“Have tissues on hand when you play this game. I felt so many emotions while playing. It’s filled with lovable, memorable characters that you will probably get attached to. The gameplay is also very enjoyable and some days I found myself not wanting to put it down.” – Gina, Circulation

In this cozy management game, you play as Stella, a ferrymaster that cares for various spirits before they end their journey to the afterlife. Every spirit needs a comfy spot to sleep and good food to eat, so it’s your job to make them happy. In return, they’ll teach you something that might be helpful on your journey. Spiritfarer takes you on a journey to various islands where you’ll meet some interesting characters and find materials to upgrade your ship.

“I took this book with me several times to restaurants to read the chapter “And You May Ask Yourself, Well, How Did I Get Here?” to friends. We laughed, as it is supposed to be humorous, but mostly we sat there stunned at the end of the chapter as Kimberly outlines the sixteen steps of the “experiment” that marriage REALLY consists of, in a way that I’ve never seen before, meaning, spot-on.” – Kelly, Kids Room

Digging into the history of her 20 years of marriage, Kimberly manages to explain what went right, what went wrong, and why women shouldn’t continue to feel bad for wanting more.

“It’s pizza. It’s jokes. It’s even a little bit sciencey. It’s also Kyle Scheele, who I was delighted to find was the same guy I follow on social media. This is a hilariously high-energy and silly read that I think would make a fantastic Mystery Reader picture book (or read-out-loud-together-at-home book) for a hilarious, high-energy, and silly reader!” – DG Library Staff

What happens when your dad owns a pizza shop? You can put anything you want on a pizza! But, what if you try to add *literally* everything?

“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.

“Well-researched and non-exploitative, with illustrations in a drab grey, the book traces Gein’s life from growing up with an alcoholic father and verbally abusive mother, carving out a hermit-like existence as an adult except for handyman jobs, and all the while moving forward in his psychosis, driven by an unwavering devotion to his mother.” – Karen, Adult & Teen Services

A true crime graphic novel rendition of the necrophile serial killer Eddie Gein, who, in the 1950s, killed women and robbed graves to create household items. His life was the basis for films such as Psycho and Silence of the Lambs.

“A great new addition to the historical mystery genre. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!” – Lora, Adult & Teen Services

It’s 1946 and journalist Billie Walker is back home in Sydney running her father’s private investigation agency. Most of Billie’s cases involve marital disputes, but client Mrs. Brown hires her to find her son, Adin, who is missing. Billie’s investigation leads her through both the upper and lower classes of society along with providing a great sense of place in post-war Sydney for the reader in addition to the fashions of the time.

“Taussig’s short essays are beautiful and incredibly powerful. She demonstrates that disability affects everyone at some point and will make you think about the world we all live in, disabled or not. A must-read!” – Amanda, Adult & Teen Services

Growing up as a paralyzed girl during the 90s and early 2000s, Rebekah Taussig only saw disability depicted as something monstrous (The Hunchback of Notre Dame), inspirational (Helen Keller), or angelic (Forrest Gump). None of this felt right; and as she got older, she longed for more stories that allowed disability to be complex and ordinary, uncomfortable and fine, painful and fulfilling. Writing about the rhythms and textures of what it means to live in a body that doesn’t fit, Rebekah reflects on everything from the complications of kindness and charity, living both independently and dependently, experiencing intimacy, and how the pervasiveness of ableism in our everyday media directly translates to everyday life.

“I loved learning more about written American Sign Language and the Deaf community. A great realistic teen read with romance and disability representation!” – Kira, Adult & Teen Services

Deaf teen Maya moves across the country and must attend a hearing school for the first time. As if that wasn’t hard enough, she also has to adjust to the hearing culture, which she finds frustrating—and also surprising when some classmates, including Beau Watson, take time to learn ASL. As Maya looks past graduation and focuses on her future dreams, nothing, not even an unexpected romance, will not derail her pursuits. But when people in her life—Deaf and hearing alike—ask her to question parts of her Deaf identity, Maya stands proudly, never giving in to the idea that her Deafness is a disadvantage.

“With a great sense of place–Chicago, no less, and relatable characters, this is an enjoyable read about following your passions and finding your voice.” – Lora, Kids Room

With her two best friends in a different 5th-grade class, Maya figures it’s going to be a bummer of a school year. But her discovery of a robot named Ralph might help change that.

“I think we all have been touched by mental illness in some way, whether it’s ourselves or someone we love. It was inspiring to read about someone who lived through it and learned to appreciate life despite their illness. This book is filled with hope.” – Gina, Circulation

In this inspiring and emotional memoir, Matt Haig, author of ‘The Midnight Library,’ depicts his own experience with depression and how he overcame his mental illness.

“This book may be short in length, but its impact will be long lasting on any reader. 100% worth picking up and reading as soon as you can.” – Amanda, Adult & Teen Services

Erica Martin’s debut poetry collection walks readers through the Civil Rights Movement—from the well-documented events that shaped the nation’s treatment of Black people, beginning with the “Separate but Equal” ruling—and introduces lesser-known figures and moments that were just as crucial to the Movement and our nation’s centuries-long fight for justice and equality. Complete with historical photographs, author’s note, chronology of events, research, and sources.

“Very well written. Gives glimpses into Bronzeville, its people, and its history. I’ve visited a few times, but didn’t know very much about its history or the people who live there.” – Amy, Adult & Teen Services/Kids Room 

I picked up this memoir because of its author, Dawn Turner Trice. I’ve read many of her pieces over the years in the Chicago Tribune. This book is a memoir of her life. It’s the story of a woman who grew up in Bronzeville, attended U of I, and went on to work for the Tribune. It’s the story of Dawn and her sister and her best friend who all took very different paths in life. It’s the story of the evolution of Bronzeville, a neighborhood in Chicago where many people of color, including Dawn’s grandmother, settled after the Great Migration. It’s very well written and moving. It’s tragic and beautiful and triumphant at the same time.

“Told with a Shakespeare beat, an honest and thoughtful movie to bring about real change.” – Kelly, Kids Room 

After the murder of a child by a stray bullet, a group of women organizes against the ongoing violence in Chicago’s Southside, creating a movement that challenges the nature of race, sex, and violence in America and around the world.

“With its wide cast of characters and interesting puzzle, this book was a real treat.” – Lora, Adult & Teen Services

In this dark comedic novel, widower Felix Pink is an “Exiteer.” He, along with a partner, sits with someone who is terminally ill as the client takes their own life. It’s all done within the law, but one day it goes horribly wrong. Exit recounts the tale of the police–specifically PC Calvin Bridge–unraveling the crime that was committed and arresting who’s responsible. Felix, meanwhile, tries to make amends with the man mistakenly left alive.

“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.