Penelope, Leslye. The Monsters We Defy. New York, NY : Redhook, 2022.

Content Warnings: death, racism, references to slavery, violence.

I stumbled upon this book in a list of great magical realism novels and was thrilled to see that we had it at ACPL! Once I began reading it, I didn’t want to stop. What’s not to like with a setting of 1920s Black Broadway in Washington, D.C., characters talking to spirits Over There, and a little romance!

Clara Johnson made a deal with an Enigma years ago when she was imprisoned for killing a policeman in self-defense. The Empress, a strong spirit, gave her a Charm (a gift) that she refuses to use again, and a Trick, which compels her to aid anyone who asks her for help. She often communes with the spirit world to help people find answers to questions and solve problems. Unfortunately, that often means people are signing up for their own Charm and Trick, not realizing how much trouble they’re getting into.

Black DC residents are disappearing in droves. Before they disappear, they seem possessed, like a zombie. A mother comes to Clara with her afflicted son, but when Clara tries to connect with the spirit world, the Enigmas are silent. That has never happened before.

When she contacts The Empress, she tells her that the people are under the spell of a ring, and she needs to steal it. The problem is that the ring is owned by Josephine, an opera singer with bodyguards and too much fame to make it an easy heist.

She reluctantly joins up with Aristotle Bishop and brothers Israel and Jesse Lee, who have their own Enigma debts, and Zelda Coleman, an albino woman who was sold by her family to a circus when she was young. Can they figure out what the ring is doing to possess people, where the people go when they disappear, and how to break the ring’s spell?

This book has a bit of romance, but most of it is off page. I loved the historical elements. Clara works for Dr. Woodson at The Journal of Negro History, and works with Langston Hughes there. She attends an event at the Whitelaw Hotel, with the “Luminous 400.” The book also mentions the first Negro History Week. This would be a great read for Black History Month!

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

Congratulations on your new Alamance County Public Library card!

You just signed up for an Alamance County Public Library card! However, if you’re like me, your new library card might be eaten by your key ring and ripped up in a few months, and physical cards are easy to lose. If you don’t have a backup, you will have to buy a replacement card or use your driver’s license to check out books. To avoid these calamities, I recommend downloading the Alamance County Public Library App from the Google Play store or the Apple App Store!

The app is free and provides a digital version of your card that can be scanned at any checkout station or service desk. Beyond just a digital card, the app allows you to:

• search the catalog
• renew your books
• add to your hold list
• find information about your local library branch
• explore upcoming library programs
• connect with our databases
• make a purchase request
• connect with Libby, and
• get access to our free Zoom passes for local attractions.

As you see, it’s way more than just a typical library app.

If you are managing multiple family accounts, the app is a space and time saver. Link all your family accounts in one spot, on the Alamance County Public Library app. Manage everyone’s accounts and you’ll have everyone’s cards clearly labeled digitally. Check it out now and make connecting with the library easier than before.

Beanstack is a digital platform and mobile app that helps people of all ages track their reading and stay motivated. It’s often called a “Fitbit for reading” because it uses fun features like badges, streaks, and community challenges to encourage daily reading.

Beanstack offers reading challenges that turn reading into a fun game. It’s helpful for people who want to start reading again, parents who want to track family reading, or anyone with a specific reading goal. Alamance County Public Libraries offers the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge, which encourages you to read any book to your newborn, infant, or toddler, aiming for 1,000 books before they start kindergarten. You can repeat books, and there are family activities to make reading more engaging. Families win prizes for reading 250, 500, 750 and 1000 books, which can be picked up at any library in the county.

The Summer Reading Program is a reading challenge offered during the summer, letting you track reading during summer break. Parents and kids can join in and even win prizes. Beanstack tracks your reading time and gives you online badges to show your progress. As in previous years, participants will win a book for reading their first 90 minutes, and another prize for every 90 minutes beyond that. Children can pick a prize from the prize box, and teens and adults win raffle tickets for great prizes.

Outside the challenges, the app can track how long you have been reading and set reading timers to help you manage your time. It will also keep track of the days you read with a statistic board called My Stats. It will record your book titles, book reviews, and highlights over the years you use the app. You can also turn on a friendly reminder notification about fun facts about reading.

Beanstack is an excellent tool for readers, whether you’re looking to encourage your family to read more or want to establish new reading habits in the New Year. Beanstack provides the support and features to help you succeed. Start your reading journey today by signing up on the Beanstack website or downloading the app.

Download the app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

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

Join us for our spring Local Author Fair! Celebrating 100 Years of Library Service.

Calling all book lovers and local authors! Meet talented writers from our community at the Local Author Fair, hosted by the Mebane Public Library, a day dedicated to books, storytelling, and local creativity, as we celebrate 100 years of library service in Alamance County.

Saturday March 21, 2026 at Mebane Public Library from 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. A schedule of author reading will be shared closer to the event date.

What to expect at the event:

• Meet & Support Local Authors
• Purchase Signed Copies of Books
• Enjoy Live Author Readings & Discussions
• Network with Fellow Book Lovers

Author readings and panel discussions will be moderated and emceed by Mebane Toastmasters, providing a welcoming, well-structured environment that helps authors share their stories with confidence.

Interested in participating as an author?

Have questions? Read the FAQ for details.

For more information, email twright@alamancelibraries.org or call (919) 563-6431.

-Tracy W. is a reference librarian at Mebane Public Library

The Callers and The Hidden Forest by Kiah Thomas – available through Hoopla.

Middle grade novels are the perfect vehicle for discussing important issues in a clear and compelling manner. This series is a great way to discuss consumerism, environmental issues, and the abuse of power with your children!

Quintas lives in a society that Calls resources into being. Their motto is Something Comes From Nothing. They Call their food, drinks, and raw materials (and sometimes manufactured materials like a table or a chair, but that is officially against the law). Quin is part of a family of famous Callers, including his mother, who is the Chief Counselor, and his sister Davina, who will be one of the youngest Callers added to the Council this year. But Quin can’t Call anything.

His mother wants to use Quin to take down the people living in the Spurges on the outskirts of Elipsom. They have spurned Calling and grow their own food. They also protest frequently, and their chant goes against everything Quin’s family is for – Nothing Comes From Nothing. They say that when things are Called, they are coming from someone and somewhere else, but the Council vehemently denies that this is so. When he goes to The Spurges with his mom, she instructs him to find his former classmate, Milo, who can Call, but chooses not to do so. Even to please his mother, Quin realizes that he can’t betray Milo.

After the Calling Examination (at which his mother cheats so he passes), Quin realizes that his papers for studying have disappeared out of his room, and then… he disappears, too.

Allie looks at the boy she just Called from the other side of the world, and quizzes him fiercely about Calling and why he wrote so many notes about it. How can he Call, knowing where the items come from? But Quin seems clueless, and Allie realizes that he doesn’t know the secret – that everything Called from Elipsom actually comes from the other side of the planet, from Evantra. Quin realizes he has been dreaming about Evantra for years and he is curious about this land that he was never told existed. The Vine, which brings life to the planet, is slowly dying. Could Quin be the one to heal it and stop the practice of Calling?

Thomas does a great job of describing this fantasy world, especially the Vine. Book Two, The Hidden Forest, really captures the beauty of this part of the world. Quin explores this new land, while hiding from Management, and meets people who can help him figure out where he came from and how to heal the Vine. Meanwhile, his sister Davina is trying to fulfill her mother’s wishes and destroy the rebellion in the Spurges. But her conscience is telling her that her brother just might be right and she might be on the wrong side of justice if she continues to do what her mother asks her to do. She’s secretly communicating with her brother, and what he’s telling her seems crazy. But what if it’s not?

Children can be very direct about what they believe, and Thomas uses that to state complex issues in a straightforward day. Of course it is wrong to Call food rather than grow it yourself, once you know where it is coming from. Of course it is wrong to plant weapons to make your opposition look guilty. Of course it is wrong to make one people work so other people can reap the benefits of their labor. This book will lead to great conversations with your child on these difficult subjects!

Book Three, The Journey Home, is coming out in June 2026, and I cannot wait to read it. If your kid loves adventure novels with strong kids taking on the world, I highly recommend this series!

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

ACPL will be closed for the holiday break from December 24–27, 2025. Stock up on books ahead of time so you can keep reading! Here are some recommended titles to enjoy alongside the festivities.

Good Spirits by B.K. Borison

If you’re looking for a fun fantasy with a sprinkle of holiday charm, this book is for you. Good Spirits by B.K. Borison is a fresh take on the classic novella A Christmas Carol. Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan has no desire to exist until he meets Harriet York. Suddenly, he finds himself wishing for a future. Available on Libby.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year is a locked-room murder mystery. Snowed in at an isolated mansion, cozy mystery writer Maggie and thriller author Ethan face a chilling murder. Unsure if they can trust each other, they follow each clue as the storm deepens, drawing them closer to the truth and to each other. Available on Libby.

One Last Gift by Emily Stone

For anyone carrying grief through the holiday season: One Last Gift follows Cassie and Tom, who lost their parent young and spent the next twenty years relying on each other. When Cassie loses her beloved brother, she discovers an envelope he left behind, one that sends her on a heartfelt Christmas scavenger hunt through London, guiding her through memory, love, and healing.

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

The Christmas Bookshop is a short, cozy feel-good read. After being laid off, Carmen is out of options and dreading Christmas with her perfect sister, Sofia, especially with a second baby on the way. When she finds herself in front of a shabby old bookshop on the streets of Edinburgh, Carmen sees a chance for a fresh start. But can she bring new life to the shop before Christmas?

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

The Frozen River is a gripping murder mystery set in Maine, 1789. When the Kennebec River freezes over, revealing a man trapped in the ice, midwife Martha Ballard is called to examine the body. Used to the secrets hidden behind closed doors, she records every birth and death in her diary. Entries from her private notes are revealed and later become the center of a dangerous scandal. Available on Libby.

-Ana A. is the Marketing Coordinator for Alamance County Public Libraries.

Every month, the library system orders new books. Most books find their readers, but here are few that are still waiting for that first checkout!

If You Like: Action-Packed Thrillers

Victim #8 by Traci Hunter Abramson

This is book 2 in the Luke Steele series. Military aide Luke Steele and FBI Special Agent Amberlyn Reiner work together to solve the murder of an American journalist in Instanbul. Was it the work of a serial killer, or was the journalist killed for secret information that is now in the hands of an enemy? In their investigation, they discover a plot to kill the President and start a nuclear war, and only they can stop it by going undercover to meet with a Russian source.

If You Like: Sci-Fi Quests with Staffs

The king must die by Kemi Ashing-Giwa

Newearth began as a gift from aliens to allow Earth’s peoples to survive on another planet, but its terraforming is failing. Fen works as a mercenary bodyguard and is entangled with the complex politics of the empire. The Sovereign kills her fathers and threatens her life. She takes her quarterstaff and goes off to find the last of her parents’ rebellion group. Part of that group is Alekhai, the Sovereign’s heir, who has a plan that will either save the empire or lead to its doom. Which is more dangerous – the ruthless Sovereign or the insurgents challenging him?

If You Like: Time Traveling Romances

The maid of Sherwood Forest by Siân Ann Bessey

Mariah Clinton puts on a medieval dress at a costume shop and is instantly transported to Nottingham. Her background as an archer and a sous-chef helps her blend in and work in the kitchen. Her skill with a bow and arrow and belief in her self-worth attracts the eye of the very handsome Robin Hood. She’ll have to decide if she’s willing to give up modern-day London for passion and danger with Robin and his outlaws.

If You Love: Historical Mysteries with a Dash of Royalty and Baking

Revenge, served royal by Celeste Connally

It’s 1815, and the Ton are flocking to Windsor Castle for a week of celebrations, including a patisserie competition by the best bakers from their staff. Lady Petra can’t wait to see her Aunt Ophelia, meet with Sir Rufus Pomeroy and see his cookbook for the Queen, and serve as a judge for the contest! But a dead body puts paid to all of her excitement. Her lady’s maid’s brother is accused of the murder but proclaims his innocence. When poisoned tea almost kills her, Petra knows that the killer is still at large, and she must solve the case before someone else dies.

If You Love: Black Girl Magic, Demons, and Steamy Romance

Son of the morning by Akwaeke Emezi

Galilee Kincaid knows she is adopted, but not who (or what) she is. When she meets Lucifer Helel, she instantly knows that he’s not human, and that he is as dangerous as he is sexy. His lieutenant Leviathan is determined to keep them apart, because he’s convinced that she’ll bring death and destruction to Hell and beyond. Will she accept the power she has gained through her connection to Kincaid magic and her unknown heritage?

If You Love: Heart-Wrenching Family Dramas

Palaver by Bryan Washington

A mother and son slowly reconnect when she arrives on his doorstep in Toyko after many years of little contact between them. The mother’s missteps may have been born out of concern and love, but they wounded her son. He may have a found family in Japan, but he hasn’t been really happy after cutting off his family. They have a chance to heal themselves and each other, if they can find their way forward together.

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

Kazuki, Miya. Ascendance of a bookworm [light novel] : I’ll do anything to become a librarian. [United States] : J Novel Club, 2019-.

If you have ever wanted to spend all day surrounded by books, then you will love the main character’s personal mission to do the same! 

Ascendance of a Bookworm by Miya Kazuki was my introduction to light novels and is one of my favorite series to read. The author does a great job at showing Myne’s determination and ability to push through setbacks that inevitably arise when she is scheming up a way to make or read books. It starts off very slow, but the worldbuilding grows along with the main character’s knowledge of her new world.

A librarian in modern day Japan named Urano dies and gets reincarnated as Myne, a sickly five-year-old child. She soon discovers that her beloved books are impossible to obtain in a world where only nobles can afford to access them. She decides that the only possible solution is to create books herself!

The first book describes her troubles at getting used to a new family, friends, and a world where modern technology doesn’t exist. She realizes that her main obstacle isn’t that everyone around her can’t read, but the mysterious illness that no one can figure out.

As the series goes on, she finds out the cause of her sickness and learns that the nobles not only have books but can use magic as well. Her desperate need to read a book constantly lands her in trouble with every noble she meets. 

This series is perfect for those who love magical worlds and supporting a bookworm’s chaotic way to gain her own library. 

Kayla H. is a Library Assistant at May Memorial Library.

Curl up with your favorite little kid to read these beautiful books about winter holidays!

Williams, Nyasha. Once Upon a Kwanzaa. Philadelphia : Running Press Kids, 2025.

This book wins for the most beautiful cover of the season! This book will help your family learn about the celebration of Kwanzaa through 8 families who are lighting the Kinara, sharing meals, and talking about the principles Kwanzaa celebrates – Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith.

Snyder, Laurel. The Book of Candles: Eight Poems for Hanukkah. New York, NY : Clarion Books, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, 2025.

This book of simple poetry tells the story of celebrating Hanukkah through a child’s eyes.  Each poem shares a bit more about celebrating each of the eight nights, and why Jewish people say certain words or light the candles in a certain order. The illustrations feel warm, inviting everyone to join them in front of the menorah.

Rex, Adam. The 13^th Day of Christmas. [New York, New York] : Neal Porter Books, an imprint of Holiday House Publishing, Inc., 2025.

Singing the 12 Days of Christmas can be… well, boring. But this book about a young man receiving some strange gifts (who gives their boyfriend birds and a pear tree?) will make your kids (and you) laugh! It also shares a wonderful message about the true meaning of Christmas and the joy these gifts bring to the community.

Morris, Jordan. Merry Mittens: a Moontime Cats Christmas Story. Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2025.

When cat friends sneak out to cause a little mayhem, they find a thief’s stash, complete with tinsel, a star, ornaments, and other items. But there’s also a special gift wrapped up in a box that needs a home where it will be loved. This book has a lot of great noise words that kids will love hearing read as well as great illustrations of cats!

Gross, Kelsey E. Winter: A Solstice Story. New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, [2023].

This gorgeous book about the winter solstice in the forest will enchant your children, and you as well. The animals gather on the longest night of the year around a tree in the forest that is lit by the moon and the stars. The animals are there to share their message of hope and celebrate the solstice.

Kurpiel, Sarah. A Little Like Magic. New York : Rocky Pond Books, 2024.

A winter trip to an ice festival goes wrong when the young narrator loses her prized horse figurine. She didn’t want to go to that cold, uncomfortable festival anyway! But she and her mom go back the next night to see what the artists have created, and she finds the magic of winter.

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

As the leaves fall and the days get shorter, I always love curling up with a good book. This time of year, I often find myself reaching for folklore-inspired stories alongside a warm mug of cider or hot cocoa to fend off the impending chill. Here are some excellent folkloric books to check out this fall!

Nethercott, GennaRose. Thistlefoot. New York : Anchor Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, 2022.
One of my favorite characters from folklore is Baba Yaga and her strange house on chicken legs, roaming the forests of eastern Europe. In Thistlefoot, GennaRose Nethercott breathes new life into the tale through estranged siblings Isaac and Bellatine Yaga, who can’t believe
their luck when they receive a mysterious inheritance: a sentient house on chicken legs called Thistlefoot. Only, someone—or something—else is hunting it, relentlessly stalking the Yagas and the house across the country as they embark on a last-stitch tour of their family’s traveling puppet theater. Nethercott’s writing is lush and lyrical, balancing theatrical humor with the haunting darkness of the Yaga’s family history.
Content Warnings: Violence, Antisemitism, Fire, Mentions of eugenics, Genocide, Child
death

Novik, Naomi. Uprooted. New York : Del Rey, [2015].
Inspired by Polish folklore, Naomi Novik’s Uprooted weaves together elements of traditional fairy tales—an ancient wizard, a girl in a tower, a forest of dark magic— to create a story that feels both familiar and fresh. Young Agnieszka lives in a small village in a kingdom that borders the Wood, a forest of sinister magic that destroys villages and drives villagers mad. Their only protector from the Wood is the Dragon, a centuries-old wizard who lives in a grand tower… but his protection comes at a cost. Every ten years, the Dragon demands a sacrifice: a village girl, who will serve him for ten years. When the Dragon reluctantly selects Agnieszka to serve him during the Choosing, it leads her down a long, twisting road to discovering her own power. Uprooted leans into the darkness of old fairy tales and twists reader expectations connected to fairy tale tropes. A trip through the Wood
is not for the faint of heart….
Content Warnings: Death, Violence, War, Vomit, Sexual content

Saft, Allison. A Dark and Drowning Tide. New York : Del Rey, [2024].
Folklore meets fantasy romance in this story where an expedition is thrown off course when the leader is murdered. As the expedition pushes onward, two rival students must work together to uncover the identity of the murderer and locate a site long believed to be myth as even more dangers lie ahead: mythical monsters, forests that rearrange themselves at night, and simmering tensions among the remaining members of the expedition. At its core, A Dark and Drowning Tide is a love letter to Bavarian folklore and a confrontation of the prejudices that lie at the center of many fairy tales—perfect for fans of
Leigh Bardugo and Ava Reid.

Content Warnings: Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Antisemitism

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