band, Back in Black, became one of the bestselling rock albums of all time. The “Lives of Brian” tells Johnson’s story, from his very modest beginnings in a working class town to his first forays into singing for local rock bands to his life-changing moment when one of the most successful and enduring rock bands of all time gave him the opportunity of a lifetime. The autobiography is bookended with the singer’s personal struggles with hearing loss. Johnson is an up-beat guy, very humble, and a natural storyteller.

This book is appropriate for adults.

 

Catherine recommends "Clive Penguin" & "Umami"

  

These two penguins in search of adventure are sure to make you smile!

Clive Penguin is a bit grumpy. He’s always cold and he is sure there is more to life than just huddling with the other penguins on the ice, so he sets off to see what he can discover. When he finds an orange hat, he can’t believe his luck! Will he be satisfied with his life now? Read it and see!

Umami is not quite so grumpy, but still dreams of a life where there is more than cold fish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She sets off to discover the wider world and delights in all the new foods she encounters – sour, bitter, salty, sweet, and even spicy. She is so excited, she decides she must share these wonderful new tastes with the penguins back home – what will they think?

If you are in the mood for charming and adventurous heroes and heroines, these are the penguins for you!

Perfect for preschool and up.

 

 

Catherine recommends "Leafy Landmarks: Travels with Trees"

I love a good road trip, and I love trees, so I had to read this book of poems that takes you on an imaginary road trip to see some of the coolest trees in the United States. Whether admiring the beauty of the changing leaves in my own neighborhood or staring up at the grandeur of the General Sherman tree in Sequoia National Park (did you know it is as tall as 16 giraffes stacked upon each other and weighs as much as 10 blue whales?), time spent with trees is good for the soul. In this book, you can visit more than a dozen magnificent trees – most have historical or cultural significance; all of them are just plain awesome. Some highlights: the 4,600 year old Methuselah Tree in California; trees whose seeds have traveled to the moon; the Survivor Tree that stood amidst the destruction of the Oklahoma City bombing; and the bur oak that inspired the first Arbor Day. This is a lovely book to read together with kids – and then go outside to see what cool trees are in your own neighborhood.

Preschool & elementary children

Taryn recommends "Not Nothing"

Alex has been having a rough time, to say the least, his father’s gone and his mother is struggling with mental health issues which lands him living with his aunt and uncle who seem less than excited to have him. Alex has been treated like he doesn’t matter and that he is nothing, so when a kid at school actually tells him that he’s nothing, Alex snaps and gets violent. Luckily for Alex, he has a social worker who pulls some strings that lands him a job at a nursing home instead of juvie. Here he meets Maya-Jade, who unlike Alex, believes that she can make a difference and Alex reluctantly befriends. After a lockdown due to a flu outbreak, Alex is left to deliver meals to the residents. Here he meets Josey, a 107-year-old Holocaust survivor who hasn’t spoken in years. When Alex delivers Josey’s meal, and a run in with a picture, Josey starts talking. Josey and Alex form an unlikely bond with Josey confiding in Alex about his past. While listening to Josey’s story and with the help of Maya-Jade, Alex begins to believe that he can make a difference and that maybe he’s not nothing after all.  

This is an amazing book that will break your heart only to put it back together again. The bond that Josey forms with Alex begins to heal both characters and will make you root for Alex to believe in himself. Instead of being narrated by Alex or in the usual third person, Josey is the narrator of this book which allows you to see the growth of Alex through somebody else’s eyes. I loved hearing about Josey’s story and felt that it mirrored the way that Alex was feeling. Josey and Alex’s relationship has to be one of my favorites from books that I have read in the last few years. I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to anyone that needs to believe that people can change and that there is good in this world. This book does have some sad moments and talks about some off-screen violence. I would recommend this for ages 8 and up (adults don’t let the middle grade rating fool you).