Alyssa recommends "Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?"

Over time, public perceptions of death in the United States have changed. The shift from viewings being held in the family home to funeral homes handling nearly every aspect of the process has contributed to a growing discomfort with the concept of death. Mortician and death-positive advocate Caitlin Doughty has built her reputation around de-stigmatizing death. Through her YouTube channel, her work with The Order of the Good Death, and her books, she works to debunk myths surrounding death in hopes of normalizing conversations about our end-of-life wishes and relieving our loved ones of the burden of making those decisions for us.

Doughty’s book Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? addresses common questions asked by children, resulting in a book that is entertaining and informative for readers of all ages. Some chapters tackle questions we’ve all heard, such as “Will I poop when I die?” while others explore more unusual queries, like “What happens if someone eats a whole bag of popcorn before cremation?” Doughty takes some of the gore often associated with death and replaces it with humor, science, and straightforward explanations.

Labels: All Ages

 

Phil recommends "Dungeon Crawler Carl"

During the pandemic, self-published author Matt Dinniman found himself out of work and with plenty of time to write his web novel Dungeon Crawler Carl, now a massively popular series of books .  This wonderfully imaginative LitRPG sci-fi novel is about an ordinary guy named Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s sassy diva of a cat, Princess Donut, as they discover that aliens have transformed Earth into a massive, televised dungeon crawling real-life video game.  Don’t you hate it when that happens?

The enemies they encounter are many, varied, and completely bizarre and they have to continually come up with creative and entertaining ways of dispatching them in order to gain viewers as they work their way down to each level of the dungeon.  Because the story is told in the manner of a roleplaying game there is a lot of minutiae about stats, armor, weapon choices, loot, etc.  However, the quick pacing, sharp humor, and creative world building make it an easy read where you want to know what completely bonkers situation Carl and Donut will encounter next.  It’s very addictive. 

If you enjoy Dungeon Crawler Carl, there is plenty more where that came from – there are eight books in the series so far with two more on the way.  Also, producer Seth MacFarlane has purchased the rights to the series and is making it into a live-action TV show.

 

 

Kayla recommends "Hungerstone"

Hungerstone - Kat Dunn - Adult

Hungerstone retells the story of Carmilla, the book that inspired Dracula. Despite its seemingly slower start, I really enjoyed the pacing of this one! I've yet to read a story so immersed in its setting; Nethershaw is described as such a beautifully decrepit place, reflecting its inhabitants perfectly--particularly Lenore. Her journey of self-discovery is one that I truly resonated with.

Natalie recommends "Lilo and Stitch and Spirited Away"

It's with a heavy heart that I am sharing that Daveigh Chase, known for her roles as Lilo (Lilo and Stitch) and Chihiro (Spirited Away), as well as Samara (the Ring) and Samantha Darko (Donny Darko and S. Darko), passed away on June 16th.  

In honor of her memory, I wanted to do a staff recommendation for the two movies of hers that resonated with me the most: Lilo and Stitch and Spirited Away.

Lilo and Stitch was a favorite in my house, being my sisters favorite Disney movie.  So much so, that I could, and still can to a degree, quote the whole movie.  It is one of my all time favorite Disney movies as well.  It's a heartfelt movie that looking back does a good job of tackling the issues within it.  As well as having a good dose of humor and action.

As for Spirited Away, this is one of the more well known and beloved Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli movies and won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003.  This coming of age story is beautifully animated with wonderful music and a fun cast of characters.  For me it was the first Studio Ghibli film I had seen, which lead to it becoming my favorite from the studio with Princess Mononoke and Howl's Moving Castle not too far behind. I would definitely say that Spirited Away is a must see.  

My condolences goes out to Daviegh Chase's family, friends, and boyfriend.  As well as fans of her work.  She will be missed.

Meghan recommends "You & Me and You & Me and You & Me"

 

 

Adam and Jules have been married over twenty years. They love each other, but they also feel pulled in different directions and they blame each other life’s disappoints. One night after a fight, Adam retreats to his shed to cool off. He pulls out some old mixtapes (yes, actual cassettes!) that he’d made for Jules earlier in their relationship. When he plays one of these old cassettes he’s transported back in time, into his younger self, with all the feelings he had for Jules on the day he gave her the tape.

He’s astounded, of course! He shares his experience with Jules and they take turns revisiting the past. They discover they can influence their past selves and each makes small and then larger “tweaks” to try to fix their current problems. Will they “fix” their relationship, or rupture their connection forever?

This was a fast-paced and sweet read about the twists and turns life takes, and how to hold on to what matters to you. The musical references will delight Gen X and elder millennial readers! Recommended to fans of Rainbow Rowell’s Landline or What Might Have Been by Holly Miller.

Kayla recommends "The Starving Saints"

The Starving Saints - Caitlin Starling - Adult

I started reading this blind, with absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into. It was such a treat to be taken through the reality-bending, medieval world inside of Aymar castle, and to experience the journey through the perspective of three fantastically-written characters. If you're a fan of medieval horror or dark fantasy, give this one a try!

Nicole recommends "Slayers of Old"

Jenny the Vampire Slayer...I mean, Hunter of Artemis, has been retired for decades after discovering that she was being used as a weapon by a group of old guys. For twenty years she's lived with Annette, a half-succubus with a keen mind for finances, and Temple, a now-99-year-old wizard with a psychic connection to their house. Jenny is a part-time demon EMT, she and Annette run the bookstore downstairs, and Temple spends his time feeding everyone and caring for their house. None of them are expecting to have to dust off their skills and save the world, but a baddie from the past summoning an eldritch horror can't be ignored.

This book was funny, heartwarming, then funny again. It's strange to call it a "cozy horror" when the stakes are literally apocalyptic and not everyone makes it out alive, but there's something comforting about main characters who are adult enough to know who they are and what's worth sacrificing for.

 

Amy recommends "Her Last Breath"

I figured this one out early on but I honestly think that made the whole thing even better! It’s fun thriller set underground which somehow amps up the reader’s reactions to everything. By the end, you won’t even know who you are rooting for.

Meghan Recommends Daughters of the New Year

 

 

Happy Lunar New Year! 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse. Do you know what animal sign  of the Chinese Zodiac you were born under? If you were Xuan’s daughter, you’d know. As Daughters of the New Year opens in 2016, Xuan is poring over her guide to the New Year and calling her daughters to tell them what to expect for the year and how to make the most of their fate, based on their zodiac signs.

 

Readers then meet her three daughters, each forging her own path, disdainful of their mother’s superstition (as they see it.) Then the book skips back, and we see snippets of the girls growing up; feeling never American enough, never Vietnamese enough. Then  Xuan, newly arrived in the United States and trying to adapt to her new life. Further back, to the escape from Vietnam, further back, to her life in Sai Gon, where she was rich and her own mother blamed Xuan’s poor choices on her signs. We continue to be led back through the generations, finally ending with legendary figures like Lady Trieu and the Trung sisters.

 

After the initial jumps back in time, I kept waiting to get back to current day, but as I settled in to the backwards journey, I began to see parallels between the sisters in 2016 and their ancestors. The author writes in her author’s note, “I imagined a family just like ours (and indeed, many Vietnamese immigrant families ARE just like ours), children purposefully and maddeningly separated from a cultural history too difficult to recall. What was interesting to me was not necessarily the damage wrought in the present, but rather a subversion, an unraveling of the past. What happens when we have the ability to go back, uncover a truth that is, in reality, forever, obscured? What would we discover? How often does history repeat itself without or knowing, the same pain and joy experienced again and again?”

 

While it sounds like a writing experiment, I found it oddly worked in the novel – no character is less interesting because we only to see get a piece of her life, and the fact that we don’t know exactly *what happened* makes sense – history never ends, a family doesn’t end, everyone just keeps living their individual lives, inextricably connected to everyone who came before or after.

 

Recommended for people who enjoy open-ended fiction.

Colleen recommends "The Warm Hands of Ghosts"

This adult historical fiction title effortlessly weaves an eerie undertone of magical realism amongst a somber tale of grief, loss, and finding strength to go on.  

The Warm Hands of Ghosts tells the stories of Laura Iven, a wounded and discharged field nurse, and her brother who she left behind, Freddie. Laura has survived the horrors of war as well as a recent tragedy at home. Before she can recover, she receives word that her brother has died in combat. But Laura is convinced that something is amiss and sets off to find out the truth.

Once her story is underway, we are introduced to Freddie from his point of view. Freddie Iven finds himself trapped on the battlefield with another wounded soldier. But is this soldier an ally or enemy? Can they make it out alive? If they do, where can they even go?

Against all odds, they manage to escape killing fields and find solace in an abandoned mansion. But all is not quite as it seems for them, either.  

Laura and Freddie fight to reunite with one another as they overcome physical obstacles, fight psychological battles, and traverse treacherous war-torn lands. But are they headed towards one another, or have their paths already passed in time and space?

Meghan recommends "The Road to Tender Hearts"

The Road to Tender Hearts opens in a nursing home, where the resident cat can predict who will be next to die. Turns out no one wants to cuddle with a cat who may be the grim reaper. After getting kicked out, the cat makes his way through Pond View, Massachusetts, and leads us to PJ Halliday, a former mailman, a drunk, and a lottery winner whose generous spirit and cheerful manner have endeared him to the townsfolk. He’s even on good terms with his ex-wife and her new beau. He’s on not-so-good terms with his daughter, but when he unexpectedly becomes guardian to two young kids, she agrees to accompany him, and the kids, and the cat across the country on a road trip to the Tender Hearts Retirement Home, where PJ plans to surprise his recently widowed high school crush. 

I found this book laugh out loud funny, mostly thanks to the very precocious kids, Luna and Ollie. There is also a lot of death and heavy themes, but the story never loses its heart and will have you rooting for each of these characters throughout the book. 

From a starred review at Kirkus: “A beautiful reminder that the world is full of tragedy, but life-changing joy and connection might be just around the corner.”

For fans of the film Little Miss Sunshine or Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson. Available as a book, eBook or eAudio.

Catherine recommends "The 13th Day of Christmas"

Holidays can be stressful and gift-giving can be fraught, even though filled with love. This is the story of a perplexed man who is the recipient of all of the gifts from the Twelve Days of Christmas, from the partridges in pear trees to the twelve drummers drumming. Adam Rex wrote and illustrated this book - his illustrations perfectly show the cacophony, confusion, and also the joy that results from so many people, animals, and NOISE all showing up on one man’s doorstep. In desperation, the man goes to see his mother for advice. His journey turns into a parade, and that turns into a chance meeting that gives him an idea of how he can put all of these abundant gifts towards a good purpose. Love and humor abound in this book. It is a great new Christmas story to share; it will make you laugh when you are feeling overwhelmed.  

Recommended for children (and their families!)

Catherine recommends "The Last Resort"

 

Ever since her near-death experience during a family road trip, twelve-year old Lila can see ghosts. This is a problem because her family has just moved into the house that they inherited from her grandfather – a large house that is full of ghosts (including the ghost of Lila’s grandfather) who have unfinished business.  With the help of her little brother, Caleb, and her new ghost-obsessed neighbor, Teddy, Lila tries to understand why the ghosts are so upset and how she can help them. This is a delightfully eerie book from the multiple award-winning author Erin Entrada Kelly. It is just spooky enough to satisfy elementary students who are beginning to have an interest in horror, but not so spooky it will keep them up at night.

In addition to being a great story, there is a bonus interactive element to the book that is sure to engage young sleuths and ghost-hunters: You can scan a QR code at the end of the book to learn more about some of the ghostly characters. You can even help them resolve their unfinished business by doing a few simple puzzles.

This book is the first in what will be a new series – each written by a different author -  so if you read it and enjoy it, you can find out more about Teddy in The Claiming by Jasmine Warga, which comes out in January 2026.

Recommended for upper elementary and middle school.

 

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"

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

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.