Readers Corner

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Discover library services for readers, scroll through librarian recommended reads, and find links to a variety of book-related resources.

Library Services for Readers

Recommended Adult Titles

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The Mating Game

Two wolf shifters reluctant to love discover there’s no fighting the call of the wild in this steamy romance by USA Today bestselling author Lana Ferguson.

Contractor Tess Covington has spent her entire life as a regular non-shifter human, so after she lands in the Denver ER with flu-like symptoms, it comes as a complete shock to be told that, no, she’s not sick—she’s actually a late-presenting omega wolf shifter. With her family in dire financial straits and a contract for her own television show on the line, she can’t afford not to complete the renovation job she came for. And given that her newly emerged wolf is in danger of going into heat, she’ll just have to do her best to follow the doctor’s advice to keep away from alpha shifters.

Alpha wolf Hunter Barrett has spent most of his adult life living by a routine, and a big part of that involves staying clear of omegas after having one stomp on his heart. So when the tiny contractor shows up at his place smelling like the one thing he’s determined to avoid, he thinks it must be some sort of cosmic joke. But with his lodge on the verge of failing and this sweet-smelling omega his only hope to turn things around . . . he’s left with few other options than to grin and bear it.

Set on avoiding each other as much as possible, they find things unexpectedly starting to heat up between them enough to thaw even the frostiest of hearts. Though even with the pair going head over paws for each other, there’s no changing that their fling has an expiration date. The more time they spend together, the more they realize they’re playing a dangerous game—one where the only thing on the line is their hearts.

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Sweet Venom (Deluxe Edition)

**The limited deluxe edition comes with foiling, printed edges, and exclusive art**

From New York Times bestselling author Rina Kent comes the second book in the Vipers series, a dark hockey romance set in a glamorous secret world.

Can I outrun his merciless obsession?

I accidentally witnessed a brutal murder.

I froze, pretended I saw nothing, hoping I could leave it behind.

But my plan backfired, and my life spiraled downward.

Now, I'm the target of cold-blooded revenge.

Jude Callahan isn't just a hockey god--he's a devil no one dares to cross.

My existence disrupts his stardom, prestige, and possible serial killer career choice.

And he's set out to make me pay for that moment of silence.

No matter how much I run or hide, he finds me, watching from the shadows.

Like a predator.

I thought he'd stop at the stalking.

Or even better, he'd kill me and finally end my misery.

But Jude has other plans.

He says I can't die. I have to pay for my sins.

And just like that, he drags me into his depraved world, kicking and screaming.

Delicious tropes:

  • Dark romance
  • Secret society
  • Stalker romance
  • Hockey
  • Enemies to lovers

Praise for the Vipers series:

"The dark hockey romance/secret society combo that I truly did not know I needed, but it gave me everything." -- Goodreads review

"Dark. Nefarious. Dirty. Thought-provoking. Suspenseful. Action. Lies. Betrayal. Trust. Murder. Violence. Off-the-charts hot!" -- Amazon review

"Thrillingly good... This book had me by the throat." -- Goodreads review

"Rina Kent is known for her inventive, witty, charming, and evil characters. This dark hockey thriller is no different. Cannot wait for the next books in the series." -- Amazon review

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I, Medusa

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From New York Times bestselling author Ayana Gray comes a “captivating villain origin story” (People Book of the Week), reimagining one of the most iconic monsters in Greek mythology as a provocative and powerful young heroine.

The first edition hardcover features stunning sprayed edges, a premium dust jacket with foil, and a gorgeous custom-stamped case—while supplies last!

“Ayana Gray brings her fresh, dynamic storytelling to one of the most monstered, maligned, and misunderstood women of Greek myth, imagining all the girls that Medusa was and could have been.”—Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne

AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

Meddy has spent her whole life as a footnote in someone else’s story. Out of place next to her beautiful, immortal sisters and her parents—both gods, albeit minor ones—she dreams of leaving her family’s island for a life of adventure. So when she catches the eye of the goddess Athena, who invites her to train as an esteemed priestess in her temple, Meddy leaps at the chance to see the world beyond her home.

In the colorful market streets of Athens and the clandestine chambers of the temple, Meddy flourishes in her role as Athena’s favored acolyte, getting her first tastes of purpose and power. But when she is noticed by another Olympian, Poseidon, the course of Meddy’s promising future is suddenly and irrevocably altered.

When her locs are transformed into snakes as punishment for a crime she did not commit, Medusa must embrace a new identity—not as a victim, but as a vigilante—and with it, the chance to write her own story as mortal, martyr, and myth.

Exploding with rage, heartbreak, and love, I, Medusa portrays a young woman caught in the crosscurrents between her heart’s deepest desires and the cruel, careless games the Olympian gods play.

Recommended YA Titles

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The House of Quiet

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hide comes a dark fantasy about a girl who will risk everything—posing as a maid, confronting powerful enemies, and unraveling deadly secrets—all to save her missing sister from the enigmatic House of Quiet.

“A brilliant, imaginative fantasy.” —Allison Saft, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wings of Starlight

"A chilling, dystopic world enclosed in a locked-room mystery." —Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights 

To save her sister, she must enter the House.

In the middle of a deadly bog sits the House of Quiet. It’s a place for children whose Procedure triggered powers too terrible to be lived with—their last hope for treatment. No one knows how they’re healed or where they go afterward.

Birdie has begged, bargained, and blackmailed her way inside as a maid, determined to find her missing sister, Magpie. But what she discovers is more mysteries. Instead of the destitute children who undergo the Procedure in hopes of social advancement, the house brims with aristocratic teens wielding strange powers they never should have been burdened with.

Though Birdie wants to ignore them, she can’t help being drawn to stoic and silent Forest, charmed by clever River, and concerned for the youngest residents. And with fellow maid Minnow keeping tabs on everything Birdie does, danger is everywhere.

In her desperate search for Magpie, Birdie unearths terrifying threats and devastating truths, forcing her to confront just how much she’s willing to sacrifice to save her own sister. Because in the House of Quiet, if you find what’s lurking beneath . . . you lose everything.

Unravel the mystery. Ignite the rebellion.

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A Spell to Wake the Dead

Two teen girls must uncover the dark, occult secrets lurking in their Cape Cod town to solve a series of murders—and save themselves from the same fate—in this twisty, witchy thriller.

“Steeped in uniquely New England coastal magic, A Spell to Wake the Dead kept me on the edge of my seat as the bodies and mysteries kept washing ashore. Lesperance weaves an enthralling, atmospheric thriller that pulls you in from the first page. Tense, twisty, and deliciously witchy, it was just about impossible to put down.” —Louangie Bou-Montes, author of Till the Last Beat of My Heart

When Mazzy and her best friend Nora sneak down to the beach one moonlit night to cast a spell, they don’t expect to find a dead body. But as the tide rolls in, it carries the remains of a woman who is missing her hands and teeth.

The girls know they should leave the investigation to the police, but they can’t shake the weird, supernatural connection they feel with the dead woman. Using spellwork and divination, they set out to find answers of their own. But after they uncover a rash of local disappearances stretching back years—and both girls start having occult visions and hearing ghostly, whispering voices—Mazzy worries that she and Nora are in danger.

Then, Nora finds a second body. And the whispering voice is telling her where to find more. With everything spiraling, Mazzy needs to figure out who to trust and how to sever this supernatural connection—or she and Nora might be the next bodies to wash up on the beach.

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The Book of Dust: The Rose Field (Book of Dust, Volume 3)

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The breathtaking conclusion to Philip Pullman’s landmark new trilogy The Book of Dust! Return to the world of His Dark Materials and discover what fate has in store for Lyra, “one of fantasy’s most indelible heroines” (The New York Times Magazine).

“Pullman’s abilities as a storyteller are stupendous, and on full display.”—The Atlantic

“Tremendously entertaining.”—Slate

Lyra Silvertongue is alone in a city haunted by daemons, searching for her beloved Pan. Malcolm Polstead isn’t far behind, searching for Lyra. And they are both racing toward the desert of Karamakan, following the trail of roses said to hold the secret of Dust.

Their allies and enemies are converging on the mysterious red building at the heart of the desert: Marcel Delamare and the military might of the Magisterium; the radical Men from the Mountains; scientists, scholars, and spies; troops of witches and other people of the air. And awaiting them all is a previously unseen and chilling new threat that will change everything.

The intertwining odysseys of Malcolm and Lyra, their journeys both internal and external, will test their limits and challenge even their most dearly held beliefs.

As ever, Philip Pullman is using the language of fantasy to illuminate our world and to explore the deepest questions of what it means to be alive and awake to all the splendors and horrors around us. The extraordinary novels of The Book of Dust speak powerfully to today’s readers and will take their place alongside the forever-favorites of His Dark Materials.

Look for the entire trilogy of THE BOOK OF DUST:
La Belle Sauvage • The Secret Commonwealth • The Rose Field

And Lyra’s adventures begin in HIS DARK MATERIALS:
The Golden Compass • The Subtle Knife • The Amber Spyglass

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Sisters in the Wind

A Good Morning America Book Club Pick!

From the instant New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper’s Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed comes a daring new mystery about a foster teen claiming her heritage on her own terms.

Ever since Lucy Smith’s father died five years ago, “home” has been more of an idea than a place. She knows being on the run is better than anything waiting for her as a “ward of the state”. But when the sharp-eyed and kind Mr. Jameson with an interest in her case comes looking for her, Lucy wonders if hiding from her past will ever truly keep her safe.

Five years in the foster system has taught her to be cautious and smart. But she wants to believe Mr. Jameson and his “friend-not-friend”, a tall and fierce-looking woman who say they want to look after her. They also tell Lucy the truth her father hid from her: She is Ojibwe; she has – had – a sister, and more siblings, a grandmother who’d look after her and a home where she would be loved.

But Lucy is being followed. The past has destroyed any chance at safety she had. Will the secrets she's hiding swallow her whole and take away any hope for the future she always dreamed of?

When the past comes for revenge, it’s fight or flight.

Angeline Boulley's award-winning canon of books puts compelling characters and fast-paced action at the center of narratives rich in historical context. Read Firekeeper's Daughter; Warrior Girl Unearthed; and the soon-to-be-released Sisters of the Wind in any order; but like the world itself, there are echoes within each for the other stories.

Pick this up if you love:
- quiet girls with dark pasts
- explosive opening scenes
- wolves in sheeps’ clothing

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TEST 1984

In George Orwell's dystopian masterpiece, Nineteen Eighty-Four, the reader is plunged into a chilling totalitarian regime where surveillance, language manipulation, and psychological control dominate the human experience. Written in 1949, the novel employs a stark and unembellished prose style that mirrors the grim reality of its oppressive setting, with a narrative that intricately explores themes of individuality, truth, and resistance. Orwell's portrayal of the omnipresent Party, embodied in the chilling figure of Big Brother, serves as a profound commentary on the dangers of unchecked governmental power and the erosion of personal freedoms in the modern age. George Orwell, born Eric Arthur Blair in 1903, had firsthand experience with authoritarianism and social injustice, which deeply influenced his writing. His earlier works, including Animal Farm, reflect his commitment to political commentary and critique of totalitarian regimes. Orwell's experiences as a soldier in the Spanish Civil War and his observations of propaganda during World War II galvanized his vision for Nineteen Eighty-Four—a prescient warning of the deleterious effects of oppressive state control on the human spirit and democratic principles. Highly regarded for its moral urgency and intellectual depth, Nineteen Eighty-Four is an essential read for anyone interested in the interplay between power and individual freedom. This classic resonates today, urging contemporary readers to remain vigilant in the face of authoritarian tendencies and to cherish the fragile nature of truth and autonomy.

Recommended Chapter Books

Recommended Picture Books

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Soy Sauce!

A joyful picture book for kids and foodies of all ages (with real soy sauce as paint!) that celebrates the iconic kitchen staple and the magical way food connects family and friends across the world.

Salty, savory, rich, and even sweet, soy sauce is as fascinating to make as it is delicious to eat!

Luan makes a classic Chinese soy sauce. Haru uses his own recipe at his family's traditional Japanese brewery. And Yoo-mi's Korean soy sauce features special ingredients to make it spicy and sweet.

With unique ingredients that reflect different Asian cultures, and a brewing process that can take years, even decades, soy sauce holds deep meaning and flavorful history in every drop.
 

Praise for Soy Sauce!:
 

✭ "Lee's lively watercolor illustrations of the children gleefully celebrating each stage of the long process pair beautifully with the upbeat text for an informative, engaging story.... A joyful ode to soy sauce that's delicious to the last drop." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review



"Soy Sauce! is a charming celebration of one of our favorite condiments. Delicious!" --Grace Lin, author of Chinese Menu and A Big Mooncake for Little Star



"I can't wait for children and families to learn about the colorful history and process of soy sauce." --Kristina Cho, James Beard-winning author of Chinese Enough and Mooncakes and Milk Bread



"A loving ode to the ways we connect at the table through taste and tradition....A perfect read for your budding epicurean." --Cecily Wong, author of Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide

Online Library Reading Resources

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Novelist Plus

Novelist contains information on over 260,000 fiction and readable nonfiction titles. Features lists of award-winning books, book discussion guides, Read-a-Like recommendations, and complete series information. 

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Beanstack

Join library reading challenges for all ages, including 1000 Books Before Kindergarten and seasonal challenges.

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NextReads

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Goodreads

Goodreads connects a community of readers and allows you to track the books you're reading, have read, and want to read.

Fantastic Fiction

Search and browse the complete works of over 50,000 bestselling fiction authors, with all the latest books and series listed in order.

StoryGraph

StoryGraph is the all-in-one platform for your bookish needs. StoryGraph will help you track your reading and choose your next book based on your mood and your favorite topics and themes.

New York Times Bestsellers List

The New York Times ranked lists of books sold in the United States, sorted by format and genre.