Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
Title: Backyard Bird Chronicles
Author: Amy Tan
Review: I loved Tan's journey as a bird watcher and her development as an illustrator,
and how she catches the details of the little birds she draws and their personalities.
Review by: Julie
The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke
Title: The Wood at Midwinter
Author: Susanna Clarke
Review: A young woman sets out for a simple walk in the midwinter woods with her animal companions… but an unexpected encounter in the heart of the wood promises to change her world forever. Beautifully illustrated and slightly eerie, this delightful tale set in the world of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is one that you shouldn’t miss!
Review by: Jo
The Secret History of Bigfoot by John O’Connor
Title: The Secret History of Bigfoot
Author: John O’Connor
Review: This is not your typical book on the famous cryptid. It’s more a sociological exploration of belief.
The author writes as a skeptic but with a lot of warmth and interest in understanding the obsession society often has with the unexplainable.
As the book states, “It’s in the Pacific Northwest where Bigfoot’s story begins.”
Review by: Layne
Lonely Planet Hidden Libraries by DC Helmuth
Title: Lonely Planet Hidden Libraries
Author: DC Helmuth
Review: When most of of think of libraries, we have a specific image of what a library looks like. But just look at all the forms a library can take with this tour around the globe. Some of them are so creative!
Review by: Ben
All the Books by Haley Rocco
Title: All the Books
Author: Haley Rocco
Review: The most amazing children’s book I have read in a LONG time! The illustrations and the message in this book are just fabulous.
I highly recommend this book for everyone who has a child on their Santa list.
Review by: Jan
Storybook Ending by Poppy Alexander
Title: Storybook Ending
Author: Poppy Alexander
Review: A quaint little book, about a small little village and the young woman who wants to be a illustrator for children’s books who is down on her luck. She’s a widow and finds out she’s pregnant. Through it all, there are wonderful characters that help her. And of course, there is a broody Lord of the manner. What could be better than a small English village, new friends, new beginnings, and a cup of tea?
Review by: Julie
All The Colors Of The Dark by Chris Whitaker
Title: All The Colors Of The Dark
Author: Chris Whitaker
Review: A “suspense” novel in the truest sense. If you like psychological thrillers, here you go. I LOVED this book.
Review by: Jan
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
Title: What Moves the Dead
Author: T. Kingfisher
Review: This chilling tale follows Alex Easton, a retired soldier returning home after receiving an urgent request for assistance from an ailing childhood friend. But what Alex finds at the Usher Estate is something else entirely. As Alex investigates their friend’s bizarre illness, the creeping fungi surrounding the estate, and the unnerving hares inhabiting its grounds, they begin to wonder if something far more sinister is at play. …And what about the strange lake with an unearthly, pulsing glow situated beside the Usher’s home? Why are they so drawn to it?
Review by: Jo
Farewell Tour by Stephanie Clifford
Title: Farewell Tour
Author: Stephanie Clifford
Review: Set in Walla Walla, Farewell Tour follows the career of Lillian Waters, country music star. Lillian grapples with her past as she travels home for her final concert at the Walla Walla County Fair.
Review by: Jannelle
Dark Archives by Megan Rosenbloom
Title: Dark Archives
Author: Megan Rosenbloom
Review: Not as creepy as it seems at first, this book is as much about medical forensics as the questions dealing with the preservation of rare materials.
Review by: Ben
What Doesn't Break by Cassandra Khaw
Title: What Doesn't Break
Author: Cassandra Khaw
Review: More than anything, all Laudna wants is a friend. Brutally murdered for someone else's war, then she awoke. Even death rejected her. A heart wrenching story of death, and loss, and just wanting to be loved.
Review by: Kiana
Never Whistle At Night by Shane Hawk
Title: Never Whistle At Night
Author: Shane Hawk
Review: Buckle up for a collection of bone-chilling folk horror stories, all from indigenous authors. There is a belief among many Native cultures that one should never whistle at night. Why? Get ready to become unsettled with some rich cultural lore that answers this question.
Review by: Layne
A Brief History of Intelligence by Max Bennett
Title: A Brief History of Intelligence
Author: Max Bennett
Review: Starting from the earliest principles of how neurons work, all the way up to the present day, the author outlines how brains do what they do. If you like details about brain function, you'll probably like this book.
Review by: Ben
Good Energy by Casey Means
Title: Good Energy
Author: Casey Means
Review: This book is amazing, eye-opening, and filled with so much information that honestly I’ve had to reread it twice, highlighting and taking notes while doing so. There’s lots of info about our foods to solve problems with our health. It is such a game changer of a book. It also goes into so much detail of what highly processed foods can do to harm our body and our families bodies. Don’t let this book overwhelm you. Take little chunks at a time. It is so worth it.
Review by: Julie
Things We Do In The Dark by Jennifer Hillier
Title: Things We Do In The Dark
Author: Jennifer Hillier
Review: A “suspense” novel in the truest sense. If you like psychological thrillers, here you go. I LOVED this book.
Review by: Jan
Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown
Title: Indifferent Stars Above
Author: Daniel James Brown
Review: The gruesome fate of the Donner Party is well-known by most, but Brown’s depiction of the saga is truly the most detailed and compelling analysis of these events that I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading! This narrative skillfully delves into the experiences of the Donner Party while simultaneously contextualizing the grueling experiences of the many pioneers who embarked on similar journeys and analyzing the pervasive ideology of Manifest Destiny in the later half of the 19th century.
Review by: Jo
Spirit Crossing by William Kent Krueger
Title: Spirit Crossing
Author: William Kent Krueger
Review: A rich, chilling tale of a small town grappling with two realities; a politician's white daughter goes missing with extensive police and media interest, while a young Ojibwe woman's body is found in a shallow grave with little regard. P.I. Cork O'Connor believes there may be a potential connection between the girls. Sprinkled with atmosphere and light supernatural elements, it also candidly highlights the complex relationships between law enforcement and Indigenous communities.
Review by: Layne
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Title: The Graveyard Book
Author: Neil Gaiman
Review: The Graveyard Book is equal parts charming, mysterious, and entertaining! Neil Gaiman weaves a delightfully macabre story about a boy named Bod who has been raised in a cemetery amongst a cast of colorful characters. As Bod struggles to balance his life in the cemetery with his life in the outside world, he soon realizes that there are far more dangers lurking outside of the cemetery gates than he had ever expected. Imbued with just the right amount of heart and suspense, I can’t recommend this book enough!
Review by: Jo
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
Title: The Midnight Feast
Author: Lucy Foley
Review: While many found this book “hard to put down from the first page”, I did not. It took me a while to get into it. But, once I did, I was gripped and I could not stop until the very end. And that ending - oh, baby! Yes, this is a book well worth reading!
Review by: Jan
And Then? And Then? What Else? by Daniel Handler
Title: And Then? And Then? What Else?
Author: Daniel Handler
Review: From the man who became "Lemony Snicket" and brought readers A Series of Unfortunate Events, this is not your standard memoir, but rather a set of anecdotes of his life, writing, and the things that inspire him, which he analyzes in complete candor. If you are familiar with his massive contributions to both contemporary and children's literature, this will delight you, make you laugh, and make you think.
Review by: Layne