Kara recommends "The Maid"

 

From Penguin Random House:

“Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.

Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life’s complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.

But Molly’s orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what’s happening, Molly’s unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black—but will they be able to find the real killer before it’s too late?

A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different—and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.”

I listened to the audio version, and I thought Lauren Ambrose (the narrator) did a great job capturing Molly’s voice.  I enjoyed the suspense of the story without all of the blood and gore than can come with some mysteries, and was very excited to hear that it is in development to be made into a motion picture! This book is best for adults.

 

 

Lisa recommends "Bing! Bang! Chugga! Beep!"

I love new car books for kids, especially when they are done right.  It is a very popular subject for toddlers and preschoolers and it gets tiring to read the same book over and over. This new addition is great and many of us already love Bill Martin Jr. for his classic title of Brown Bear, Brown Bear. The illustrations are a bit different, but still great, and remind me of Emma Garcia’s books such as Toot Toot Beep Beep.  Sing this one to the tune of “This Old Man” and look for it in future story times!

 

Justine recommends "All Systems Red" by Martha Wells

All Systems Red by Martha Wells is the first book in a hilarious sci-fi novella series.  

The series follows Murderbot, a killing machine who's hacked its governor module without anyone knowing.  However, Murderbot doesn't want to leave its post and go rogue.  Instead, it uses it's newfound freedom to watch as much media as it can in its free time.  It's freedom is constantly in jeopardy, though, because its stupid human clients test Murderbot's patience and ability to pretend it's not hacked.

The Murderbot Diaries is a must-read in the science fiction genre, and there are plenty of books to keep you busy.  Currently, there are five novellas and one novel in the series.  The seventh in the series is due out November 2023.

Kara recommends the "Sir Ladybug" series

This is a great beginning graphic novel series that follows the comedic adventures of a ladybug knight, who never shies away from a quest, and his two pals-a roly-poly and a snail. Each story emphasizes friendship, teamwork, creative thinking, bravery and responsibility with fun and surprises along the way!

These books can be enjoyed by everyone, but may be best for newly independent readers or those ages 6-10. 

 

Martin recommends "Oscar Wars"

In Oscar Wars, Michael Schulman chronicles the remarkable, sprawling history of the Academy Awards and the personal dramas—some iconic, others never-before-revealed—that have played out on the stage and off camera. Unlike other books on the subject, each chapter takes a deep dive into a particular year, conflict, or even category that tells a larger story of cultural change, from Louis B. Mayer to Moonlight. Schulman examines how the red carpet runs through contested turf, and the victors aren't always as clear as the names drawn from envelopes. Caught in the crossfire are people: their thwarted ambitions, their artistic epiphanies, their messy collaborations, their dreams fulfilled or dashed.

I have always been fascinated by Hollywood, by actors and by the movies. Schulman covers the nine decades of the Academy Awards, from the way the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences first came together all the way up to most recent times. There were a number of fascinating stories: the parallels from the two 1950 films Sunset Boulevard and All About Eve, the HUAC blacklisting actions of the 1950's, and how the demographics of the Academy in the early 1970's. I very much recommend this for movie fans.

Adult / Nonfiction

Taryn recommends "Missing Violet"

 

Mia and Violet are inseparable best friends that do everything together. One day Violet leaves school early because she is sick, but she doesn’t get better. Without her best friend, Mia slips into a gloomy mood that she can’t seem to shake. As Mia’s grief shifts like the colors of the rainbow she wonders if she will ever feel like herself again or if this horrible feeling will last forever. Eventually Mia reaches out to her classmates and she discovers that she is not the only person that misses Violet and remembers what she loved the most about her best friend. Mia and her classmates come together to help Violet’s memory live on.

This book does an amazing job of dealing with the topic of grief in a sensitive and age-appropriate way. This book would make an excellent choice for any adult that wants to approach the child in their life about dealing with their grief in the right way. It is beautifully illustrated and uses the colors of the rainbow to help express the stages of grief that Mia goes through while dealing with the loss of her friend. The recommended age for this book would be early elementary aged children, although it could help caregivers to approach the subject of loss to young children as well.

Amy recommends "The Overnight Guest"

I missed this thriller in 2022 but I am glad I picked it up in 2023. There are three stories that the reader knows all tie together but each one is intriguing on its own. When they finally all crash into each other, it’s as satisfying as it is horrifying!

Wylie Lark is a true crime writer who has rented an isolated farmhouse – the site of the infamous crime she is tackling in her most recent book - to focus on work. During a particularly terrible snowstorm, she finds a young child barely alive outside. It soon becomes obvious that Wylie is not alone as she thought and sometimes lightning strikes in the same place twice. This book is intended for adults.