Phil recommends "Pumpkinheads"

 

In this beautifully illustrated graphic novel by Rainbow Rowell, high school seniors Deja and Josiah are working together at the local pumpkin patch as they have done every fall.  They have become seasonal best friends and this is their last night working together before they graduate and move away for college.  Deja convinces the unfailingly dutiful Josiah to loosen up and make their last night at the pumpkin patch an epic one.  Their quest involves searching for Josiah’s secret crush while hitting all of the tasty autumnal snack stations along the way.  Their night of adventure turns into hilarious misadventure as we learn more about Deja’s and Josiah’s unique and heartwarming friendship…and wonder if this might be the beginning of something more.

My wife and I both loved this book as the illustrations reminded us of Greenfield Village at Halloween; it really captures the magic and nostalgia of the season.  The humor, camaraderie, and chemistry between the two protagonists are compelling and make this a light, fun, and cozy fall read.

This graphic novel is for young adults but older readers might enjoy it, too

 

Catherine recommends "Hedgehogs Don't Wear Underwear"

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Taryn recommends "The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science"

Sisters Gertrude, Eugenia, and Dee-Dee Porch don’t belong. They don’t belong in their snooty town of Antiquarium, they don’t belong with their adoptive family, and they certainly don’t belong at Mrs. Wintermacher’s etiquette school. After the girls’ love of science and their unique personalities get them kicked out of the last etiquette school that would take them, their aunt and uncle plan to send them away for good. Then one day the Porch girls receive a mysterious invitation to a new school. At first the girls are wary of this new school where the pizza is fatal and the Dean of Students is a hermit crab, but once they realize that they will be taught by the infamous Millicent Quibb they are excited to see what adventures this new school will bring them. 

I loved this book! This book has it all; humor, adventure, oysters in a bathtub, a bus powered by gerbils. This book reads like “A Series of Unfortunate Events” for a new generation with an eccentric world that’s just bizarre enough to appeal to strange kids everywhere (and maybe a few adults). It is over the top in the best way! Also this is probably one of the most entertaining audiobooks I’ve ever listened to, and why wouldn’t it be with Kate McKinnon narrating it. I think that this is best for grades 4-6, but I could see this being a fun family read as well.

Gretchen recommends "Every Tom, Dick & Harry"

I look forward to each new novel by Elinor Lipman.  This funny romantic comedy exposes small town crushes, criminality, and clandestine rendezvous at a B&B that doubled as a brothel in this feel good love story.  As in her past novels, Lipman’s writing style is uniquely her own.  She is a keen observer of modern life and the human condition.  Emma Lewis is taking over her retiring parents’ estate sale business.  Her most daunting and potentially lucrative clients are the owners of a mansion that had a shady side hustle in its past. What ensues with the estate sale is pure charm for adults.

 

Uma recommends “The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking"

The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking by Mel Robbins and Sawyer Robbins is a transformative and empowering read that offers a refreshing perspective on emotional well-being. The core message — "Let Them" — encourages readers to stop trying to control others and focus on protecting their own peace. This practical, easy-to-read guide is packed with wisdom, providing a simple yet effective tool for overcoming overthinking and managing stress. Uplifting and insightful, it's perfect for anyone feeling overwhelmed by others' expectations or seeking more clarity and balance in today's fast-paced world. A must-read for anyone looking to reclaim their emotional freedom and live with more clarity and less stress.

Adult

 

 

 

Rion Recommends Legendary Frybread Drive-In

 

Emerging from a cellar following a tornado warning, feeling scared while driving on a rainy road, opening your fridge - these are all ways in which the teens in Legendary Frybread Drive-In wind up at Sandy June's Legendary Frybread Drive-In, a hub for indigenous youth that exists outside the constraints of time and space in this anthology of intertribal stories edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith. The collection features seasoned indigenous YA authors such as Angeline Boulley (Firekeeper's Daughter) and Darcie Little Badger (Elatsoe) alongside relative newcomers, each author immersing the reader briefly into the unique dynamics of their varied cultures. The teens in Legendary Frybread Drive-In come to Sandy June's in search of their crush, seeking confidence to read in front of their class, or in moments of profound grief, and each teen receives just what they need from their time at the Drive-In.

 

I have never read a short story collection quite like this, and I was delighted by the through line of the Drive-In that connected each of the stories. While they were all written by different authors, by the end of the book I felt as though I had a thorough relationship with the concept of the Drive-In, feeling excited for what each teen would find upon reaching the destination. Each story offered a brief immersion into indigenous cultures from across Turtle Island, and the wisdom of elders was a consistent theme throughout the anthology. I particularly loved Kaua Māhoe Adams' story-in-verse, "Braving the Storm", in which the main character, Marley, reconnects with her recently deceased grandfather in Hawai'i. I highly recommend this book to teens and adults alike!

 

Age group: Teen

 

Catherine recommends “The Peach Thief”

Thirteen-year-old Scilla has grown up in a workhouse in mid-19^th century Britain. She has no memories of her own family and is all alone in the world. Once, and only once, she had a single bite of a ripe peach and it was the greatest thing she ever tasted. Cold and hungry, one night she decides to try and scale the Earl's walled garden in order to steal a peach. She does not succeed and is caught by the head gardener. Thinking that Scilla is a boy, the gruff head gardener offers her the chance to pay for her attempted theft by working as a garden boy, washing out pots and doing other menial garden tasks. With the job comes a safe place to sleep, good food to eat, and a community – all things Scilla has always wanted. Scilla stays – but in order to do so, must keep up the pretense of being a boy. Over the course of the year, Scilla falls in love with gardening, learning as much as she can. She begins to be quite adept at gardening, but Scilla also learns much about responsibility, community, and hard choices.

As someone who loves The Secret Garden - a book that is well over 100 years old, but which continues to charm readers - The Peach Thief evoked the same wonder of watching a child and a garden blossom together.

Age group: Children, 9 and up. And maybe sentimental adults.