Soak Up the Season: Late-Summer Reads Chosen by Your YPL Staff
Michelle:
One Long River of Song: Notes on Wonder by Brian Doyle
A friend recommended this to me (I wish I could remember who!) and I have no idea how I have never heard of this man. I’m not a big reader of essays, but this book…. THIS BOOK! His essays aren’t long; I read the entire book in an afternoon. “The Greatest Nature Essay Ever” is worth the price of admission alone: I read it three times, one after the other. Simply put, Doyle is a wonderful writer – of family, of nature, of everyday life.
Barb:
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
I thought it was going to be armageddon and intense, which it was at times, but I was more enthralled with how he tried to survive in his shuttle and had me intrigued from beginning to end.
Devon:
The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen
Very late to this book series but a kid recommended it to me, which a YPL staff member recommended to them. Loving the first two books so far!
Devin:
Devils by Joe Abercrombie
I’ve been on a Joe Abercrombie/Grim Dark kick lately. A great, formulaic fantasy read with just enough twist to make it more interesting than his other works.
Erin:
The Mysterious Bakery on Rou de Paris by Evie Woods
Croissants in France with a small side of magic? Yes please! If you are looking for a lovely French escape, this book is it!
Lynn:
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
I stumbled upon Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling and it was well worth the detour! Eighth Grader Aven Green was born without arms. She loves making up stories about how she “lost them” (alligator wrestling, anyone?) and has loads of accepting friends at her Kansas middle school. When she suddenly has to move to Arizona, where her parents are going to be running a rundown theme park called “Stagecoach Pass”, she is very much the “curiosity” and outsider again. Aven ends up bonding with Connor, who experiences his own feelings of isolation due to his Tourette’s. These two friends end up discovering and solving mysteries around Stagecoach Pass and even add another boy to their clan, Zon (Zion), who struggles with being accepted by his peers due to body shaming. I loved the messages about helping and accepting others, making friends, and facing your fears. Even though this is geared towards YA/Middle Graders, I loved this story as an adult.