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As Good As Dead

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As Good as Dead by Holly Jackson
Format: Audiobook
Who it’s for: Teens

The finale in the “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” series was nothing short of amazing. The third and final book takes on a much darker tone than the first two books of the series, it is definitely for more mature readers of Young Adult books. The story follows Pip, our main character months after the events of the previous book Good Girl, Bad Blood, and let’s be honest, Pip is not okay. She feels as though something, or someone is watching her and this puts her on edge. However, solving problems is her thing, whether it is for her small town or for herself, Pip will figure it out. The twists and turns of this finale makes it the favorite of my series. I cannot wait to see what Holly Jackson comes up with next.

Find As Good as Dead in our catalog.

In Order to Live

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In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park with Maryanne Vollers
Format: Book and Audio Book
Who It’s for: Adults, Young Adults

Life in North Korea was brutal.  People in North Korea under the the country’s dictator Kim Jong Il endured a regime that was repressive and subjects its citizens to rigid controls.

Yeonmi Park was born in Hyesan, North Korea in 1993. Her family was a close-knit family where her father took the risk of trading on the black market in order to have enough to provide for them. Eventually he was imprisoned and branded as a criminal and sent to a prison camp. In order to escape her famine struck childhood with fear that her family would most likely die, she and her mother fled and were smuggled across the border into China where they became victims of human trafficker’s and were sold into slavery. She was thirteen years old.

This is her story about her escape from North Korea and the devastating details and horrors she endured both physically and psychologically before finally making it to South Korea and freedom.

Yeonmi Park’s inspiring memoir is a remarkable and horrific personal account of her journey, while fleeing a country whose inhabitants live in starvation, hardships and suffering. Today she is a human rights activist and author who is determined to bring attention to the oppression in her home country.

Find In Order to Live in the catalog!

 

If You Were an Elephant

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If You Were an Elephant by Leslie Staub
Format: Picture Book
Who it’s for: Kids

If you were an elephant, you could turn the page with your trunk. You could use your tent size ears to fan yourself. You could eat all day long and munch on whole bushes, branches and leaves. And you could drink gallons of water and spray it all over like a fountain, while taking a swim. Elephants in the savannah are the biggest animals who live on land. With thick as tree trunk legs and feet as flat as pancakes. You could roam wild places in your herd, with your mom, grandma and lots of cousins.

Did you know that adult elephants only need about two hours of sleep a day?  They sleep standing up. But they can only dream if they sleep lying down.

In this picture book about elephants, you will learn tons of facts all about a day in the life a young African bush elephants.

Find If You Were an Elephant in the catalog!

 

Your Mama

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Your Mama by NoNieqa Ramos
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Kids

This book tugged on my heart strings as a mother to an almost 4-year-old. Parenting is hard! However, mamas always make the magic! Whether it is making a special treat for the little ones, or caring for them when they’re sick mamas are superstars and they deserve their own book. This books explores the patience and the love that mothers everywhere give to their children no matter what. The relationship between mother and child is so special and this book emulates that.  This book mixes the Spanish & English lyricism and beautiful illustrations. This is a great example of an amazing diverse read for all families.

Find Your Mama in the catalog

Blackout

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Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon
Format: Audiobook
Who it’s for: Teens

*Sighs* New York City in the summer. The birds are chirping, music is playing, kids running around and all is well in the world, then a blackout happens. “Blackout” is a book that proves the city of New York is smaller than we think. Each character in the series of short stories within the book interconnect throughout and it exudes the story of young Black teens in love. I saw this book last year in an article and was SO excited about its release. It gives the book world something it desperately needs – Black teens in love and living life. The inclusiveness of the characters is something that makes this book a great read. All six authors are powerhouses and I hope to see more collaborative stories from them in the future.

Find Blackout in the catalog.

Lift

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Lift by Minh Lê, art by Dan Santat
Format: Book, eBook
Who it’s for: Kids

Those of us who are older siblings can probably relate to Iris’ experience in Lift. Iris has always been the one to push the buttons on the elevator in her family’s building. But now, her baby brother has taken over her favorite job. She’s upset, but soon finds herself in possession of an elevator button of her own that opens new worlds from her bedroom. But does she want to explore them alone?

Though not a completely wordless picture book, Lift provides the opportunity to expand on the story with your child through Santat’s graphic novel-like illustrations. Pick out the small details that add to the feeling of the story and spin your own tales while Iris explores other worlds. This picture book is fun for kids and adults alike, and especially for all those older siblings out there.

Find Lift in the catalog.