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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.

The Housewives: The Real Story behind the Real Housewives

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The Housewives: The Real Story behind the Real Housewives by Brian Moylan
Format: Audiobook
Who it’s for: Adults

It is time to admit my biggest guilty pleasure: reality television. This book is narrated by the author and involves a deep dive into the world of The Real Housewives franchise on Bravo. I listened to this audiobook and as Brian, the author, chats about the history of The Real Housewives, it is just like having coffee with a friend the day after watching an episode. Although Bravo wouldn’t allow the author a lot of access to the housewives, Moylan did a great job giving readers and listeners the behind-the-scenes scoop on our favorite housewives moments. The book had a great mix of everything, the history of the show, who really pays for those housewives’ trips, and even an inside look at Moylan’s vacation with one of the housewives. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves reality shows and wants to get a small glimpse of the inside of the Bravo phenomenon.

Find The  Housewives in the catalog

Margaret’s Unicorn

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Margaret’s Unicorn by Briony May Smith
Format: Book
Who’s it for: Kids

Margaret’s life completely changes after her family moves to a cottage by the sea, but not in all the ways she might have expected. A little lonely and missing the familiarity of her old home, she goes out to explore. She soon discovers a baby unicorn tangled up in weeds, accidentally left behind by its herd. They become inseparable fast friends, crunching through the leaves of fall together, stargazing, chasing waves at the beach, and making a snow unicorn with an icicle as its horn. As the seasons change Margaret misses her old home less and less, but every day spent together brings them closer to the day she knows her unicorn will return to his family in the spring. Despite having to say goodbye, they will never forget each other.

Margaret’s Unicorn is gorgeously illustrated, with warm and inviting tones depicting a wild countryside reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands. As you read Margaret’s story, you can almost feel the wind flying over the rolling green hills littered with thistles and purple heather, a gloomy sea in the distance. Every page is magically and thoughtfully crafted. Kids ages 4-8 will be spellbound.

Find Margaret’s Unicorn in the catalog here!

Malibu Rising

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Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Format: Audiobook
Who it’s for: Adults

It’s official: I am obsessed with Taylor Jenkins Reid and her writing. This book is about the Rivas family and their life in lavish Malibu. As most families, the Rivas have a few dysfunctions and each individual character has a secret of their own. Nina, the oldest is currently on a journey to find herself. She never wanted to be the center of attention but in order to provide for her family, she is thrown into a life of fame that brings people into her life that she’s not sure are there for her, or for something else. The book tells a story of what happens on the night of the infamous Nina Rivas end of summer bash. The twists and turns of this book, and the secrets that these characters hold will have you wanting to know more and more about this family.

I am a big fan of audiobooks and the narrator was able to bring this story to life. I cannot wait to see what Taylor Jenkins Reid gives us next.

Find it in the catalog

Me and My Fear

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Me and My Fear written and illustrated by Francesca Sanna
Format: Picture Book
Who’s it For: Kids

Me and My Fear tells the story in a comforting tone of a young girl processing a great deal of change. These changes include moving to a new country and attending a new school with all of the uncertainty change brings. Fear is an ever present albeit soothing companion ironically, not frightening or dark. As the young girl navigates her new world she discovers friends and becomes aware that fear is present in everyone’s life in some shape or form.

Me and My Fear continues the story of a refugee family which began with The Journey. The story easily stands on its own focusing on a young girl processing a great deal of change.

Find Me and My Fear here!

 

 

After Sundown

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After Sundown by Linda Howard and Linda Jones
Who it’s for: Adults
Format: Book

Sela, the reclusive owner of a general store in the eastern Tennessee Mountains finds safety in solitude, Ben the mysterious ex-military man living alone in the wilds of Cove Mountain may be the only man that can break through her protective shell.  For years, he’s kept his distance from Sela and other not really communicating with anyone in the small town that sits below his mountain top home.  Then one day Ben appears at Sela,s store to warn her about the impending solar storm threat, capable of taking down the power grids in communities across the globe.  Sela must now find the strength and courage to step up and become the leader of Wears Valley, the small town where she lives with her aunt, cousin and a community of people that have known her most of her life.  She and Ben discover that in the dark, cut off from the outside world, danger brings together a community of people determined to survive a new way of life.   Along with two guarded hearts in a battle for survival where there is no more playing it safe–in life or in love.  This story had me thing about what if something similar happened around this community?  Would we know how to survive in this situation or would there be panic and chaos like there was with the pandemic and the threat of gas shortages.

Find After Sundown in the catalog!