Andrea recommends "Cat's People"

What do a barista who moonlights as a cat rescuer, a bodega owner who recently lost his wife, an author struggling with writer's block, a young woman looking for family, and a mailman trying to find his path in life have in common? In Tanya Guerrero's Cat's People it's their love for a street-smart cat that brings this motley crew together.

Being a cat lover myself, this book immediately caught my eye, and I think anybody who's ever shared a special bond with a pet will love this one. It will warm your heart, make you cry (in a good way), and remind you that connection can sometimes be found where you least expect it.

This book is suitable for adults.

Meghan recommends "Ink Blood Sister Scribe"

 

When she was 18, Esther’s father sent her away from her childhood home, telling her she must spend no more than one year in the same place, and to leave every year on the same date. Ten years later, her parents have divorced, her father has died, and her sister (who doesn’t know the real reason Esther left home) misses her terribly, but also feels terribly betrayed by her. This year Esther decides not to run away from the place she’s called home for the last year. Her decision triggers a series of events that leads her to a mysterious person beyond a mirror, a sheltered British magician, a Boston-bred bodyguard, and finally to her sister back home.

Ink Blood Sister Scribe is a light fantasy novel that challenges its characters to confront family secrets and defy the status quo. Once I started this book, I couldn’t put it down! While voracious readers may guess some of the twists, having an idea where the book was heading didn’t detract from my enjoyment at all.

As Kirkus reviews wrote, “Törzs’ simple magic system of books is straightforward, with clear rules set out for readers early on, leaving her plenty of space to explore how an obsession with power can twist people so deeply that they betray the ones they love. Esther and Joanna’s complicated but loving relationship is wonderfully rendered, and Törzs pulls off such an expert series of twists that readers would be advised to cancel their plans until they get to the end.”

Recommended for adults and older teens.

 

 

Phil recommends "Box Office Poison: Hollywood's Story in a Century of Flops"

 

There is something endlessly entertaining about stories of Hollywood hubris and excess turning into spectacular failure. Tim Robey begins with the early days of Hollywood, including D.W. Griffith’s grandiose financial flop Intolerance, and takes us through a century of multi-million dollar disasters like Dr. Dolittle (1967), Dune (1984), The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Cutthroat Island, Speed 2: Cruise Control, and many more.  Robey essentially performs an autopsy on each, telling the story of how such projects came to be in the first place…and why they failed in such dramatic fashion.  Unlike similarly-themed podcasts like How Did This Get Made?, Robey eschews the overtly comedic approach but instead lets the inherently compelling subject matter speak for itself.

 

This book is appropriate for adults.

Rion recommends "Moon of the Turning Leaves"

           

 Over a decade after complete collapse of all societal systems, residents of Shki-dnakiiwin, a small community of Anishinaabe people in Northern Canada, have noticed that the land they are living on is starting to run out of the ability to provide for them. When an elder has a vision of returning to their ancestral homelands around the Great Lakes, a group of six community members, including Evan Whitesky and his daughter, Nangohns, are sent on a scouting trip to assess the land and journey it would take to go home. Along the way, they pass through ransacked cities and encounter other survivors of the collapse, some friendly, and others dangerous. The group’s survival skills and commitment to finding their homeland are constantly put to the test, and the conclusion to the book is both satisfying and touching.

This book evoked so many feelings in me - fear, appreciation for nature, and love for the characters and some of the communities they encounter. While it is technically a sequel, it also functions as a stand-alone book, and having read both, I recommend it over Moon of the Crusted Snow (the first book in the duology). The plot moved at a consistent pace and I found myself wondering about what was next for the characters whenever I put the book down – the sign of being immersed in a very absorbing story! The use of Anishinaabemowin (the Anishinaabe language) throughout the book was beautiful, and the entire story is a testament to the resilience of indigenous communities through the most difficult of times. I highly recommend Moon of the Turning Leaves!

Age group: Adult

 

Uma recommends “Gentle: Rest More, Stress Less, and Live the Life You Actually Want”

"Gentle: Rest More, Stress Less, and Live the Life You Actually Want by Courtney Carver is a refreshing guide to slowing down and prioritizing what truly matters. Carver emphasizes the importance of rest, self-care, and intentional living to reduce stress and create a more fulfilling life. Through personal stories and practical advice, she offers simple, actionable steps for living with less anxiety and more joy. The book encourages readers to embrace simplicity, let go of perfectionism, and find balance in their daily routines. It's a gentle, uplifting read for anyone looking to live a more peaceful, authentic life."

Adult

 

 

Martin recommends "Unromance"

Sawyer Greene is a bestselling romance author who is taking a break from love. After connecting physically with actor Mason West, a hopeless romantic,  she agrees to allow him to help her with her writer’s block. Still, she is firm in that she does not want to start a relationship with him. Despite a foolproof plan, once set in motion some plots simply cannot be stopped. Are they heading towards a happy ending?

Romance is not my usual genre of choice, but the cover to Unromance attracted me. Erin Connor’s writing on this, her debut novel, quickly pulled me in and kept me reading.

Adult Fiction - Romance

Catherine recommends "Let's Be Bees"

This is my new favorite toddler/preschool book – it is absolutely delightful! It starts, quietly and innocently enough, with a grown-up reading to a child and saying, “let’s buzz.” The two imagine themselves as bees, buzzing away. Then they imagine being birds, trees, and even a quiet snowfall…and then, there is an AVALANCHE and the excitement (ahem, noise) ratchets up. There are storm sounds, animal sounds, roaring and more roaring (so much roaring) until finally they decide to “make every sound” all at once. I can only imagine the joyous cacophony this will produce every single time it is read aloud. The book ends with the pair calmly stating, “the end” and then, with great exuberance, shouting “AGAIN!”

I don’t think I have met a young child who would not be delighted to sit with a grown-up and buzz, crash, splash, and roar through this book together. Again, and again.

Perfect for toddler and preschool.

Rion recommends "Impossible Creatures"

 

Ever wondered what it would be like if all the mythical creatures you’ve heard of were real? Impossible Creatures brings this thought experiment to life through following Christopher Forrester’s discovery that his family has a historic responsibility to tend to the entrance to the Archipelago, a set of islands between the UK and US in which magic thrives and creatures such as dragons and unicorns live as equals to humans. 

 

This is such a special, vividly imagined book, and I finished it craving more of the universe Katherine Rundell created. The characters are incredibly lovable and the relationships between them are special to behold. Rundell pulled from a variety of worldwide mythologies to create a diverse world of fantastic creatures, and I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of the “bestiary” at the back of the book with descriptions of the main beings the reader will come across. A fun, moving, and imaginative adventure, this book is sure to delight middle grade readers! 

 

Age: Middle grade (9+)

Uma recommends "The Little Liar"

The Little Liar by Mitch Albom tells the story of Nico Krispis, a young boy in Nazi-occupied Greece who is tricked into helping send his fellow Jews to Auschwitz. Nico, who has never lied before, is deeply affected by his actions and becomes a compulsive liar. The novel follows Nico's journey and his search for redemption, along with his brother Sebastian and their friend Fanni, who survive the camps and try to find Nico years later.  The book explores themes of lies, survival, guilt, and forgiveness, with the voice of Truth guiding the story.

It's a powerful, emotional tale about how lies can shape lives and the possibility of healing, even after betrayal.

Adult

 

 

Kara recommends "Joe Nuthin's Guide to Life"

Joe relies on his mother for advice in life. He doesn't always know society's expectations but he knows how to follow rules and is good at his job. His mother is writing notebooks to help guide him, but he will soon find his life is about to do the one thing he dislikes the most - change.

Read this book and you'll immediately love Joe. He's such a great character and you get to see him learn and grow through the friendships he develops along the way.  He's genuinely trying to be a good person and love his life. His goal is to show everyone what his mother knows, that he has not a mean bone in his body. And as readers we see it's true as he helps those that others may not see as deserving.

This is a heartwarming story of friendship, empathy, courage, acceptance and understanding. 

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. 

 

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.