The library has recently purchased many new books. You can view a handful of them here along with descriptions or go to the library catalog to see the full listing.
Fiction
Sankofa by Chibundu Onuzo
A funny, gripping and surprising story of a mixed-race British woman who goes in search of the African father she never knew. Anna grew up in England with her white mother and knowing very little about her African father. In middle age, she finds herself alone and wondering who she really is. Her mother’s death leads her to find her father’s student diaries, chronicling his involvement in radical politics in 1970s London. She also discovers that he is still alive and so begins a fascinating journey, and an exploration of race, identity and what we pass on to our children.
Walking in Two Worlds by Wab Kinew
An indigenous teen girl is caught between two worlds in the YA fantasy. In the real world, Bugz is a shy and self-conscious Indigenous teen who faces the stresses of teenage angst and reserve life. But in the virtual world, her alter ego is not just confident, but dominant in a massive multiplayer video game universe. Feng is a teen boy who has been sent from China to live with his aunt after his online activity suggests he may be developing extremist sympathies. Meeting each other in real life, as well as in the virtual world, Bugz and Feng relate to each other as outsiders and gamers.
Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen
Franzen ventures back into the past and explores the history of two generations. With characteristic humor and complexity and warmth, he conjures a world that resonates powerfully with our own. A tour de force of interwoven perspectives and sustained suspense, Crossroads is the story of a Midwestern family at a pivotal moment of moral crisis.
Bewilderment: A Novel by Richard Powers
Astrobiologist Theo Byrne searches for life throughout the cosmos while single-handedly raising his unusual nine-year-old, Robin, following the death of his wife. Robin is a warm, kind boy who spends hours painting elaborate pictures of endangered animals. He’s also about to be expelled from third grade for smashing his friend in the face. As his son grows more troubled, Theo hopes to keep him off psychoactive drugs. He learns of an experimental neurofeedback treatment to bolster Robin’s emotional control.
Stone Fruit by Lee Lai
Bron and Ray are a queer couple who enjoy their role as the fun aunties to six-year-old Nessie. Their playdates are little oases of wildness, joy, and ease in all three of their lives, which ping-pong between familial tensions and deep-seeded personal stumbling blocks. As their emotional intimacy erodes, Ray and Bron isolate from each other and attempt to repair their broken family ties — Ray with her overworked, resentful single-mother sister and Bron with her religious teenage sister who doesn’t fully grasp the complexities of gender identity. [Graphic Novel]
Non-fiction
Success After Service: How to Take Control of Your Job Search and Career After Military Duty by Lida Citroën
The transition from military to civilian life is more than just a title change; it is a whole new life experience with the sense of excitement and possibility that accompany a transition. Whether preparing to retire or separate, this is written to help all veterans succeed in the civilian workplace. It is the perfect guide for transitioning military and veterans who seek a coherent set of strategies, resources and steps for building a rewarding post-military career.
The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees by Douglas W. Tallamy
Oaks sustain a complex and fascinating web of wildlife. The Nature of Oaks reveals what is going on in oak trees month by month, highlighting the seasonal cycles of life, death, and renewal. Tallamy illuminates and celebrates the wonders that occur right in our own backyards. He also shares practical advice about how to plant and care for an oak, along with information about the best oak species for your area.
The Musical Child: Using the Power of Music to Raise Children Who Are Happy, Healthy, and Whole by Joan Koenig
Joan Koenig has led a global movement to improve children’s lives and minds with the transformative power of music. Koenig shares stories from her classrooms, along with tips about how to use the latest research during the critical years when children are most sensitive to musical exposure and most receptive to its benefits.
Hooked: Food, Free Will, and How the Food Giants Exploit Our Addictions by Michael Moss
Moss explores the science of addiction and uncovers what the scientific and medical communities–as well as food manufacturers–already know, which is that food can, in some cases, be even more addictive than alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs. Hooked lays out all that the food industry is doing to exploit and deepen our addictions, and shows us what we can do so that we can one again seize control.
We Are Here: Visionaries of Color Transforming the Art World by Jasmin Hernandez
The bold and nuanced work of Black and Brown visionaries transforming the art world, with a particular focus on queer, trans and nonbinary artists. Striking photography of art, creative spaces, materials, and the subjects themselves is paired with intimate interviews that engage with each artist and influencer, delving into their creative process and unpacking how each subject actively works to create a more radically inclusive world across the entire art ecosystem.
Summaries adapted from publishers.