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Good Girl, Bad Blood

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Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson
Format: Audiobook
Who it’s for: Teens

The sequel to “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” begins with Pip, our main character from the first book and the beginning of her podcast that has gone viral. Pip has insisted that her detective and investigating days are behind her due to all of the chaos and hurt she caused in the first novel. That is until her friend begs for her help. Connors brother Jamie Reynolds has disappeared and the police are not making it a priority to try to find him. And so the investigation begins! Pip takes her investigation digitally and encourages her listeners to help find Jamie.

I am loving this series so far! Listening to it on audiobook captivated me and left me wanting more of the story. The new-age media tie-in of podcasting was awesome and I felt that it made the story more relatable. There is a third and final book set to be released in September 2021 and I cannot wait!

Find it in the catalog

¡Vamos! Let’s Go…

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¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat!  by Raúl the Third
Format : Book, eBook, Digital audiobook, digital movie, DVD
Who it’s for: Kids,  Adults

Hope you’re hungry!


Little Lobo and his dog Bernabé are back, taking their food delivery service to their friend El Toro’s big wrestling match.  The story is laid out in a fantastic format that is part graphic novel and part Richard Scarry storybook. With detailed illustrations that make your mouth water, this bilingual tale of food, friendship and fun is one you can read and reread, finding something new every time!  This is a spot on selection for any detail oriented picture book reader!

 

Don’t forget to check out the super delicious Spanish/English food glossary in the back, a great resource to expand vocabulary.   Another engaging learning extension to hear the proper Spanish pronunciations within the story is available on Hoopla in a super cool animated digital read-along format! 

 

Find this title in the catalog and on Hoopla as an eBook, digital audiobook and movie.

 

¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market by Raúl the Third

Format : Book, eBook, Digital audiobook, digital movie, DVD

Who it’s for: Kids, Adults

 

If you enjoyed ¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat  also check out Little Lobo and Bernarbé’s other adventure in food! Available in the catalog as both a book and an eBook.  And on Hoopla as a digital audiobook, movie and read-along!

My Heart is Laughing ~ A New Zealand Treasure

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My Heart is Laughing by Rose Lagercrants, Translated by Julia Marshall and illustrated by Eva Eriksson is another treasure from New Zealand.

Format: Book

Who’s it for: Kids

Dani and Ella are together again joined by their classmates – some are nice like Cushion and others not so nice like Mickey and Vickey. The two best friends, Dani and Ella along with pet hamsters, Snow and Flake are off on new adventures. Ella has recently moved to a new town and Dani is struggling with the loss of her closest friend. When Cushion chooses Dani over Mickey and Vickey they bully Dani by pinching her repeatedly until she is so upset she acts totally our of character. When Dani’s Dad goes to school to address the harm she has suffered Ella appears and helps Dani remember all the great things to be happy about.

Find My Heart is Laughing here.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret By Brian Selznick

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The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Format: Book, audiobook, DVD

Who’s it for: Kids, Teens, Adults

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is an enticing and atmospheric work of children’s literature with a cast of characters cloaked with mystery and charm. This hybrid work, a mix of prose and full-page graphics, engulfs the reader in the wonder and magic of 1930s Paris. Orphaned Hugo Cabret has skills beyond his years as he keeps the train station’s clocks operating and attempts to rebuild a peculiar invention left by his father in hopes of uncovering a secret message.

Find The Invention of Hugo Cabret here. If this artistic hybrid novel/graphic novel format appeals to you, check out Brian Selznick’s other books, Wonderstruck and The Marvels.

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

The Island of the Sea Women

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The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Adults

This book is a One Maryland One Book selection for 2020.

This historical fiction novel is set on the island of Jeju in Korea. Over many decades, beginning with the Japanese occupation during the 1930 – 1940’s and during World War II and the Korean War.
During this turbulent time in history, two young girls Young-sook and Mi-ja, both from different backgrounds bond. Their close friendship begins over their love of the sea and working in their villages’ all-female diving collective. The haenyeo woman are trained from a young age to expand their lungs and go diving on the ocean floor to harvest food. Their livelihood and traditions are intertwined. Their diving skills are handed down for generations.
Mi-ja, a city born orphan living nearby with a neglectful aunt and uncle is caught stealing food in the fields of Jeju by Young-sook and her mother. Her mother as head of the collective, decides to take Mi-ja on and teaches her alongside Young-sook to dive. The girls become lifelong friends enduring many life altering events that impact their lives growing up.
The political unrest and unspeakable tragedies inflicted upon the villagers are part of the horrors of war. The impact on their island from famine, to extreme punishment, and demands of the opposing government regimes are inflicted upon the villagers who struggle to comply.

Young-sook and Mi-ja endure impossible choices that tear their friendship apart causing disappointment, anger and judgement that take generations to understand and forgive.

Find it in the catalog