Justine recommends "Even Though I Knew the End" by C.L. Polk

Even Though I Knew the End is short but jam-packed read filled with magic, love, and noir.  The story is about a magical detective who is offered one last job before her bargain with a demon is up.  If she finds Chicago's most notorious serial killer, the demon with her soul will return it in exchange.  She can't resist, as she dreams of growing old with the woman she loves out in San Francisco.

If you're a fan of the TV series Supernatural, I definitely recommend this novella.  The whole thing has echoes of the show, from hunting demons to awkward angels very bad at social conventions.  Additionally, it has been nominated in the 2022 Nebula Awards for Best Novella.  It has some tough competition from A Prayer for the Crown-Shy, but I'm cheering for this one!

Catherine recommends "How Dinosaurs Went Extinct: A Safety Guide"

“Don’t lean back in your chair!” “Look both ways!” “Don’t jump on the bed!” “Wash your hands!” “Don’t play with matches!” “Cover your cough!” You have probably said or heard these things a million times. But did you know that not taking these wise words of advice is what led to the dinosaurs going extinct? Young dinosaur lovers will be laughing from beginning to end of this book as they hear all of Dad’s silly explanations of how twenty-three different species of dinosaurs met their demise. Who knows? Children might just heed Dad’s good advice!

 

 

 

 

Kara recommends "Dandy"

 

This book is about a father who is desperate to destroy the lone dandelion ruining his yard, and his daughter's attempts to save it . The laugh-out-loud story is sure to be appreciated by all dandelion loving children, as well as their grown-ups. 😊

When Daddy spots a solitary weed in his lawn, he's appalled (along with all of his neighborhood friends). But his daughter Sweetie has fallen in love with the beautiful flower, even going so far as to name it Charlotte. Racing against time and the mockery of his friends, Daddy has to find a way to get rid of the errant dandelion without breaking his little girl's heart.

Uma recommends "Black People Breathe: A mindfulness guide to racial healing"

Black people breathe: a mindfulness guide to racial healing by Zee Clarke.

Black People Breath by Zee Clarke is an extraordinary book that guides Black people and individuals of all colors to heal from racial trauma. The book touches on essential tools such as mindfulness, meditation, and breath work to help deal with these difficult experiences.  

Doctors and psychologists have found the devastating effects racism can have on one’s emotional, physical, and mental well-being. From high blood pressure to anxiety and depression, the impact is life-altering. Clarke draws upon her own experiences as a Black woman to share tools and practices that can support the healing process.

Vividly illustrated, Black People Breathe allows communities of color to reclaim their power and heal through racial trauma.

ADULT

Justine recommends "Wicked Detroit"

Wicked Detroit is a fascinating look at some of Detroit's most colorful historical figures, including founder Antoine Cadillac, and namesake of Woodward Avenue Augustus Brevoort Woodward.  This is a short read cataloging some of the most egregious of these figures' crimes, including everything from smuggling to voter fraud.  This book makes a point of trying to keep the tone light by focusing on older historical figures from the 16th-19th centuries.

If you're a fan of local history, I definitely recommend picking up this title!

Kara recommends "Good Night, Body: Finding Calm from Head to Toe"

It can be hard for little ones to settle themselves for bedtime. This story helps children, and their adults, with the mindfulness practice of body scan meditation to help children let go of any worry, stress and excitement as they dance their fingers like wind chimes, reach their arms like a telescope and stretch their legs like giraffes to relax their bodies and minds into sleep.

My daughters LOVE this book, and reading it nightly has helped them calm down and transition from play time to bedtime on the days when they are overtired or overstimulated.

This book is great for children ages 3 and up.

 

 

Katie recommends "The Soulmate"

 

"Get ready for a thrilling, addictive novel about marriage, betrayal, and the secrets that push us to the edge in Sally Hepworth's The Soulmate. There's a cottage on a cliff. Gabe and Pippa's dream home in a sleepy coastal town. But their perfect house hides something sinister. The tall cliffs have become a popular spot for people to end their lives. Night after night Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge. Until he doesn't. When Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, the questions spiral...Did the victim jump? Was she pushed? And would Gabe, the love of Pippa's life, her soulmate...lie? As the perfect facade of their marriage begins to crack, the deepest and darkest secrets begin to unravel"

I read a lot of suspenseful thrillers, and this one was absolutely delightful. I finished it all in one evening, it was that enthralling. I’d been in a reading slump and this was just what I needed to pull me out of it. Although I wish a certain someone didn’t get the redemption arc they did…

This is a book for adults.