Sometimes after finishing an epic adventure or a story full of darker themes you need something to act as a palate cleanser before diving into the next book on your TBR list. For me, that book is the graphic novel Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh.
The illustrations are hilarious, with an art style that feels familiar to those who love scrolling through memes online. This collection of stories is filled with heartfelt moments and honest humor. She has an amazing ability to make you feel like she is sitting right beside you, sharing these stories like an afternoon gossip session with a friend.
What makes this book special is how well balanced the stories are. Allie recounts various stories from chaotic childhood misadventures that reminded me of my own, to adult struggles that made me reflect on the importance of mental health awareness. My favorites include her first encounter with a birthday cake, watching her dogs act in silly ways, and a showdown with a feral goose. I found myself having to put the book aside several times because I was laughing too hard to keep reading.
If you are looking for something to read in between heavier books, trying a new genre, or craving a good laugh, this book is for you!
Kayla H. is a Library Assistant at May Memorial Library.
Hoopla is a great resource for eBooks and audiobooks, but did you know you can also check out music albums? While it seems you can find your favorite songs and artists through so many different sites and apps, it becomes a bit trickier to find a way to listen to a complete album for free and without commercials. Hoopla is the solution for you! Once you check out the album, you have seven days to listen to it as many times as your heart desires. You will have the opportunity to listen to the album as the artist intended, with the original song arrangement and without the interruption of advertisements. You may even find a new appreciation for the artist or a new favorite song.
New Music Friday on hooplaK-Pop and other genres are featured on hoopla
Whether you are looking for chart-toppers, rock, gospel, or K-Pop, Hoopla has something to offer. Multiple different languages of music are available. To sign up for Hoopla you will need your library card and an email address. Both an app and web version are available. If you need help signing up or using Hoopla, be sure to ask your librarian! Any ACPL branch will be able to assist you.
–Susana S. is a Library Assistant at Graham Public Library.
If you are looking for a new (or first!) job, ACPL can help. We have in-person classes, online resources, as well as some great books in our libraries.
Recent college graduates and those early in their careers will appreciate the no-nonsense approach this book takes to job-hunting. This is the third edition of this book and includes information on using AI in your job search, how to interview in person and over Zoom, and how to keep your skills relevant in a fast-changing world.
What if you have no idea what you want to do? What if you went to school for something you now hate? What if you’re not able to get a job without experience, but you can’t get experience without a job? This book handles these topics and others with humor and a straightforward manner that young job-seekers will appreciate.
This guide to creating an effective resumé is only a few years old, meaning that it includes information on LinkedIn, automated resumé screeners, and other challenges that have changed how we apply for jobs. Combine this book with our online and in-person resources to create the best resumé for you!
Changing jobs can feel like a huge gamble – will this new job move me further along in my career? Is this my dream job, or will I end up disappointed? The strategies shared in this book will help you make an informed decision before jumping to another job.
When you lose your job mid-career, you often feel lost. This book helps you decide your next steps, whether that is to improve your skills to get another job in your field, try another field, go back to school or training, or open your own business.
Online Resources
Job and Career Help is the one-stop shop for all of our employment resources. You’ll find links to Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center, Learning Express Library, resume builders, cover letter assistance, and interview assistance.
We also have more databases and websites linked in our Online Resources under Career. This page also includes links to Northstar, Niche Academy, Udemy, GCF Global, and Digital Learn, where you can extend your technical and job skills through online classes.
In-Person Classes
We are offering in-person classes, some in conjunction with ACC. Visit our calendar of events to see what is being offered this month!
Check back soon for more Spring Career Compass information, including classes, mock interviews and our Community Closet!
Love is right around the corner and if you’re anything like me, you’ve already binged the first half of season four of Bridgerton and are counting the days until the second half drops. In the meantime, check out some of these Regency and Victorian book recommendations to tide you over until the conclusion of Benedict and Sophie’s story.
Looking for a modern spin on the classic Regency-era novels? Try Martha Waters’ Regency Vows series, a completed five book, standalone series. To Have and to Hoax starts us off with estranged husband and wife as they enact a prank war to spite one another but rekindle their love along the way. The rest of the series follows characters from Violet and James’ friend group with tropes like enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, and second chance romances.
Virginia Heath’s Merriwell Sisters follows down on their luck sisters Minerva, Diana, and Venus. Opening with Minerva’s story, Never Fall for Your Fiancée, as she tries to support herself and her sisters after their father up and abandons them, Minerva seizes the opportunity to play fake fiancé for the Earl of Fareham. As hilarity ensues and stories get crossed, so do feelings as Minerva and the Earl realize that they might just be falling for one another but are questioning how one can truly start when the beginning of the relationship was a farce?
Evie Dunmore not only brings the vibes we all love from these genres, but she brings a little dash of political intrigue with her four main heroines being a part of the suffrage movement in late 19th Century Victorian England. In Dunmore’s debut novel, Bringing Down the Duke, we meet Annabelle Archer, our first member of the Oxford Rebels. Annabelle kicks starts the series A League of Extraordinary Women by seeking the aid of Sebastian Devereux, the Duke of Montgomery, to keep her scholarship and to influence the political scene of England.
A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem, the first entry in the Ladies Most Scandalous series by Manda Collins, pairs our Victorian heroines with serious detectives as they both rush to solve the case. We open in England 1865, and Katherine has not only reported and led to the catching of a notorious murderer, but she has also now witnessed another murder! After reporting and advising the public of this act, Katherine is being accused by Detective Inspector Andrew of inflaming the masses rather than informing, and Katherine cannot stand for that. So, she vows to solve the crime before the Detective Inspector can. Collins truly keeps readers on our toes with her mystery/thriller elements in this four-book series.
Jenny Holiday’s Earls Trip series is the only series I have on here that is ongoing as only books one and two have been published. Holiday gives us a delight modern feel for Regency romance as readers follow a set of three earls on their annual holiday trip. Archibald Fielding-Burton is such a lucky man for having not one, but two best friends. Men who have known each other since their school days, know of the pressures and skeletons in their closets. And Archibald needs this get away with his two best mates! But when a letter from an old family friend arrives asking for Archibald’s help, what else is he supposed to do? So now, the boys’ trip is no longer just a boys’ trip – it includes Clementine, the daughter of the old family friend, who is grown and surprising Archibald. (Book three, Brown Eyed Earl, is expected to hit shelves late 2026 according to the author’s Instagram.)
Now I know if you’ve gotten this far that you have enjoyed Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series in one format or another. But did you know that she wrote a prequel series to Bridgerton called Rokesbys? This series not only follows a family of Bridgertons before we knew of the ones Netflix brought to our screens, but also the Brothers Rokeby. The two families have been neighbors for centuries, creating a perfect beginning for Billie Bridgerton and her frenemies to lovers’ relationship with George Rokesby in book one, Because of Miss Bridgerton. This is a completed four book series (as there are four Rokeby brothers!).
Kayleigh Dyer is a Library Technical Processing Assistant at May Memorial Library. Contact her at kdyer@alamancelibraries.org.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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 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.
