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.

Rowley, Steven. The Guncle. New York : G. P. Putnam’s Sons, [2021].

Book content warning: Death, LGBTQ+ themes, homophobia, and a brief allusion to suicide.

Every now and then, I come across a book that pleasantly surprises me when I step out of my comfort zone of psychological horror thrillers. Those are always exciting to me – but after reading so many of them in a row, my mind needs a lighthearted break and a chance to laugh.

That is exactly what The Guncle by Steven Rowley provides: a witty and fun story about navigating the process of grief and finding your way back to who you are, that is equal parts hilarious and touching.

In this critically acclaimed book, Rowley introduces us to the charming character of Patrick, a TV sitcom actor with a somewhat stalled career who is struggling with finding a new path in life. Patrick’s brother calls him one day to give him terrible news: his wife (who is also Patrick’s lifelong best friend) has died after a long battle with a terminal illness. To help his brother, Patrick agrees to take his niece and nephew back to his house in California for the summer. In doing so, he assumes a role of guardian that he is very ill prepared for.  

What ensues is a hilarious and adventurous summer for Patrick and the kids that brings them closer than ever! Patrick’s niece and nephew lovingly call him GUP, short for Gay Uncle Patrick. And Patrick takes on this honorable role very (un)seriously, introducing them to the wonders of brunch, The Sound of Music, dancing, and plenty of afternoon swims in Patrick’s pool, while imparting little nuggets of wisdom to the kids that Patrick calls “Guncle Rules”.

This book took me on a magnificent rollercoaster ride of emotions. The story is well paced, with plenty of humor that helped me get through this book a lot quicker than most books I pick to read. As a character, Patrick is quite charming, and his delivery of quick and witty one-liners in response to his niece and nephew’s antics and heavily inquisitive nature kept me laughing with every turn of the page. Patrick’s growth while navigating the rough waters of parenting that he never even thought about dipping his toes in, even if only temporarily, is also inspiring.

But the one thing that I loved the most about this book is that, at its core, there is a heartfelt and captivating story about grief, how it affects people in different ways, and the emotional turmoil that we have to overcome to keep living our lives after a loss. Patrick has experienced lots of loss in his life. He tries his best to help his niece and nephew come to terms with their mother’s death, while also figuring out how to process his own grief. As a result, a series of tough, honest, and emotionally heavy conversations among Patrick and the kids are sprinkled throughout the book that brought quite a few tears out of me. The humor provides much needed comic relief after those moments, but I strongly recommend having some tissues ready before reading this book.

If you love a story that is dynamic and charming, that will have you laughing while also giving you plenty of moments for introspection about life, loss, and healing, this book is definitely for you. And after you are finished reading it, you can also check out the equally amazing sequel, The Guncle Abroad, in which Patrick and the kids take their adventures all the way to Europe!

Fabian R-J is a Library Assistant at May Memorial Library.