Staff Recommendations, Week of August 27, 2024

 

It's the last week of August, and folks, it is a scorcher. Our first recommendation this week is to find a shady spot to stay cool with a book. Or, hey, for the sun worshippers out there, find a place to catch some rays as you flip pages - just stay hydrated as you do. And what books should you pick for this mission? Glad you asked.

Our first staff rec this weeks comes from Kathy Herbst. She recommends The Dark Wives, the latest Vera Stanhope mystery by Ann Cleeves. Kathy says: "She's back! Vera Stanhope, difficult and contentious, is also a brilliant and tenacious detective. The 11th book in the series dives deep into the reality of residential homes for troubled teenagers, focusing on the murder of a care worker and the disappearance of Chloe, who goes missing from the home the night of the murder. Are the two linked and, if so, how? This is the mystery that Vera and her team must solve by chipping away bit by bit to get at the truth. Excellent addition to this series."

Next up, it's the extraordinarily titled new YA novel from Ransom Riggs, Sunderworld, Vol. I: The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry. It comes with Jen Steele's recommendation. Jen says: "Did you ever daydream of being transported to your favorite fantasy world, to maybe even be the chosen one to save the day? For Leopold Berry, that’s all he’s thought about since his mother’s death. Sunderworld is more than just some old 90s fantasy TV show to Leopold, it’s a connection to his mother. And now, five years later, the very characters from Sunderworld are showing up in Leopold’s world. Is this real or is it fantasy?  This was such a fun read! Hidden portals, magic, humor, and an average teenager you will root for along every disappointment that befalls him."

And now we've got a picture book for the kids and kids at heart. The title is The Boy and the Elephant, the author/illustrator is Freya Blackwood, and the rec is from Jen: "The Boy and the Elephant is a touching wordless picture book about a boy saving his friend, the tree next door, before it's cut down. Imaginative and wonderful, this would make for an engaging story time with your child."

And those are the recs. Stay cool, readers, and until next week (and the beginning of the classic fall onslaught of many, many, MANY new releases), read on.