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The War I Finally Won

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The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Format: eBook
First Book: The War That Saved My Life
Who it’s for: Kids

The War I Finally Won is the second book following the story of Ada and her brother Jamie living in England during World War II. The first book, The War That Saved My Life, tells of how Ada and Jamie flee London and find safety with their guardian, Susan. This second book starts with Ada’s clubfoot being surgically fixed and the many emotions she experiences as she realizes that she is able to walk, run and do all the things her mother always derided her for not being able to do. She has to grapple with the question: who is she now? As the war continues, Ada and Jamie must learn to find hope and joy in difficult times while experiencing loss and fear. Can they learn to love a German? Can they help the war effort and stay optimistic? Ada makes new friends in unexpected places, and she is finally able to find her home. Find it in the catalog.

First Bite: How We Learn To Eat

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First Bite: How We Learn to Eat by Bee Wilson
Format: Book, eBook, Digital Audiobook
Who it’s for: Adults

We all know that we’re “supposed” to eat better: more broccoli and whole wheat bread, less soda and cotton candy. Sounds easy…but often it feels next to impossible, because the broccoli just doesn’t taste good to us. But how do we learn that “soda tastes good” and “broccoli tastes bad” to begin with? Believe it or not, the author tells us, it’s not an inborn preference.

As Wilson notes, once a baby anteater is weaned, it will eat ants for the rest of its life. For us humans, well…it’s a little more complicated. The author takes us on an intriguing tour of how we learn what to eat (and what not to). The book covers the bizarre history of what has been considered “children’s food” in different eras, how siblings affect our eating habits, and a close look at some of the causes and possible treatments for those who struggle with eating disorders. There are numerous gentle lessons along the way, both for adults in charge of the care and feeding of a child, and for adults who’d like to retrain their own palates. Find it in the catalog.

The Rules of Magic

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The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
Format: Book, Audiobook, eBook, & Digital Audiobook
Who it’s for: Adults

To protect Franny, Jet, and Vincent Owens from their family’s curse, their lives have been lived in accordance to a list of strict rules: No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic, and most importantly, no falling in love. However, this all changes when the Owens trio pays a visit to their Aunt Isabelle, who decidedly rejects all notions of curses determining one’s fate. Between reading magical texts, formulating hexes, brewing up potent teas, and hand-making batches of “cure-all black soap”, the siblings learn an entirely new set of rules to live (and to love) by. Firstly, do as you will, but harm no one. Secondly, what you give will be returned to you in threefold. And lastly, fall in love whenever you can.

Written in a series of distinguished parts, the story is driven forward by each of the sibling’s interpretation of these rules and their evolving understanding of their true identities. Hoffman’s prequel to her widely popular novel, Practical Magic, explores the importance of autonomy and the complexity of legacy.

Find it in our catalog.