Season's Readings 2023: Home

This heart healing, character driven mystery spans decades of time and neighborhood bonds. This 2023 Kirkus Award Winner probes the long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows.

When she’s invited by the New England prep school from which she graduated in the 1990s to return as a visiting teacher, film and podcasting professor Bodie Kane is drawn back into the mystery surrounding the death of her Junior-year roommate, and whether the police railroaded the man convicted of her murder. Exploring issues of race, consent, memory, and cancel culture, this is a true literary thriller.

Once again, author Lisa See immerses us in a historical novel, this one set in 15th century China that tells the story of one of the few women doctors at the time. Based on a true historical medical text, this fictionalized account brings to life the story of women and how they forged connections with one another in a time of isolation, and supported one another both in regards to women's health and with friendships.

This family drama explores the lives of four sisters, the choices that they make and the people that come into their lives. You are drawn into their stories, root for them, grieve with them and almost feel like you are part of the family as you navigate the pages.

This magnificently constructed tale of a home, told throughout centuries, is both magical and haunting.

Two estranged half-sisters. A library full of magical books. Family secrets that could devastate; or heal. This book introduces a new approach to the magical genre that will intrigue and delight.

This expansive, entertaining story of a marriage follows the 20 year relationship of a young photographer and a researcher who fall in love as hipster college students in Chicago, through their adult lives as suburbanite parents, delving into issues of how cultures change, how relationships morph, and how we choose what to believe.

While on an extended work assignment to India to study the perfume trade Radha's past is brought to the forefront and her heart is torn between the two cultures—the arts and sophistication of Paris, and the exotic traditions of India. The author gives voice to Radha as she struggles to remain optimistic in the face of typical challenges for a thirty-something woman in the 1970's and today. The descriptions of the streets, scents, people, food and artistry of India and Paris are delicious.

A lawyer's race to reveal a wrongful conviction collides with the dark shadow of a murder in his own home in this thriller set in Minnesota. Tangled layers of guilt and innocence peel away with implications for a teen girl, her murdered parents, and secrets hidden in deception.

After most of the world’s crops have succumbed to climate disaster, a chef and her daughter are invited to a research institution on an Italian mountain, where she has access to the finest ingredients to prepare lavish meals for her mysterious employer in this imaginative dystopian novel.

Capturing the scale and turmoil of change stemming from the Industrial Revolution, this fifth book in the epic Kingsbridge Series plays out history in human lives and a birth of knowledge. The Armor of Light shines with compelling characters, prose style, the dramatic clash of tradition and progress, class struggles, and war in Europe impacting the entire continent and beyond

A familiar and resourceful character, Holly Gigney returns in an ingenious quest to solve disappearances in a Midwestern town. Gruesome as it gets, King pulls you and the protagonist ever closer to horror in an unremarkable basement perpetrated by a blindly obsessed aging duo.

Sheltering in place from Covid-19 in their northern Michigan cherry orchard where they must harvest the fruit themselves, three adult daughters press their mother, a former actress, to fill in the details of her affair with a famous movie star in her younger years. A meditation on love, family, fame, choices, and opportunities.

Opal lives a desperate, hardscrabble life in a hardscrabble town full of bad luck, where it seems like the big old manor on the edge of town has been calling to her for years. When Opal turns up at the gates on a whim and is offered a job it seems like her prayers are answered; but Opal's presence in the house could be about to make everything, for everyone, much, much worse.

Generations of women collide in one curious little cottage as Kate flees London to escape her abusive relationship and discovers that the secrets her aunt was hiding in her tiny village may be just what Kate needs to heal and empower herself.

After making a viral TikTok to find more info about her late grandmother’s secret love, Noelle discovers that the man in her gran’s photos and love letters is Paul, the grandfather of her high-school enemy, Theo. When all three go on the honeymoon road-trip Paul and Noelle’s grandmother planned but never took, sparks fly between Noelle and Theo.

Independent, curmudgeonly college professor Emily Wilde is constantly having to prove herself. Luckily she has no problem putting work over people, until her academic rival crashes her research expedition and both are cast into a danger that Emily can't simply study her way out of alone.

Humorous, and harrowing, this generational novel about a philandering Irish poet, the middle-aged daughter he abandoned as a child, and the granddaughter who writes travelogues about places she’s never been, is by turns funny, lyrical, and heartbreaking in its exploration of family, and the many ways people hurt one another, both physically and emotionally, in the name of love.

Elsie, a theoretical physicist and fake girlfriend for hire, butts heads with Jack, an experimental physicist, who not only also stands between her and her dream job but is also the brother of her current fake boyfriend.

Blending Bridgerton, A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, and murder mysteries, this spicy romance adventure will engage your inner sleuth while warming your romantic heart.

In the aftermath of the 2008 economic crisis, and set against looming environmental disaster, a family once prominent in their small Irish town is coming apart at the seams in this tragicomic saga of life’s often self-induced indignities, told in alternating voices from four family members: Dickie Barnes, a really awful car salesman; Imelda, his resentful once-beautiful wife; Cassie, an angsty, drunk high-schooler; and 12-year-old bullied PJ who longs for parental attention.

Against the backdrop of the Tichborne case – the trial of a Australian man claiming to be an English aristocrat thought to be lost at sea - Eliza Touchet, who runs the household of novelist William Ainsworth, becomes enthralled with one of the witnesses, in this historical novel that explores issues of race, class, and women’s status in Victorian England.

*A Top Pick Submitted by Three Staff Members!* The little-known true story of how the Ku Klux Klan rose to economic and political power in Indiana in the 1920s led by one man whose charisma and disinformation campaigns convinced great swaths of Midwest followers to share his hatred for Blacks, Roman Catholics, Jews and immigrants. And how one woman's courage before her tragic demise was his undoing, and the beginning of the Klan's downfall.

Using modern technology, personal field experience, biological history, and a scientific team, this author pulls back the curtain on the brains, behaviors, and astonishing skills of an elusive creature of the night. Spanning the wide world and the arc of time, the exciting revelations create a profile of a brilliant animal and the living wonders just waiting to be discovered in our world. Fans of Anthony Doerr’s novel Cloud Cuckoo Land will enjoy expanding their knowledge of this feathered species.

Some of these recipes can be ready to serve in under an hour and are created with easy-to-find ingredients that you may already have in your cabinet. Hollis has worked to include entries that teach people unique ways of using everyday ingredients, like turning gelatin into ice cream and making crackers the star of a mock apple pie.

Teddy and Booker T. recounts the story of how two wildly different Americans faced the challenge of keeping America moving toward the promise of the Emancipation Proclamation. Their collaboration was met with racist outrage reminding the reader of the long road traveled to equality.

This book contains 30 simple sewing projects, complete with patterns, that demonstrate how to transform old clothes into new outfits for babies and toddlers.

In a stylistically and formally experimental fashion, Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Nguyen explores his life as an immigrant, recounting the story of his family’s relocation from Vietnam to southern California, the challenges of racism, and the perplexing notion of being both American and Vietnamese.

A fascinating true crime book about the development of investigative genetic genealogy and its role in solving cold cases.

This is the incredible story of Indian pipefitters and welders lured to Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina with the promise of visas and well-paying jobs repairing oilrigs. Instead they ended up living in debt and squalor in “man camps,” and one labor organizer stepped up to help them escape. A maddening recounting of red-tape and political inaction in the face of a massive case of human trafficking.

This extraordinarily compelling story of dueling narratives about what really happened when a British war vessel, the Wager, shipwrecked in 1741 while on a secret mission in pursuit of Spanish treasure explores not only seafaring history, but also the very notion of imperialism.

Local author Amy Godine's long-awaited narrative of the gifting of lands by philanthropist abolitionist Gerrit Smith to Black men in the Adirondacks in the mid- nineteenth century

This fascinating and sobering account of the events leading up to and following the 1838 sale of 272 enslaved people in order to provide funding for what is now Georgetown University reveals the Catholic Church’s history of involvement in slavery, and the debates about its obligations to the descendants of those who were enslaved.

Making the provocative argument that poverty persists in the US because it benefits the better off, sociologist and Pulitzer Prize winner Desmond explores the many ways government funding for anti-poverty programs is misused, and the many ways that government funding benefits the wealthy at the expense of the poor, while urging readers to become “poverty abolitionists."

A futuristic reimagining of Antigone follows this protagonist as she grieves her murdered parents while her power-hungry uncle eyes her father's throne. This quick read offers mystery and intrigue.

A bite-sized little fairy tale that turns the trope on its head--maybe that sleeping spell was cast for a reason. And the fairy who cast it can turn not into a dragon but a toad. Who is it that really deserves to be freed from the curse?

A swashbuckling high seas adventure starring an unexpected type of action hero in a setting that blends thousands of years of legends, cultures, languages, and people. The result is a rich and vivid tale of daring, magic, and family.

Kaya, a young girl with a mechanical arm, embarks on a journey with her little brother to learn how to defeat the empire that destroyed their home.

New parents, Ana and Reid, win a housing lottery to move their family into a desirable apartment in New York City. However, this deal turns out to be too good to be true. Nat Cassidy's latest books brings Rosemary's Baby to a whole new level.

A small town in Montana claims to have the most effective gay conversion camp, while preaching religious values. In reality there is something much more sinister taking place.

Mexican horror movies, Nazi occultism, magic, curses and more. Sound editor Montserrat discovers footage of an unfinished movie and dives down the rabbit hole to learn the truth behind the scenes.

Palm reader Madi returns to her hometown with her teenage daughter and reconnects with her high school sweetheart, Henry who mysteriously lost his son five years ago. Together Madi and Henry begin to discover there is more to the disappearance of Henry's son than anyone could have imagined.

Former child stars from a well-loved children's show reunite 30 years later to unpack the tragedy that ended their program.

Photographer Leon picks up an old camera from a pawn shop only to find out it's haunted by a punk rocker named Cody. The two develop a close relationship while uncovering the events leading to Cody's untimely death.

Only This Beautiful Moment tells the coming-of-age stories of three generations of Iranian men - Bobby in 1939 Hollywood, Saeed during Iranian revolution in Tehran in 1978, and Moud in modern day LA. All three come together when Moud gets the news that his grandfather is dying, and he and his father fly to Tehran for a final visit.

When Imogen’s friend, Lili, tells her new queer college friends that they used to date, Imogen, labeled the straight ally, agrees to keep up the lie. However, as she spends time with Lili’s friend Tessa, she begins to question her heterosexuality and whether she is as straight as she once believed.

Unable to inherit as a woman, and unwilling to marry a man, Lady Camembert disguises herself as a man and starts over in the Kingdom of Fromage as Count Camembert. Despite trying to keep a low profile, Camembert finds herself growing closer to the Crown Princess Brie and putting her secret at stake.

Despite Penny and Tate’s mothers being best friends, and despite the two teens having always clashed, the two girls are always almost kissing each other. When medical issues force the two to live in the same house, Penny and Tate are forced to finally deal with their pent-up feelings for one another.

During a war between two gods, journalists Iris and Roman find themselves rivals at the Oath Gazette where they are vying for the same promotion. When Iris begins to write letters to her brother, a soldier fighting in the war, they magically find their way to Roman, forging a divine connection between the two enemies-to-lovers.

Danielito makes new friends when he takes his dreidel to join in a game of trompos (tops). A thoughtful blending of Mexican Christian and Jewish holiday traditions.

As a young girl explains to her baby brother the family traditions involved in decorating their Christmas tree, she describes the significance of each special ornament she hangs on the tree.

In this great interactive picture book our protagonist has lost her cat and she needs your help to find him. Turn the pages to progress through the search and try to find the elusive Mister Kitty.

With lively yet soft illustrations and simple yet profound text, this is a great picture book about moving on from imaginary friends, and the true meaning of friendship.

This poignant, beautifully illustrated picture book makes a statement about being big in a world that prizes small. Seen through the eyes of a young girl, we watch as she discovers how words hurt but also heal. A 2023 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature.

A unique art style and rhyming verse explain this weather phenomenon in an engaging but still factual way. There's even a nonfiction section at the end with more detail and educational resources for young readers looking to learn more.

Four kids are stranded in an airport during a thunderstorm following a large Muslim convention. Although they do not have much in common, they form an unlikely friendship as they try to track down a missing cat that got lost in the airport.

In this beautifully illustrated graphic novel adaptation of the popular fantasy novel, Serafina, daughter of the Biltmore Estate's maintenance worker, seeks to discover the identity of the cloaked man responsible for the disappearance of children staying at the manor.

Sparrow's neighbor, Mrs. LaRose, has seven cats. When Mrs. LaRose decides that it is time to move into a senior living apartment, she can only bring one cat with her, so Sparrow dedicates herself to finding good homes for the other six cats.

Feng-Li is excited to vacation in the United States with her family, until she learns that her parents plan to leave her and her siblings to attend school in America, while they return to Taiwan. The siblings have to navigate going to school in an unfamiliar country, improve their English, and manage the household on their own, with Feng-Li's 16-year-old sister in charge.

This graphic novel non-fiction book is great for readers in grades 3-5. Scout is a fun new character who is going to teach you how to survive in the wilderness. The story is fun, but the lessons are really helpful to anyone interested in the wilderness.

This book is a really great introduction into how the waste disposal system works that even adults might find really interesting. The best part, is that the book includes a section on what can be done to improve the waste disposal system and suggestions on how to reuse and recycle for individuals.

Have you ever wondered what a book would say if it got to write itself? This book may not have the greatest opinion of librarians, but the tell-all including the library goblin and location of a missing sausage, are proof that this book needs to be read.

This long-awaited sequel to the One and Only Ivan, is so special. Young elephant, Ruby, is facing a scary time in her life in which she is growing up which makes her think about the past and the animals she misses.

This deliciously creepy ghost story involves a group of sixth graders who must follow the annual tradition of making it through the dark woods and past the ghost of a long- ago student to ring the Bellwoods bell and thus save their town from a year of specter haunting.

The black spot, pirates on skateboards and an ancient map lead three friends to a hunt for buried treasure on Manhattan Island. A clever mix of old and new that might lead young readers back to Robert Lewis Stevenson’s classic.

Anya, the community Moth Keeper, yearns to spend just one day in the world of sunlight. A sensitive graphic novel that is a true work of art, to be revisited time and again.

When 10-year-old Lina Gao finally joins her family in California, it's the first time she's seen her parents and little sister in five years. Yang is known for tackling tough issues with wit and humor, and Lina is another of her indomitable main characters to cheer for as she reunites with her family and adjusts to life in America.

After a 14-year wait, Book 6 in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series is finally here. If you have a Percy Jackson fan at home, light up their holidays by handing them this book. Percy wants to go to college at New Rome University in California with his love, Annabeth. However, he must achieve three quests in order to earn letters of recommendation from Mount Olympus.

This fun book blends narrative nonfiction and graphic novel elements, and its unique layout lets readers pick paths around obstacles such as shipwrecks, underwater lakes and whale falls. Ultimately, readers are looking for giant squids but also learn about ocean animals, technology like submersibles and how a team of scientists survive deep-sea exploration.

Twelve young Asian American characters from different backgrounds at a crowded, bustling airport deal with the impact of an incident at a TSA security check point. Individual chapters are skillfully and seamlessly blended into one remarkable story by bestselling Asian American authors including Linda Sue Park, Grace Lin, Erin Entrada Kelly, Traci Chee, and Ellen Oh.

After consulting this large-pictured observation guide, one tree will no longer look the same as another. Not only is each tree's characteristics clearly depicted, but "not to be confused with" specimens are also explored, as are bark, roots and life cycles and the animals who make trees their home.