Author: alamancelibraries

You’re planning a fun vacation for this summer, but you’re dreading the long drive. Will your kids drive you up the wall with their fighting? Or will they be entranced by their own devices, and leave you feeling like a chauffeur?

I recommend getting some great audiobooks that the whole family can enjoy! I’ve broken them up into categories, depending on the age of your child. These audiobooks are available through NC Digital Kids, Libby, or Hoopla.

Early Elementary

It can be too much to expect many younger children to listen to a long book and be able to follow the story. But there are great shorter stories that you can listen to and discuss as you drive! You can pause frequently and ask questions – what do you think will happen next? – to keep your kids invested in the story.

Ron Roy, A-Z Mysteries (and other series)

Ron Roy’s stories are classic detective whodunits with kid detectives, and they are short – around an hour each. Some titles are bundled together (A-Z Mysteries W,X,Y and Z), so you can borrow one “title” and get four books.

Mary Pope Osborne, Magic Tree House series

Two siblings, Jack and Annie, discover a magic tree house that transports them through space and time to visit dinosaurs, knights, mummies, pirates, and more! Some of the titles are bundled together, just like the A-Z Mysteries.

Dan Gutman, Wait? What! Biography series

Dan Gutman has written several book series, including My Weird School and My Weirderest School, but his newest series is biographies of famous people, focusing on the silly, strange, and weird aspects of their lives! Each book is a little more than an hour, making it perfect for young listeners.

Asia Citro, Zoey and Sassafras series

Each of Zoey’s books features a new magical animal that needs help through science. These books will have your children thinking through problems and trying out solutions – just like scientists!

Other series and authors to check out:

Tracey West, Dragon Masters series

Geronimo Stilton series

Jordan Quinn, The Kingdom of Wrenly series

Peggy and Herman Parish, The Amelia Bedelia series

Abby Hanlon, Dory Fantasmagory

Jeff Brown, Flat Stanley

Beverly Cleary

Sally Warner, EllRay Jakes series

Older Elementary School/Middle School Students

You’ll find all of the classics – Peter Pan, Charlotte’s Web, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Pippi Longstocking – on NC Kids. However, there also are some great new books and series of books that parents will enjoy listening to as much as their kids!

Tui T. Sutherland, Wings of Fire series

Book 16 was just released, so this summer is the perfect time to catch up on this series! The first book begins with a prophecy that five small dragonets must fulfill to save their world from the war that rages on around them. These books do have some violence, and puppy (dragonet?) love, but the books are strictly PG.

Tracey Baptiste, The Jumbies series

Corinne’s parents use Caribbean folklore, especially the Jumbies, to frighten her into being good. But she’s not afraid – until she chases an agouti into the forest and sees shining yellow eyes following her. A beautiful stranger arrives at the market the next day, and Corinne knows she must tap into her magic to stop her from taking over her island.

Peter Brown, The Wild Robot Series

Roz, a robot, wakes up on an island, all alone, with no memory of her life before. She must befriend the animals who live on the island to learn how to survive here. When she finally feels like this island is home, her past comes back to upset the balance she’s found.

Other Authors and Series to Check Out

Alan Gratz

Lauren Tarshis, I Survived series

Sarah Mlynowski

Renée Watson

Gordon Korman

Kelly Yang

Karina Glaser

Jerry Craft

Teens

Teens definitely want to do their own thing in the car. But you might be able to capture their interest with one of these great books/series!

Margaret Peterson Haddix – Among the Hidden series

This is a dystopian science fiction series about Luke, one of the shadow children. His society only allows a certain number of children to be born to each family. Luke has spent his entire life indoors, hidden away. But when he sees a face in the house next door, he knows that he’s found another Shadow child. This girl has a dangerous plan to bring the shadow children out of hiding – does he dare join her?

Rebecca Ross – Divine Rivals series

Two gods, two mortals, and a frenemy-to-lovers storyline! Roman and Iris are both brilliant reporters sent to cover the war. The war is caused by two rival gods who are fighting and have involved the mortals of the world in their reckless carnage. There’s one sex scene in the first book that you might have to fast-forward through for everyone in the car’s comfort, but the story is universal and enjoyable for all ages. Book two in the series has plenty of violence (it’s a war), but nothing graphic, and the sex is implied rather than spelled out on the page.

Tracy Deonn – Legendborn Cycle

A young woman begins early college on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill shortly after the untimely death of her mother. She sees a demon on campus one night, and gets pulled into a secret society of the descendants of King Arthur and his court, whose job is to fight the demons and close the gates where they are coming in. Arthurian magic and her root magic combine to make an irresistible series of books. There is violence and death in this series, but it is necessary to the plot. The sex is mostly off-page or implied.

Adult Books/Authors That Appeal to Teens

What Kind of Paradise – Janelle Brown

How to Solve Your Own Murder – Kristen Perrin

Tress of the Emerald Sea – Brandon Sanderson

C.S. Lewis (beyond the Narnia series) On Libby and On hoopla

Mary Beth A. is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries.

Williams, Niall. This is happiness. London : Bloomsbury, 2019.

In the 1950s, a rural Irish village is on the cusp of modernity as the promise of long-awaited electricity is finally making it to the west of the island.  Noel Crowe, Noe for short, is a failed seminarian who has retreated to his grandparents’ home to reconsider his future.  There the entire village of Faha is abuzz with electricity men planting poles, stringing wires and hooking up thatch-roofed stone dwellings.  One of these men, Christy, becomes a lodger with Noe’s grandparents.

Christy is older than the rest of the electrical workers, but Noe and the old lodger quickly hit it off and Noe learns it is not electricity that has brought Christy to Faha.  In fact, he has come to seek the forgiveness of a woman he long-ago left at the altar.  Noe is drawn by Christy’s charm and enthusiasm and becomes a partner in his mission.

The true beauty of This is Happiness is Niall Williams’ wonderful writing.  He fills the fictitious Faha with scores of characters who are unique and quirky and easily come to life.  The novel begins with the ever-present rain abating giving the Fahians rare, glorious sunshine.  However, that sun does not retreat, leaving the locals eventually wishing the sun would go away, at least for a bit.

Under the blazing sun and the buzz of electrical work going on everywhere, Noe and Christy traverse Faha, attempting to mend fences, woo a doctor’s daughters, bicycle from pub to pub and even get crushed by a telephone pole.  The relationship between the elder man and narrator is a poignant one and both learn a great deal from each other by the time the tiny village of Faha is lit up by modernity for the very first time.

James D. is the Public Service Manager at the Mebane Public Library.

Zahn Timothy. Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy Chaos Rising. New York, NY: Del Rey 2020.
Zahn Timothy. Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy Greater Good. New York, NY: Del Rey 2021.
Zahn Timothy. Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy Lesser Evil. New York, NY: Del Rey 2021.

The Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy takes readers back in time from where we meet the character in Star Wars Thrawn. It explores in-depth Thrawn’s life and military career among his own people, the Chiss, and how his goals and indeed his purpose for existing clash with their laws.

The books are set in the Unknown Regions around the same time as the Clone Wars are happening. Thrawn and his allies must dodge and outmaneuver both Chiss politicians, who view Thrawn as a threat to the Ascendancy’s existence, and the Ascendancy’s external enemies to unravel the mystery behind a plan to destroy the Ascendancy. These three books take us on a deep dive into Chiss culture and society exploring government and family hierarchies and how they work with and clash with the military structure, and the overarching goal of protecting the Ascendancy.

These books will be an exciting read for long time fans of Star Wars and Thrawn in particular, but they would also be a good place to start if you are new to Star Wars. They, like the previous Thrawn trilogy, explore his motivations and desires. However, the new setting presents Thrawn with a new set of challenges: he must still fight political battles, but his people’s strict adherence to a policy of isolationism and no preemptive strikes clashes with Thrawn’s desire to keep his people safe at any price. These books would also be a good read for fans of the show Ahsoka as understanding Thrawn’s goals may have bearing on the future direction of the series.

Kyle F. is a Library Assistant at May Memorial Library, and leads the Galactic Book Club, which meets every first Monday of the month.

Freeman, Megan E. Alone. New York : Aladdin, 2021.

Celebrate National Poetry Month by reading Alone by Megan E. Freeman, an exciting novel in verse. The story follows a teenage girl abandoned when the government evacuates her town due to a looming threat. Left utterly alone with only her loyal canine companion named George, she must navigate the wilderness and discover her own strength, despite knowing almost nothing about survival.

Who could resist a story about a kid braving the wild all by themselves? Packed with action and adventure, I recommend this to fans of classic novels with similar themes, like Hatchet and Island of the Blue Dolphins. It’s also a great read for kids in grades 6 and up, as it features a mature protagonist who grows over the course of the story.

Novels written in verse often appeal to young audiences because their lyrical storytelling and visual accessibility attract reluctant readers. It offers a fresh way to enjoy poetry, its beauty, and the novelty of storytelling.

Alone is a beautiful reflection on finding your place in the world, human resourcefulness, and the importance of believing in yourself. It’s also an exceptionally fun and fast-paced read that will have you flipping the pages and eager to find out what happens next. If you want more answers after finishing Alone, read the follow-up book in the series, Away, which offers a compelling new perspective on the government evacuation through the eyes of different group of kids. Both physical copies are available at Alamance County Public Libraries.

Trigger warnings/subjects: parental divorce, physical injury & illness, natural disasters, and animal deaths/abuse.

Sharada F.M. is a Library Assistant II at Graham Public Library Children’s Department.

Skate It Till You Make It : a novel. Mazarura, Rufaro Faith. New York : Flatiron Books, 2026.

Skate It Till You Make It by Rufaro Faith Mazarura is a delightful fake-dating hockey romance that hits all the right notes. Ari Shumba never imagined she’d make it to the Olympic Games, let alone lead Great Britain’s female hockey team to victory. But when the role of team captain reluctantly falls to her, she must navigate the pressures of the biggest competition of her life while also managing family drama and dodging her toxic ex.

Drew Dlamini has always played it safe. After a painful breakup and dropping out of college to deal with a family crisis, he’s eager for a fresh start. When he lands a job photographing a celebrity party on New Year’s Eve, his dream of becoming a professional photographer reignites.

When Ari and Drew cross paths at that party, neither is looking for love. Despite the instant chemistry, the distance between them seems insurmountable. They spend that night sharing secrets and red flags, convinced they’ll never see each other again. But fate has other plans, and when they reunite at the Olympic Games, they are forced to confront their wildest dreams and each other.

As the stakes rise, Ari and Drew agree to fake-date their way through the competition. Rufaro crafts characters with sizzling chemistry and witty banter, making it impossible not to root for them. Skate It Till You Make It is a perfect pick for fans of sports romances and fake-dating stories alike.

Chantell H. is a Circulation Assistant at North Park Library.

Murata, Sayaka. Life Ceremony. New York : Grove Press, 2022.

Sayaka Murata brings new meaning to flipping societal norms. After digesting “Convenience Store Woman,” I was ready to try something new and short stories are a great palate cleanser. Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata is a compilation of 12 short stories that really makes you wonder about our societal norms and mores.

These stories take place in Japan where there are clear gender roles and norms. Murata seeks to explore these in provocative and often disturbing ways. Right off the bat, we start with “A First Rate Material” where a soon-to-be bride is picking out only the finest items for her wedding registry but the most coveted and valuable items are made from human materials. The title story, “Life Ceremony” is a very different take on commemorating the dead. The final story, “Hatchling” is about a woman that takes fitting in with societal norms to an extreme. She becomes a completely different person in each social setting. As her wedding comes near, she has to find a way to reconcile these different personalities.

“Life Ceremony” is not an easy read. Some of the stories are deeply disturbing but they are also inventive and thought provoking. If you like stories that keep you thinking long after you are finished with them, this is just right.

Amy S. is a Library Assistant at Mebane Public Library.

Miller, Vanessa. The American Queen. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2024.

Have you started reading our Alamance Reads 2026 selection yet? If you’re new to Alamance Reads, it’s a community‑wide reading program funded by the Friends of the Alamance County Public Libraries. The goal is simple but powerful: bring our community together by encouraging everyone to read the same book, join in meaningful conversations, and enjoy a special visit from the author.

This year is the perfect time to jump in—and there’s still plenty of time to finish this remarkable book before author and North Carolinian Vanessa Miller visits in just two weeks. She is generously offering three opportunities for the community to meet her and hear her inspiring story. Plus, we have her book available in every format—from print to e‑audiobook—so there’s no excuse not to dive into this fantastic read.

This year’s book, The American Queen, pulls you in from the very first page. It tells the story of freed men and women who built a thriving, resilient community during some of the most challenging times for African Americans. The Kingdom of the Happy Land was a self‑sufficient, communal society established in the 1870s in Henderson County, NC, by formerly enslaved people fleeing violence in Mississippi. Led by King William and Queen Louella, the community thrived on shared labor, farming, and education before declining in the early 1900s. At the height of its prosperity, the Kingdom owned more than 200 acres of land.

As an avid lover of anything North Carolina, I was excited to read this little‑known history about a thriving community of freed slaves—and it did not disappoint. The book is engaging and heartfelt; I didn’t want it to end. It has stayed with me long after I turned the last page, and I continue to recommend it to anyone looking for their next great read. I was so moved by the story that I even traveled to the Henderson County Library and Historical Museum to explore the history they’ve preserved about these inspiring people.

Queen Louella stands at the heart of this story—a woman of noble character, unshakable strength, and a fierce commitment to her people. She endures heartbreak, violence, and discrimination for being both a woman and Black, yet her resilience inspires everyone around her. While the novel doesn’t shy away from the hardships this community faced, it blossoms with hope, love, and the power of unity through faith. You finish the book feeling uplifted and eager to share this story with others. It is a novel that feels especially meaningful in this moment in history.

When a book sparks conversations about courage, legacy, and the strength of community, you know it’s the perfect choice for Alamance Reads—and Vanessa Miller’s The American Queen does exactly that.

 Vanessa Miller will be with us on Tuesday, April 14th at 2:00 p.m. at the Alamance Community College Auditorium, or at 6:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Burlington. Her final visit will be Wednesday, April 15th at 12:0o p.m. at the Elon Community Church (registration required).

Alexis V. is the Branch Manager of North Park Library.

Calling all kids interested in science and nature: help contribute important data to real life scientists using ecoEXPLORE Discovery Packs!

Created by the North Carolina Arboretum, ecoEXPLORE (Experiences Promoting Learning Outdoors for Research and Education) is a community science initiative geared towards children in grades K–8 that utilizes incentives to encourage children to explore the outdoors and participate in community science.

Want tools to help participate in ecoEXPLORE? Alamance County Public Libraries has a number of ecoEXPLORE Discovery Packs available for checkout as part of our Library of Things. These backpack kits include kid-friendly binoculars, a bird call, butterfly net, bug collection jar, as well as a trail camera and SD card, all of which patrons can use to help record their nature sightings.

To join the program, patrons can sign up online at ecoexplore.net and begin recording their findings, including plants, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and more! Participants simply take a picture of wildlife while making note of the day, time, location, and species observed, after which they log into their ecoEXPLORE account and submit their observation. With each observation you submit, you can earn points that can be redeemed for a variety of prizes.

In addition, the South Graham Park has been designated as an ecoEXPLORE “HotSpot” location, so participants that record wildlife they see around the park can earn extra points!

For more information about the ecoEXPLORE Discovery Packs, please call (336) 570-6730 or click here to check out our Library of Things.

Sara D. is a Library Assistant at the Graham Public Library.

Udemy is a new online resource that was made available to library patrons in February 2026. Udemy is a learning platform that offers a wide range of courses for learners. Whether you want to learn a new language, learn to write code, pick up some soft skills for a new management role, or just learn to play the piano, you can find it on Udemy. With over 25,000 on-demand videos, we hope you find something that you’re excited about.

Some of Udemy’s features include courses in other languages that aren’t just translated but instead are taught by subject experts in the field. Udemy has a new role-play AI tool that allows you to conduct a mock interview or practice speaking skills with feedback on how to reach your goals.

This resource is great for those who are 13 years old and older and can be accessed for free until January 2028. Homeschoolers will find courses that may get them excited about continuing education, small business owners will find resources to grow and expand their small business, and best of all, you can find the best course for you to learn at your own pace on your own time. To get started, check our Technology page under Research and Learn to find out more or look under Online Resources under the letter U for a direct link and information about the Udemy App, which will allow to you to take your learning with you on the go.

Christina R. is the Emerging Technologies Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries.