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Giant Days

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Giant Days by John Allison
Art by: Max Sarin and Lissa Treiman
Format: eBook, Graphic Novel
Who’s it for?: Teens and Young Adults

This is a super fun slice-of-life graphic novel series about the shenanigans of UK college students. It’s funny, charming, and features strong female relationships between wildly dissimilar, but believable characters. In the first volume: Esther, gorgeous and goth, is a chaos magnet who is dealing with the heartache of a recent breakup. Daisy, homeschooled, wicked smart, and incredibly kind, does a bit of self-discovery. Susan, fiercely independent and kind of cranky, comes face-to-face with her hometown nemesis on campus. Throughout the 22-volume series, readers experience the wins and woes of university, from sickness to housing drama, from part-time jobs to exams. The art is adorable and the plot stays relatable, but light-hearted at the same time. I definitely recommend. Find it on Hoopla!

Upright Women Wanted

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Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
Format: Book
Who’s it for?: Adults

“Are you a coward, or are you a Librarian?”

After witnessing the public hanging of her best friend and becoming betrothed to the fiancé of her late lover, Esther Augustus runs away from home. She stows away in the Head Librarian’s book cart. She hopes to join the Librarians, a group of “chaste, morally upright women” in the hopes that their influence would rid of the wrongness she feels inside her. But Esther’s understanding of the world is proven to be naïve. Upright Women Wanted takes place somewhere in a future-America that deteriorated into the Old West. The Librarians (more like radical, gun-slinging, spies on horseback) have other plans. Plans that don’t involve the distribution of “Approved Materials”. This less-than-200-page read is, on the surface, a quick dystopian romp, but it also explores themes of coming to terms with who you are. I liked that this book was speedy read, but I certainly see the potential for more world building and character development should the author continue into a series.
Find Upright Women Wanted in the Catalog.

Mooncakes

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Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker (Author) & Wendy Xu (Illustrator)
Format: Graphic Novel
Who’s it for: Teens & Adults

Mooncakes is a paranormal graphic novel following two Chinese-American childhood best friends, Tam Lang, a werewolf, and Nova Huang, a hard-of-hearing witch, as they reconnect, fall in love, and solve a mystery. The illustrations are adorable, the plot is inclusive, and here is a ton of every day representation mixed in amongst the magical, the bittersweet, and the fantastical.

It’s a cute and fun read, if really predictable; It is not especially deep, so it may suit someone looking for something quick and light. Not only is it a story about a romance, but also about the importance of a supportive family, blood or found.

Find it in the catalog & on Hoopla Digital

Anna Dressed in Blood

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Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Format: Book and Eaudiobook
Who it’s for: Teens

Tis the spooky season, which I believe calls for something about the things that go bump in the night. I found that in Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake. It is the first of its ghostly series, and put eloquently: “It’s the old boy-meets-girls story. if the boy is a wry, self-destructive ghost hunter bent on avenging his father and the girl is a homicidal ghost trapped in a house full of everyone she’s ever murdered.” – Holly Black, New York Times bestselling author of Red Glove.

It’s perfect for people who want a light and easy paranormal read that happens to be a teen urban fantasy, rather than a teen urban fantasy that has paranormal elements. I like ghost stories, and while this one isn’t particularly scary (in my opinion. You may find otherwise.), it does manage to be fun, full of magic, a bit of mystery, and interesting characters. Find it in the catalog!

Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature Worlds

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Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature Worlds by Amy Bryant Aiello & Kate Bryant
Photography by Kate Baldwin
Format: Book and Ebook
Who’s it for: Teens and Adults

A terrarium might just look like a jar of dirt and a few plants, and fundamentally…it is. But with a few extras and a bit of creativity, a terrarium can be a miniature world you can create yourself.

Terrarium Craft provides inspiration to help you create your own terrarium. The book explores four themes  (forest, beach, desert, and fantasy) and each entry comes with step-by-step instructions explaining how to assemble and care for your terrarium accompanied by beautiful photography. 

What I liked most about the book is that that the authors’ creations are from found and recycled materials. This book shows how to create beautiful scenes from within a variety of glass objects you may have around the house or something you will be able to pick up at a thrift store. The authors provide good instructions for choosing containers and explains planting materials to help you create the healthiest environment for your new plants.

Available in the Catalog and on Hoopla Digital for instant download!

The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas

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Twilight Zone Radio Dramas
Hoopla Audion
For Teens and Adults

Over the past month or so, I’ve been hooked on The Twilight Zone “Radio Dramas” a radio series featuring adaptations of actual episodes of the classic TV series The Twilight Zone.  The stories are often expanded and updated to reflect twenty-first century technology and society, but the scripts remain fairly close to the original television broadcast. All 29 volumes are available for instant download with Hoopla Digital.  These are indeed top-notch productions featuring voice performances from some notable celebrities. Its like listening to some old-time radio theater complete with the thrill and all the spooky feels.  If you’re into audio dramas, these might be worth a listen.

Find yourself in The Twilight Zone on Hoopla Digital.