Looking for a cozy fantasy read that is less autumnal forward than most others? Durst’s The Spellshop is just the ticket. With its summer storms and seahorses, you’ll just fall in love with this charming island that is the background to Durst’s story.
Our main heroine, Kiela, is a displaced librarian. Her assistant, Caz, is a magicked spider plant. Together, they flee the burning library that was once their home, clutching all of the books they can carry. Kiela and Caz travel to Caltrey, an outer island of the empire, to hide away in Kiela’s old childhood home. Here, Kiela is hoping that she and Caz can keep their heads down, keep the books safe, and not interact with the community, but that’s easier said than done.
They bide their time, intending to eventually return to their burned library, but life, and the island have other plans for them. In order to survive and help the island thrive again, Kiela uses her books and enchants the plants to grow. With the grown plants, our protagonist opens a jam shop as a cover as she tends to the island itself.
It’s a low stakes kind of book, but that’s not to say that Kiela doesn’t come up against obstacles and unknown forces. Pick up the book today to discover what happens in this magical world next!
Kayleigh Dyer is a Library Technical Processing Assistant at May Memorial Library. Contact her at kdyer@alamancelibraries.org.
If you have kids heading back to school this month, you know it can be a time of anxiety and excitement. This collection of books will help your student get through those back-to-school jitters!
Back to School by Wanda E. Brunstetter – Brunstetter is a popular Amish romance writer who also writes an adorable series of books for elementary school readers! In this book, Rachel is happy to be back in school, but not so happy that Orlie is there, making her life miserable. Kids will see themselves in Rachel as she tries to get along with a classmate that is just, well, ornery! Back to School, Backpack! by Simon Rich – Going back to school is exciting, but it also can make you anxious. Backpack isn’t sure he’s ready for the crowded halls, scary bathrooms, and lonely cafeteria tables at school. Kids will identify with Backpack as he names some of the fears they have about school. This would be a great conversation-starter with your young child about their fears! Back to School is Cool! by Jim Jenkins – This is an easy reader, so young readers will feel accomplished when they read this book to themselves. Pinky Dinky Doo’s little brother is nervous about school starting, so Pinky tells him about her worst hair day ever, which happened to be on picture day. Pinky’s reassuring words will help kids feel more comfortable about starting school. Louise the Big Cheese and the Back-to-School Smarty-Pants by Elise Primavera – Louise wants to be the best this year, and make straight As. But she has the hardest, toughest teacher ever. Will that end her dreams to make the grade? This illustrated chapter book will delight students, whether they are overachievers like Louise or not! Tiny Goes Back to School by Cari Meister – This Level 1 easy reader uses simple wording to tell a compelling story. Tiny the dog is having trouble obeying commands, like sit and come. Tiny’s family decides to send him back to school, but will Tiny ever learn? Kids who struggle with certain skills will identify with Tiny and be motivated to keep trying! Llama Llama Back to School by Anna Dewdney – Llama Llama isn’t ready for summer to end – he’s loved backyard camping and picnics and time to play with his friends. He’s nervous about school starting again, but with the help of his momma and his friends, maybe it will be alright. This beloved character will make young kids feel understood if they’re nervous about school, too.
Mary Beth Adams is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries. You can reach her at madams@alamancelibraries.org.
Sometimes in the summer, you need a great book to listen to on the way to a great vacation spot, or while you’re working. I’ve been enjoying one bookish, magical series that is available through Hoopla!
The Glass Library Series by C.J. Archer
The Glass Library series is the textbook definition of a glacially-slow-burn romance, while also ticking the fantasy, mystery and historical fiction boxes.
The Librarian of Crooked Lane is the first book in the series. Sylvia Ashe is now without family in the world (at least, family she knows of). Her mother never discussed her father, and now that she and Sylvia’s brother are both deceased, she is curious. Her brother left a diary that mentions silver magic and the name India Glass. She never thought that they were descended from magicians; after all, she’s just an ordinary woman!
Gabriel Glass survived the Great War without a scratch, despite being on the front lines for the entire war. He is artless (without magic), even though his mother India is a famous watchmaking magician. When he saves someone in a boating accident, staying underwater much longer than they ought he should be able to, he can’t escape the reporters digging into his life. He denies he has magic, but many people don’t believe him.
Sylvia chases down Gabe at an opening gala for the Royal Academy Art Show in London, posing as a waitress to approach him. She hopes that she can talk to his mother and find out why her brother James had her name in his diary. Of course, his parents have just left for a trip to America, and her asking him gets her thrown out of the party and fired summarily. Gabe is at first unwilling to help her, but as she and her best friend Daisy leave the party, someone tries to kidnap Gabe. His best friend Alex, whose father works for Scotland Yard, and Gabe’s cousin Willie (a smart-talking cowgirl from the United States) act as his bodyguards and foil the plan (although Sylvia’s well-placed kick might have helped as well).
Gabriel comes to the library where Sylvia works, and accidentally gets her fired. He enlists her help in finding out who stole a painting from the Royal Academy, and promises to help her research her heritage and find out if she has a magical ancestor. He also gets her a job in the Glass Library, a library of texts about magic that his family has contributed to heavily.
There is much to enjoy with this series of books. In each book, there is a mystery to solve, as well as the overarching mystery of who are Sylvia’s family, and does she have magic? It is fascinating to see the world of the 1920s in England, when roads had both horse and carriages and motorcars, single working people still lived in boarding houses, and the aristocracy still held an enormous sway on society and life.
If you love magic, these books show a different, perhaps more realistic view of magical use. Magicians have just one specialty, and often just one spell. Paper magicians own paper factories, and know a spell that makes paper stronger. Ink magicians enchant ink to make it last a long time and stay sharp and legible. It is very different from most magic systems where magicians can do multiple spells in multiple disciplines.
And if you’re looking for a very (very, very, very) slow-burn romance, you’re going to love this series. Gabriel and Sylvia get closer and closer as the series continues, but never admit their feelings to each other. Their best friends Daisy and Alex also flirt and bicker, but never (at least not yet!) act on their feelings. I will admit to yelling at the audiobook in my car, “just KISS already!” But the tension between them is truly enjoyable and I know that when they do kiss, it will be worth it.
Book five, Secrets of the Lost Ledgers, comes out this September. Until then, use Hoopla to catch up on the story!
Mary Beth Adams is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries. You can reach her at madams@alamancelibraries.org.
Miguel Ángel Ruiz Macías, better known as don Miguel Ruiz, is a Mexican author. The most popular of his works “The Four Agreements, has been translated in 52 languages. A phenomenally written book, describing the source of self-limiting beliefs that humans make with themselves that causes their own needless suffering and robs us of joy. Based on ancient Toltec Wisdom, The Four Agreements offer new simple life goals that can radically and rapidly transform our lives. Short read, easy to follow along this book would be perfect for many ages and many stages. From the young adult just piecing the puzzles together to the grandparents reflecting on the legacy they are leaving behind. The Four Agreements is a must read for anyone committed to living life fully!!
These agreements can be found in various places (sometimes worded in different ways) from religious scriptures to universal laws.
Be Impeccable with Your Word: Move with integrity; Say only what you mean.
Don’t Take Things Personally: This agreement is a superpower. What others say & do is a projection of their own reality.
Don’t Make Assumptions: Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really what.
Always Do Your Best: Though your best will change at different times, simply do your best and you will avoid self-judgement self-abuse and regret
My favorite thing is that the agreements will put the responsibility back on us (the individual) accountability is at the forefront and that I appreciate.
Nicole Givens is the Children’s Programming Coordinator for Alamance County Public Libraries. You can reach her at ngivens@alamancelibraries.org.
When the temperature rises, so does our love of a good steamy romance! Here are some perfect choices for summer reads at the pool or on vacation.
At first spite : a Harlot’s Bay novel by Dade, Olivia – Athena is living in Spite House, which is an apt name for our 10-foot wide house attached to her ex Johnny’s house on one side, and just four feet away from her ex’s older brother on the other side! She wants to hate Johnny’s older brother Matthew, but he’s helpful, and listens to her, and he’s very sexy, even if he did convince Johnny to leave her.
Birding with benefits by Dubb, Sarah T. – The year of “yes” leads Celeste to agree to partner with John for a birding event (never mind that she knows nothing about birding). But several days in the Arizona wilderness with a patient teacher, who she realizes she is very attracted to, leads to them upgrading their relationship to “birders with benefits.” But when the event is over, will he fly away?
Triple sec : a novel by Alexander, T. J. – Mel is a bartender at an Instagram-worthy spot, and sees the good and the bad (mostly the bad) of dating every day. When Bebe and Kade walk into the bar, she’s intrigued by Bebe. Bebe and Kade have an open relationship, so Mel overcomes her hesitations and agrees to go on a date with Bebe. But she also feels chemistry and connection with Kade. Can they make a polyamorous relationship work?
Blood on the tide by Robert, Katee – Romantasy hits the high seas with Blood on the Tide. Lizzie is a vampire who is on the rampage, trying to get her family’s heirlooms back from the vicious Cŵn Annwn. She rescues a selkie named Maeve, who can help her get through the Threshold. Maeve forms an uneasy partnership with Lizzie to get her skin back, but she can’t help falling in love with the vampire’s bites.
That time I got drunk and saved a demon by Lemming, Kimberly – Cinnamon wants to live a quiet life, but that’s not to be, after she saves Fallon, a demon. Fallon is determined to kill the evil witch who is enslaving his people, and he’s dragging Cinnamon along for the ride.
The prospects : a novel by Hoffman, KT – Gene is the first openly transgender professional baseball player. When his former teammate/rival Luis is traded to his minor league team, their chemistry on and off the field is horrible (at first). But spending all that time together on the field and on the bus leads to tension and electric glances between them. Can they make their major league dreams come true?
Mary Beth Adams is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries. You can reach her at madams@alamancelibraries.org.
When the temperatures are high, stay inside and read books about summer with your little ones! We recommend visiting the library as well, and enjoying our air conditioned children’s areas.
Summer by Wenxuan Cao – Teach your children about kindness and sharing with this delightful picture book! Each animal wants to have the small sliver of shade for themselves. However, after fighting, they realize that they can give each other shade if they work together!
Sari-sari summers by Bontigao, Lynnor – Nora loves her grandmother’s sari shop so much! When the temperatures soar, and no one is coming to the store, she takes matters into her own hands. She gets ripe mangoes from the tree outside and makes refreshing mango ices to share with their customers.
Hot city by Joosse, Barbara M. – Where do you go when the buses are expelling dragon fire, and your snow cone melts immediately? The library! We can’t argue with this book’s logic, as Mimi and Joe escape the heat at their local library and let their imaginations run free.
Think cool thoughts by Perry, Elizabeth – The hottest day of the year has Angel’s family feeling down. They decide to sleep on the roof that night, leading to an extraordinary night for Angel (and the relief of a rain shower the next morning).
Hot dog by Salati, Doug – It’s just too hot in the city, and this dog has had enough! He plops down in the middle of a crosswalk, and his owner picks him up. They travel by taxi, train and ferry to reach the beach, where they find cool water, stiff breezes, and all the room in the world to run!
Mary Beth Adams is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries. You can reach her at madams@alamancelibraries.org.
We’re about halfway through our summer reading program, Adventure Begins at Your Library, so we’re sharing a list of children’s adventure novels (ages 7-14). Most of these were published in the last year, or are part of an ongoing series!
Every kid sometimes feels like a misfit, but Olive feels like one most of the time. When she’s sent to what she thinks is a reform school, she instead finds it is a secret spy school where she and her misfit classmates/friends can save the day by stopping the heist of the century!
Geronimo Stilton is the most anxious adventurous reporter mouse in the world! On his trip to Chichén Itzà, his sister Thea and an ancient Mayan necklace go missing, and Geronimo has to find them. The Geronimo Stilton books are colorful, action-packed and fun for kids to read.
Trim the kitten loves being part of the ship’s crew, but hasn’t quite found his place yet. After trying several jobs, he discovers something big that requires all hands on deck! This is an intermediate reader, great for kids who are just starting to read chapter books. A second book in the series is coming in July.
A young explorer in the distant future lands on an uninhabited Earth. She finds a viewfinder, which shows her what Earth used to be. But she also finds signs that there might be someone else living on Earth now. This is a wordless graphic novel, perfect for those who love to tell the story themselves!
This relatively new series (books published in 2022, 2023 and 2024) features Adelaide, who wants to run away from home and the diabolical Night Coats, and the magical creature she accidentally awakens named Blue. Adelaide discovers the magical hideaway of the long-dormant Mapmakers, and begins a journey toward becoming a Mapmaker, abolishing the Night Coats and bringing peace and joy back to her world.
This is the first of a trilogy about an African girl whose family believes she has a demon inside her. She gets a kitchen internship at the Academy of Shamans, runs away with cat Bubbles, and hopes she fits in better at the Academy (and that there’s someone who can cure her there). But what she finds is that she needs to harness her powers to exorcise a truly evil demon from the kingdom’s emperor! The second book in the series comes out in October.
Sure, Noah fell out of a 16th floor window when he was a baby, but his life has been pretty dull since then. He wants to be as amazing and talented as his two best friends, so he’s thrilled when, during a routine vision test, he finds out he can manipulate gravity and is recruited to train with Gravitas, a top-secret government agency. But Gravitas wants him to hunt down the one person who might be able to help him with his powers, his great-uncle Saul. The characters in this book are in 7th grade, making it perfect for those late elementary and middle school readers.
Magnolia pins the lone socks she finds in her family’s laundromat to the bulletin board, but no one ever claims them. So, she and her new friend Iris from California decide to travel across the city to solve the mystery of each sock, and find out all kinds of interesting things along the way. This is a great early chapter book for kids in elementary school.
Mary Beth Adams is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries. You can reach her at madams@alamancelibraries.org.
Warning: Mature themes, rated M. Not intended for younger readers.
The 1988, The Killing Joke by Alan Moore in the re-colored and remastered 2008 printing of the famous DC Comics One Shot is one for the ages. I have had cursory knowledge of The Killing Joke being a fan of comics both Marvel and DC but never sat down to really take it all in. I’ve watched the animated adaptation a few years ago but have since forgotten the story. After reading it, I walked away considering this to be the end of the Batman x Joker tale. It feels resolute in its tragedy.
Batman goes to Arkham Asylum to talk to Joker about their relationship and how it is doomed to end in one or the other or both dying by each other’s hands. The Joker gets a sympathetic origin story that is teased to be just a hallucination by Moore in the afterward. While I prefer the more dynamic frames of Japanese Mangaka there is something to be said about the standard block frames of older DC comics. Visual devices such as match cuts used to cut back and forth from a flashback sell a sense of unease while Joker attempts to drive Commissioner Gordon mad. Repeated multicolored frames at the start of a sequence that serve to drive you just as mad. Or an upbeat sequence followed by a page turn jump-scare of the Joker. With frames of smiling faces that unsettle you with ease. It is a masterclass in how to seed discomfort in your readers by utilizing the standard comic book format. There is no wonder as to why this is considered one of the greatest Batman comics.
Content Warning: Fire/fire injury, death, grief, sexual content, miscarriage, blood, death of a parent, torture, confinement.
In Shields’ debut novel, she takes magic, nature, and finding one’s self when all odds are against you and turns it into the sweetest success. Marigold Claude has always preferred the ways of the wild than conforming to societies’ standards (and suitors) and jumps at the first chance she can to see a different life. Apprenticing under her grandmother, a honey witch, and then taking over for the care of the Isle of Innifree, Marigold faces the ups and downs of being a witch. One of those consequences being that no one can fall in love with a honey witch. A “curse” that Marigold was ok with, or so she thought.
As Marigold experiences loneliness after her grandmother’s passing, she seeks familial companionship in her friends. What Marigold did not think would happen was falling in love with the sceptic, Lottie, and the choice that Marigold now faces. Stay a witch, keep the curse, save Isle of Innifree. Or forsake all that she has worked towards in order to love openly and freely with Lottie.
The Honey Witch is a delightful fantasy novel with a lot of cozy vibes. I’m looking forward to seeing more of what Shields plans to write in the future.
Kayleigh Dyer is a Library Technical Processing Assistant at May Memorial Library. Contact her at kdyer@alamancelibraries.org.
Content Warning: alcohol addiction, self-hatred, bullying, hazing, and suicidal ideation.
Wow. Jas Hammonds writes books that move you to tears (sad and happy). I wasn’t sure if Thirsty could be as good as their first book, We Deserve Monuments, but it absolutely is.
Blake has been dating Ella for four years, the entirety of high school. Now, she, Ella, and her best friend Annetta are going to college at Jameswell and (hopefully) joining the Serena Society. Serena Society is more than just a sorority – it is a network of Black women who support each other, mentor each other, and membership leads to success in life.
As summer begins, Blake is drinking. A lot. She is drinking to escape that she doesn’t have a great relationship with her parents, who don’t seem to understand the struggles she is facing as a biracial lesbian. She is drinking to escape that even after four years of dating, she doesn’t feel secure in her relationship with Ella. She is drinking to escape that this charmed life could end with one wrong move on her part (like throwing paint on a racist country club member’s yacht), because she isn’t rich like Ella and Annetta. She is drinking because she is insecure, and drinking brings out Big Bad Bee, who isn’t scared of anything, who is up for anything, and whom everyone loves. Everyone but her best friend Annetta, who worries that Blake is drinking too much.
Then the official Serena Society pledge period begins, and there’s more drinking, more hazing, more chances for her life to go off the rails. The president of Serena Society, Roxanne, seems to revel in making the pledges drink to excess and complete risky tasks. Roxanne flirts shamelessly with Ella, making Blake feel even more insecure in her relationship. Annetta tries to intervene and help Blake with her drinking, but Annetta has her own issues to deal with, including a new relationship with a nonbinary person, and figuring out if she (or they) is/are nonbinary as well.
At times, this book is difficult to read, because you hurt for Blake while internally (or externally) screaming at her as she makes bad choice after bad choice. Hammonds does an incredible job of making the reader feel just as unsettled, depressed and desperate as Blake feels. This book deals with serious issues, such as alcohol addiction, self-hatred, bullying, hazing, and suicidal ideation. But it also has hope, and that makes all of the pain worth it.
Mary Beth Adams is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries. She can be reached at madams@alamancelibraries.org.
