Fire in the East – Warrior of Rome by Harry Sidebottom

“I’ve always been interested in history, particularly that of Rome and Greece. This series is fiction, however it is based off of true events and the main protagonist himself, Marcus Clodius Ballista, is based off an actual Roman general Ballista, also known as Callistus. A lot of the big plot points throughout the series (the assassination of the Roman Emperor Maximus Thrax) are actual events that did happen and if you’re familiar with the history of Rome you will recognize plenty of other names and places that appear throughout the series.” – Tony, Circulation

The series follows Ballista, an Anglo-Saxon turned Roman general as he attempts to navigate not only the bloodied battlefields of Rome but also the political turmoil of a Roman Empire on the brink of collapse.

Dragon Age: Inquisition by Bio-Ware

“Magic, sword fights, politics, hard choices, hilarious/thoughtful/moving banter, and romance. This is a 2014 game and remains my favorite.” – Kelly K., Circulation

Mages, once confined to towers with their magic constantly supervised and often brutally punished by the Chantry’s Templar Order, have rebelled. A civil war is brewing. Peace minded mages and clergy meet to discuss terms… but are massacred by an explosion so powerful that it tears a hole in the sky. As the blast’s sole survivor, only you and your team can bring the world back from the brink of destruction. Gorgeous openworld game, choice-based action and consequences, lots of humor, and 8 different romance-able characters to woo. (PS4, XBOX 360, XBOX ONE)

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

“This is a refreshingly unique space adventure that will keep readers on their toes until the end. I just want to put this into as many hands as possible” – DG Library Staff

Two boys, alone in space. After the first settler on Titan trips her distress signal, neither remaining country on Earth can afford to scramble a rescue of its own, and so two sworn enemies are installed in the same spaceship. Ambrose wakes up on the Coordinated Endeavor, with no memory of a launch. There’s more that doesn’t add up: Evidence indicates strangers have been on board, the ship’s operating system is voiced by his mother, and his handsome, brooding shipmate has barricaded himself away. But nothing will stop Ambrose from making his mission succeed—not when he’s rescuing his own sister. In order to survive the ship’s secrets, Ambrose and Kodiak will need to work together and learn to trust one another… especially once they discover what they are truly up against. Love might be the only way to survive.

The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon

“First, I laughed until I cried. Then, I cried until I cried more. This one was life-changing for me personally. Imagine if She-Ra & the Princesses of Power was rated R and told from Catra’s POV? (Except I love Wyatt far, far more.)” – Kelly K., Circulation

In Asalin, fae rule and witches serve… or worse. Wyatt’s betrothal to Emyr was meant to change all that, but instead he fled to the human world. Despite transgender Wyatt’s newfound identity and troubling past, Emyr tracks him down and claims they must marry to avert civil war back home. Jaded, Wyatt strikes a deal with the enemy, hoping to escape Asalin forever. But as the witches face worsening conditions, he must decide what’s more important – his own freedom or his people’s.

Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Rise of Kyoshi by F. C. Yee

“As a fan of the television series Avatar: The Last Airbender, I was excited to dive deeper into that universe with Earthbender Avatar Kyoshi’s origin story. Just like the television series, this story has its fair share of emotions and heartwarming storylines involving friendship and LGBTQ+ representation, to the heartbreaking reality of personal loss, impoverishment, and surviving in a world of political corruption. For fans of the Avatar: The Last Airbender series, this is a book worth picking up, and a hard one to put back down.” – Lane, Circulation

Set in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender, readers journey into the origins of Avatar Kyoshi. Beginning with her humble roots in the Earth Kingdom, we follow Kyoshi as she stumbles into her position as the Avatar and journeys across the world in the pursuit of justice.

The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep by Allan Wolf

“Very well written and researched, non-judgmental” – Kelly P., Kids Room

The Donner Party like you’ve never heard about it before, told from multiple points of view, including Hunger and the oxen, in addition to the people who suffered through the trip.

 

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End by Naughty Dog

“I’m a married woman in my 30s, and my husband and I (like Nate and Elena) often wonder whether life is merely a series of bills to be paid. Uncharted 4 resonated with me on so many levels. The globe-trotting is thrilling, the scenery is gorgeous, the puzzles and secret passages are atmospheric. There are car chases, cliff-scaling, (non-gore-y) gunfights, consistently funny quips and banter, bro-time with the guys, and romance. It’s Indiana Jones + Tomb Raider + Jason Bourne + Pirates of the Caribbean (the 1st one, of course!) all rolled into one. But more than that, it’s a cinematic story about being yourself while accepting new phases of your life.” – Kelly, Circulation

Nathan Drake is an ex-treasure-hunter who’s been out of the game for years. Though his marriage to journalist Elena is a happy one, the tedium of staying in one place is wearing him down. He eagerly throws himself back into an adventure to help someone from his past… even if that means lying to his wife and putting himself and (fan-favorite) Victor “Sully” Sullivan back into bad guys’ cross-hairs.

Your Name = Kimi no na wa by Makoto Shinkai

“Glorious animation, emotional voice acting (I watched the original Japanese version), a perfect soundtrack, and a surprisingly-edge-of-your-seat teen romance collide in Your Name. At a certain moment, I began crying… and basically cried all the way through to the credits. Empathetic tears, nervous tears, sad tears, happy tears. A beautiful roller coaster of a film experience!” – Kelly, Circulation

Mitsuha and Taki are strangers. She lives in a rural town and he’s in faraway Tokyo. Yet they begin regularly waking up in each other’s bodies. Navigating their swapped daily lives, friendships, families, and jobs… they grow to know one another intimately. Is this Fate? The tug of the Universe itself? Will they ever meet one another as their true selves?

The Pyrates by George MacDonald Fraser

“The Pyrates has a colorful world ranging from dungeon fortresses to desert islands to native villages. In many ways, it seems like a Saturday morning cartoon for adults.” – Max, IT
The Pyrates is a comical sea adventure during the golden age of piracy. It follows a large cast of over-the-top characters as they each pursue their own goals, some of which may be wealth, noble missions, or romance.

Leave Only Footprints: My Acadia-to-Zion Journey Through Every National Park by Conor Knighton

“This was a lovely easy read, and I laughed out loud more than once at Conor’s mishaps on his journey across all the Parks. Great spring to summer read!” – Joy, Adult & Teen Services

This was a lovely, somewhat cheeky memoir about a 30 something guy who loves to travel, especially in the National Parks. It was a light-hearted walk through some of the more well-known parks, and it was peppered with his thoughts on life, love, and how the Parks are faring with climate change.

A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell

“I loved Virginia Hall’s courage and indomitable spirit, breaking through sexist barriers at that time in history.” – Mary P., Circulation

A captivating true story about how one courageous woman helped change the views of women in warfare forever.

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

“It is VERY funny—the audiobook is fantastic, with amusing accents” – DGPL Staff

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is a Viking boy whose father is head of his tribe. During his tribe’s initiation, he proves himself to be a brave risk-taker! Hiccup’s dragon Toothless, adds much comedy to the novel.

The Adventures of a South Pole Pig by Chris Kurtz

“Flora is an adorable character, who is brave and kind. There are many funny situations, and themes of loyalty and friendship are explored.” – DGPL Staff

Flora is a plucky pig who dreams of becoming a sled-pig. (sled-dog) Miraculously, she fulfills this dream and saves the day when her ship gets stuck in the ice.

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Blodgett House

This house has architectural significance as the second or third oldest house in the Village. It also has cultural significance as an active stopover point on the Underground Railroad.

Ellis Island Records

Over 60 million records of immigrants who came through Ellis Island and the Port of New York from 1820 - 1957.

Family Search

Create a free account to access billions of records worldwide including censuses, church records, vital records, naturalization documents, passenger arrival lists, digitized books, and more. Use the FamilySearch Wiki and the FamilySearch Learning Center to learn about topics within genealogy. The Downers Grove Public Library is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library which can provide access to locked records.
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Fold3

Tens of millions of military records, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of individuals who served.
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Illinois State Archives

Statewide Death Index Pre-1916 – 1950, Marriage Index 1763 – 1900, and Illinois Veterans Index.