Good for Her

Posted on Thursday, March 7, 2024 by Dana

 

In honor of Women’s History Month, I’m celebrating the growing genre of “Good for Her.”

Good for Her stories have a female main character that fights against an unjust power or system. She often subverts the expected rules to obtain her justice and doesn’t feel bad about it. Good for Her stories present systemically oppressed people with dreams come true. We love seeing a woman triumph, whether it’s against an abusive lover, a rigged contest, the school bullies, or the patriarchy.  There is so much we can’t control in life, from the families we are born into to the potentially toxic teachers, classmates, and coworkers with whom we must get along in order to survive. This is why witnessing other unseen, underestimated, and exploited women win feels so, so good.

So if you’re craving some righteous, delicious feminine retribution, peruse the titles below.

And for some more options, including movies, check out this list. Continue reading “Good for Her”

The Selector’s Selections: February 2024

Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 by Brianna

I’m back! I’m all settled in at work (literally, I’ve got multiple blankets and a space heater), and I’m ready to tell you about some new books! As always, if you prefer reading digitally, check the catalog after the books’ publication date to see if we have the e-book or e-audio.

cover“A Tempest of Tea” by Hafsah Faizal

Arthie Casimir is an orphan who has created a criminal empire for herself based on secrets. She runs a teahouse that caters to wealthy humans by day, and at night becomes an illegal bloodhouse for vampires. She’s proud of her success, especially in a city where her brown skin closes more doors than it opens. But now someone is threatening her business, so naturally, she decides that a dangerous heist is the best solution. As she gathers her crew from the fringes of society, she prepares to steal information that will help her take down the corrupt and colonizing East Jeevant Company. With a setting reminiscent of Victorian London with some nods to Arthurian legend and the 1920s, this historical fantasy has been described as “Peaky Blinders” but with vampires. Continue reading “The Selector’s Selections: February 2024”

Award Season for Books – Youth Media Awards 2024

Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 by Megan

It’s finally here! It’s award season … for books! Early every year, the American Library Association (ALA) hosts its annual Youth Media Awards Press Conference. At this time, authors and illustrators of children’s and young adult literature are honored for the outstanding works they have published over the last year.
Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other literature and media experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. Below are the awards honoring distinguished books for young adult readers. Be sure to check out the book lists for the complete list of winners and honorees!

Continue reading “Award Season for Books – Youth Media Awards 2024”

If You Hate Valentine’s Day…

Posted on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 by Laura W

Trust me, you are not the only one. There are lots of reasons to not be the biggest fan of the holiday. Personally, when I was in high school, I actively dreaded the day. For many reasons, I never really dated in my teens. I struggled a lot with my mental health. I wasn’t quite sure of my sexuality. And on top of it all, I went to a very small school and was very unpopular, so no one even wanted to date me. It was a sore spot on a regular day. On Valentine’s Day, it became an active wound. When I started seeing how based in consumerism the holiday is, my dislike turned to active hatred. If you feel like I did back then (some mix of unlovable and alone), first of all, you’re not alone and you are so so worthy of love, in whatever form fits you. Secondly, you might desperately want something NOT love-related during this frankly unpleasant period. Or you might want some examples of love that aren’t horrifically painful and awful. If either is the case, I’ve got you covered. Continue reading “If You Hate Valentine’s Day…”

This Was a Pretty Good Blog Post

Posted on Wednesday, December 27, 2023 by Nigel Church

You knew it was a pretty good blog post because it told you so in the title. It was right there at the top. Still, the title of a blog post would usually be something more along the lines of Top Fifteen Dog Breed and Drink Pairings! (number 1 is, of course, Keeshond and Masala Chai) Or is it More Environmentally Friendly to Zorb to Work? (important scientists are still searching for the answer to this one). How then could a blog post be so self-assured that it was “pretty good” if it didn’t even follow commonly accepted practices of blog posting? For that matter how could a blog post be self-assured? It doesn’t even have a self, it’s just ones and zeroes on a server somewhere.

Well, blog posts are like any form of writing, they have a narrative and therefore a narrator and sometimes a Narrator! A Narrator here means an active and eccentric or otherwise unusual voice that is often humorous in its absurdity. Most books and writing tell you what happens with possibly some nice simile or metaphor thrown in here and there. But more unusual forms of narration will happily insert their own voice, use mixed media, or might even outright lie to you. xopoɥʇɹoun ʎllɐǝɹ ʇǝƃ uɐɔ ʎǝɥʇ sǝɯᴉʇǝɯoS. By now it should be apparent that I love finding stories told in unique ways but here’s the thing, it’s hard to categorize them because they can be any genre. So, outside of lists people make, it can be hard to find them. You’ve peaked ahead, haven’t you? You can see there’s going to be a list of books with unusual narration. Well, let’s get to it then shall we? Continue reading “This Was a Pretty Good Blog Post”

If the Companions from Baldur’s Gate 3 Were Readers…

Posted on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 by Laura W

if the companions from Baldur's Gate 3 were readers

They would have very diverse tastes. I can’t be the only one who is still obsessed with Baldur’s Gate 3. Since its release in August, there hasn’t been a week that’s gone by that I haven’t at least thought about the Dungeons and Dragons-inspired RPG. The companions are by far my favorite part of the incredibly detailed game. Larian Studios did a fantastic job creating characters who seem truly alive. Each of them has their own complex background, emotions, thoughts, and opinions. Getting to know them throughout the adventure is truly a pleasure. Given who I am, it wasn’t long into my second playthrough that I began considering what types of books they would all enjoy. Before I share my thoughts, a quick disclaimer. I’m going to try and avoid any major spoilers in these recommendations. However, I did consider some of their backstories in my thoughts. I would say there’s nothing past what you would get in ten hours of playtime. For this reason, we’re only going to discuss the first 4 companions you get at the very beginning of the game. If you are incredibly averse to any spoilers whatsoever, you may want to avoid reading my reasoning. If not, let’s begin with…

Lae’zel

“And I Darken” by Kiersten White

"And I Darken" by Kiersten White Continue reading “If the Companions from Baldur’s Gate 3 Were Readers…”

Season’s Readings

Posted on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 by Dana

 

When the nights are long and cold, there are few things better than cozying up with a good book, and with the holiday season upon us, I have some festive (or not) recommendations to while away the dark winter days.

If you want that adventure vibe, give Winter, White and Wicked by Shannon Dittemore a try. Orphaned Sylvi has chipped out a niche for herself on Layce, an island cursed by eternal winter. She takes comfort in the solitude of the roads and the favor of Winter, a spirit who has protected her since she was a child. When her best friend, Lenore, runs off with the rebels, Sylvi must make a haul too late in the season for a smuggler she wouldn’t normally work with. To save her friend, Sylvi will have to choose: safety, anonymity, and the favor of Winter or the future of the island that she calls home.

Continue reading “Season’s Readings”

More 5 Star Reads ★★★★★

Posted on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 by Megan

Teen Reader Reviews

Looking for a great read? Then look no further! Here’s another round of 5-star reads from local teens! Pick one (or all of them) up at your library!

Fire Keeper's Daughter book cover

Firekeeper’s Daughter” by Angeline Boulley 

Reader: Kate

5/5 Stars ★★★★★

Why did you like or dislike this book? It was very educational and I loved learning about Ojibwe culture and traditions. I loved the community aspect and how everyone took care of each other, especially the women and elders. However, I was expecting a mystery book, and I was a little disappointed in that aspect and felt like there were many unanswered questions. But, if you go into it looking for a story about a girl’s relationship with her heritage, community, and grief, it will exceed your expectations. Overall, an incredible and heartwarming book. Continue reading “More 5 Star Reads ★★★★★”