May 2024 Staff PicksLike this list

10 items

• Summer at Squee

  Wang, Andrea,

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  Phoenny Fang is excited to be back at SQUEE - a Chinese cultural summer camp she attends every year with her "squad." But this year is somehow different - the new kids aren't fitting in and Phoenny can't understand why they're not as excited to be…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• A Day With No Words

  Hammond, Tiffany,

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  “My son does not speak, but his ears work just fine. The words that you say go straight to his mind.” This heartfelt picture book invites readers into the life of an autism family, where communication happens without spoken language. Winner of the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Gone Wolf

  McBride, Amber,

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  I loved that there was a story within a story in this book. A blend of dystopian and realistic, we follow a young girl with two realities- both of which are hard. This book was not what I was expecting in the best way! Themes of sadness, hope, and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Don't Want You Like a Best Friend

  a Novel

  Alban, Emma R.,

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  The Victorian, queer retelling of The Parent Trap you didn't know you needed. Is the premise a little weird? Yes, yes it is, but it's also full of depth, humor, and a lot of YA crossover appeal. -Sarah S.

• After That Night

  Slaughter, Karin, 1971-

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  “After That Night” by Karin Slaughter is a must read. Dr. Sara Linton treats a young woman (Dani Cooper) in the ER who has come in because of a brutal attack. As the investigation into what happened to Dani progresses, Sara finds the case parallels…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Emperor and the Endless Palace

  Huang, Justinian,

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  Told through three alternating timelines and imbued with influences from Chinese folklore and history, this book poses the question: what if the feeling of love is actually just the feeling of recognition from a past life? Sensual, fantastical, and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Burning Roses

  Huang, S. L.,

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  I love a story of family, regret, and forgiveness. I was riveted by the interplay between Rosa and Hou Yi's stories--of the past haunting the present, and how changing your perspective can change your future. Also, such an enchanting mashup of…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Library Book

  Orlean, Susan,

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  I recently enjoyed "The Library Book" by Susan Orlean. This reads like a mix of history vignettes and light true crime while outlining some of the history of the Los Angeles Public Library and the fire that occurred at their central library in 1986.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Wrong Way Home

  O'Shaughnessy, Kate,

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  I listened to The Wrong Way Home by Kate O'Shaughnessy. Fern and her mother are on the run from their cult. She must now adjust to living life outside everything she's known, or must she? -Mollie L.

• The Trials of Morrigan Crow

  Townsend, Jessica, 1985-

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  I'm re-reading the Wundersmith series featuring Morrigan Crow since book 4 is coming out in September. A favorite of library folk who like to read middle grade fantasy. Fantastic world-building, well developed characters, and adventure galore.…Read moreRead more of this annotation