“Not only was mouth-watering food at the center of this story, I thought Sara and Elizabeth showed that it isn’t always easy to keep up a new friendship. It is something that you have to want and work at all the time.” – Miss. Traci, Kids Room

6th graders Sara and Elizabeth are paired up in an after-school cooking class and don’t exactly hit it off. However, they soon discover that they make good cooking partners and team up to win a spot on a local food show by creating a “mouth-watering cross-cultural dish.” If only it were that easy to connect with one another and become actual friends.

“My first five-star read of 2021! It was sweet, it was funny, it was diverse, and the cast of characters pops. It’s one of those books that I finished and was so happy that it exists.” – Erin, Kids Room

Former best friends Lita and Chicky team up to help Lita win the Miss Meteor pageant–a feat that no girl who looks like either of them has ever done. For Lita, winning the pageant means not fading into stardust (yes, really). For Chicky, it’s a way to save her family’s struggling restaurant. Together, along with the boys they may have feelings for, and Chicky’s opinionated older sisters, they’re determined to prove they can win it all.

“It’s psychologically thrilling! Naomi Watts delivers one of the finest performances of her career.” – Jack, Circulation

The director of the critically acclaimed show “Twin Peaks” delivers a mind-bending film about a woman who struggles with the nature of reality as she navigates her acting career in Hollywood.

“This sweet story became an instant classic in my house. I loved the illustrations and Bears expressions throughout.” – Gracie, Kids Room

“Wherever you’re going, I’m going too. Whatever you’re doing, I’m sticking with you”. It’s a nice idea, but what do you do when you want to be “unstuck” from a friend? Bear and Squirrel are the best of friends but sometimes Bear can just be too much. A great tale about sticking by each other (even after needing a little space).

“Reading this book has helped me settle into accepting uncertainty about why things are the way they are. I also developed a greater curiosity for physics and astronomy. Learning about atmosphere and movement will continue to shape the way I look at life.” – Emily, Circulation

This book describes how theories about the shape and formation of the universe have evolved over time. Dr. Hawking uses historical discoveries and diagrams as a way to describe how the universe contains black holes that process matter in a way that is similar to a vacuum. Furthermore, he leaves the unanswered questions of “When?” and “How?” encouraging readers to think critically and to accept uncertainty.

“Sweet, wonderfully paced story about those early stages of attraction against the backdrop of high school. You feel those early emotions with them of “are we friends, or does he like me.” – Karen B., Adult & Teen Services

Quiet Charlie attends an all-boys school and was outed the previous school year. He slowly becomes friends with an older student. Watch their friendship develop into maybe something more.

“If you enjoyed Alan Gratz’s book Prisoner B-3087 you will enjoy Out of Hiding because in real life Ruth Gruener married Jack Gruener! Both are mentioned in their respective books. I also enjoyed that this book is a great introduction for young readers looking to read about the Holocaust. While Ruth tells her story of survival it is mostly about her journey to America and finding her way.” – Miss Traci, Kids Room

This is the story of Ruth Gruener who survived the Holocaust as a young girl with her parents and how they immigrate to New York after the war.

“The best part of the story is that the writer/director team of Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz knew Zack Gottsagen who plays Zak in the movie. They met him at a camp for artists where he was expressing his sincere wish to become a movie star. They were trying to gently inform him that there aren’t a lot of roles for actors who have Down Syndrome, so he asked them to write a movie that he could star in. That was the inspiration behind the script that became the movie.” – Martha, Circulation

This compelling story will grab you from the start.  Zak is a young adult with Down’s syndrome who dreams of being a professional wrestler. Abandoned by his parents, he lives in a small town with limited resources so he must live in a retirement home.  He is very unhappy and makes a break for it with the help of his elderly roommate Carl.  All alone on the road, he befriends a man named Tyler who is on the brink of his own personal crisis. Their unlikely friendship is both heartwarming and sweet (at times hysterical, inspirational).   The story of their journey is one you will not forget, nor will you ever forget Zak.

“This book is a fascinating look into the life of an English aristocrat. In addition to showing the reader what life as an English aristocrat is like, the book portrays Anne as a real person who has experienced both joys and sorrows in life. Despite Anne’s privileges, she has endured many difficulties, including the deaths of two of her children, serious injury to another, and a husband who was very challenging. If you are an Anglophile and loved watching The Crown and Downton Abbey, this is the book for you!” – Nancy, Adult & Teen Services

This fascinating memoir introduces us to Anne Glenconner, the daughter of the Earl of Leicester, who was born in England in the early 1930s. Anne was a childhood friend of Princesses Margaret and Elizabeth, served as a maid of honour at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, and spent over 30 years as a lady in waiting to Princess Margaret. Anne married a very wealthy, but eccentric, man, had five children, traveled the world, hobnobbed with stars on the island of Mustique, and endured numerous family difficulties and tragedies.

“The Silence is a great read for those who like books about family relationships with a suspenseful edge.” – Lora, Adult & Teen Services

Isla decides to return to Sydney because her father tells her that the police have questioned him about a neighbor who went missing thirty years ago. Isla remembers the neighbor, Mandy, because Mandy babysat Isla when Isla was young. The Silence tells the story of Isla’s parents and Mandy and her husband, Steve, in the late 1960’s when they lived next door to each other, along with the contemporary story of Isla trying to uncover what happened to Mandy three decades ago.

“For me to say that this book is carried by its ridiculous premise would be a disservice to the quality of its writing, but the truth is that it has so much thoughtful and adult humor that eventually you take it for granted, and it becomes the natural setting for the mystery our detective is uncovering. When I’m reading, my emotions bounce back and forth from moments of laugh-out-loud comedy about human-suit wardrobe malfunctions to cringing at tense and believable drama. And if you love a story with a great late-game twist, this one has you covered.” – Max, IT

This is a detective novel in the tradition of Dashiell Hammet or Raymond Chandler. A hard-boiled and disillusioned private investigator just wants answers, but gets wrapped up in a conspiracy that could cost him his life. Oh, and did I mention that he’s a velociraptor? Wait, I should also explain that dinosaurs didn’t go extinct, but instead have evolved into more humanoid shapes stuffed uncomfortably into human disguises. It’s very important that humans don’t discover the existence of dinosaurs among them, that might shake society to its core. Anyway, it’s really a detective story about our private eye trying to uncover the truth, seek justice, and navigate the treacherous path between dangerous criminals, manipulative politicians, and mad visionaries, all while keeping the two worlds apart.

“I enjoy all things royal, so this book was perfect for me. I loved reading about the secrecy surrounding Queen Elizabeth’s wedding gown, the exquisite embroidery covering the dress, the excitement surrounding the royal wedding, and life in post-war London. I also enjoyed the personal story of Ann and Miriam, the two lead embroiderers on the dress, and the story of their friendship and lives. This is a feel-good, easy to read book that is perfect for historical fiction fans.” – Nancy, Adult & Teen Services

The Gown is a historical novel about two women, Ann Hughes and Miriam Dassin, who embroidered Queen Elizabeth’s wedding gown for her 1947 wedding. Ann is a Londoner who has lost most of her family and Miriam is a Holocaust survivor who has moved from France to London after the war. The novel provides fascinating detail about the making of the royal wedding gown and also insight into life in post-war London.

“I could so relate to these hilarious essays and am convinced the author and I would become immediate best friends upon meeting, or at least exchange mixtapes.” – Gracie, Kids Room

A collection of self-deprecating and humorous essays from an anxious forty-something that finds herself stuck in the middle of a small Midwest town. Literal laugh-out-loud observations of the every day from Samantha Irby.

This quote hooked me immediately! “Out of the darkness, no more light, now it comes to steal your life. On this day you’ve sealed your fate, by playing what it loves to hate. Once you’re tagged, then you’ll know, the mark appears, it’s your time to go. Now you’re in the final count, it’s closer to the set amount.” – Traci, Kids Room

A simple game of hide and seek turns into a horrible nightmare for Justin and his friends!

“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.