The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Mandanna, Sangu. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. New York : Berkley, 2022.

Still craving a witchy read this fall?

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a cozy fantasy romance about an isolated witch and an unconventional found family in the English countryside battling forces that seek to tear them apart. Simmering with a love of magic and a dash of the grumpy-meets-sunshine trope, Sangu Mandanna crafts an enchanted story that will warm your heart like one of Mika Moon’s magical cups of tea. 

Mika Moon is a witch—which means she has spent most of her life alone, keeping her head down, unable to share this core part of herself with anyone outside of a small group of witches scattered across Britain she calls The Very Secret Society of Witches and its straitlaced leader, Primrose. No one can know she is a witch. No one does… except, when Mika posts videos online “pretending” to be a witch as an outlet for her loneliness, someone seems to take her claims seriously. 

An anonymous message is sent to Mika that begins with “WITCH WANTED,” begging her to travel to the secluded and mysterious estate of Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to use and control their magic. At first, she thinks it’s a joke. Even if it weren’t, it breaks one of the most important rules she’s grown up learning: stay away from other witches, because too many witches in one place cause their powers to mingle and draw unwanted attention. Mika goes anyway and becomes entangled in their lives as the clock is ticking down before the girls must be able to control their magic, else they would be taken away from Nowhere House. 

I easily fell in love with this motley cast of characters: Nowhere House’s jovial housekeeper (Lucie), a retired actor with a love for flamingo pink yarn (Ian), a gardener (Ken), three lovely little witches with big personalities that occasionally clash, and a grumpy librarian who is fiercely protective of the young girls and deeply distrusting of Mika (Jamie). 

As Mika warms up to the inhabitants of Nowhere House and finds herself getting attached, she is confronted with the reality that her time there is limited and that she cannot stay—no matter how much she wants it. Despite her painful past, Mika Moon finds the courage to fight for the people she loves and, more importantly, for herself. There’s a comfort in seeing these characters, each isolated in their own way, finding a place to belong and people to call home. 

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches shows us the healing power of letting yourself be truly loved and that the family you choose is its own little kind of magic. 

It is available as a physical copy through Alamance County Public Libraries as well as an ebook or audiobook via Libby. 

Sara Durbin is a Library Assistant at Graham Public Library. They can be reached at sdurbin@alamancelibraries.org. 

Celebrating the Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) is a holiday that is celebrated in Mexico on November 1 and 2. It is a special occasion where friends and family honor passed loved ones. Some traditions include hanging hand-cut paper banners, making colorful paper flowers, decorating sugar skulls and displaying it all together to make an ofrenda (altar). To read and learn more about Day of the Dead check out the following titles.

Gustavo by Flavia Z. Drago

“Gustavo, the Shy Ghost” by Flavia Z. Drago is a charming tale about a timid ghost who learns to overcome his fears and embrace his unique qualities to make friends.

Día de Muertos: Números: A Day of the Dead Counting by Duncan Tonatiuh

“Día de Muertos: Números: A Day of the Dead Counting” by Duncan Tonatiuh is a bilingual picture book that introduces young readers to the vibrant and cultural traditions of Day of the Dead through numbers.

Skeletown : Sí. ¡No! by Rhode Montijo

“Skeletown: Sí. ¡No!” by Rhode Montijo is a funny book set in a town inhabited by skeletons who celebrate life in unexpected ways.

Celebrate the Day of the Dead! by Diane de Anda

“Celebrate the Day of the Dead!” by Diane de Anda explores the traditions and cultural significance of this Mexican holiday with characters Cristina and Carlos.

Our Day of the Dead Celebration by Ana Aranda

“Our Day of the Dead Celebration” by Ana Aranda is a book that follows Mar’s family gathering, in which readers learn about their favorite dishes, games, and, most importantly, stories.

Ana Aguirre is a Library Assistant at Mebane Public Library. You can reach her at aaguirre@alamancelibraries.org.

The Lost Story

Shaffer, Meg. The Lost Story. New York : Ballantine Books, 2024.

“All books are magic. An object that can take you to another world without even leaving your room? A story written by a stranger and yet it seems they wrote it just for you or to you? Loving and hating people made out of ink and paper, not flesh and blood? Yes, books are magic.”

For all grown-up lovers of fairy tales, this book is perfect.

In the Red Crow State Forest in West Virginia, people tend to get lost. First, it was Shannon. Then, five years later, it was Ralph and Jeremy. Ralph and Jeremy came back after six months of being lost, and the community rejoiced. But they also questioned. Ralph remembers nothing. Jeremy says that they lived off of the land until they were able to make it back to a trail they recognized. These are reasonable assertions, except for the fact that the boys came back taller and broader and well-fed, and honestly, there’s not enough of Red Crow State Forest for them to be lost for six months and not be found.

Fifteen years later, Rafe (Ralph changed his name after this experience) lives a life as a recluse. He still remembers nothing, and feels that Jeremy abandoned him after they got back from the woods. Jeremy finds people who are lost, with an uncanny ability to rescue injured hikers, kidnapped children and missing family members.

Emilie has a missing person she needs to find – her half-sister Shannon. Emilie was adopted when she was a baby. She respected her mother’s wishes and didn’t do a DNA database like 23 and Me while she was alive. But after her mother’s death, her curiosity and desire to make connections with her biological family lead to her submitting her DNA. The match she finds is to a missing girl named Shannon, who disappeared at Red Crow State Forest 20 years ago. She reaches out to Jeremy, who drops a bombshell on her – when they were lost, they saw Shannon. More than that, they lived with Shannon in another world. And he wants to take her to her sister, but they need Rafe’s help to do so.

Then the fairy tale begins, and like all fairy tales, there are good guys and bad guys and magic and the power of stories to shape a world. I fell in love with Jeremy and Rafe immediately. Their love for each other and for their family (biological and chosen) is the balm my heart needed this year. Likewise, Skya (Shannon) and Emilie’s love for each other, even though they barely knew each other before they were separated, makes me want to call my brother and really reconnect with him.

This book has many echoes of The Chronicles of Narnia and other well-loved fantasies, but it has created a wonderful world of its own. I’m adding Shanandoah to my list of fantasy worlds I’d like to visit (along with Narnia, Hogwarts, Neverland, Oz, Middle Earth and Wonderland).

This is the second book I’ve read of Shaffer’s, and both have been absolutely wonderful. I can’t wait to see what she writes next (and hope that there’s a sequel to this book, because there are still things I need to know and “see”).

Mary Beth Adams is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries. She can be reached at madams@alamancelibraries.org.

Spooky Chapter Books!

It’s the perfect time of year to encourage your kids to read by giving them a spooky book. This list is perfect for those in elementary and middle school grades.

Bee Bakshi and the Gingerbread Sisters by Emi Pinto

Bee is bummed to be spending her summer at the lake with her family. She’d much rather be with her best friend. The magical house across the lake turns her into the cool girl she always wanted to be, but at what cost? She has nightmares and feels a chill in her bones, and fears that the witch in the woods is coming for her.

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

Since her near-drowning, Cass can pull back the Veil between the living and the dead. She likes having a foot in both worlds. When her family goes to Scotland to film a show about paranormal activity, Cass meets someone who shares her gift, and she reveals how much Cass still needs to learn about the city of ghosts to survive. This is book one of a series.

The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken

Prosper thinks he is the most ordinary member of his family, until he discovers there’s a demon living inside him. He has a short period of time to expel the demon before the takeover is complete, but will he learn enough, fast enough, to survive? This also has a sequel, The Last Life of Prince Alastor.

Ghost and Bone by Andrew Prentice

Oscar has a Curse – everything he touches dies, and while he is alive, he can turn into a ghost whenever he wants. To make things even more strange, he’s now on a journey with two skeletons to the city of ghosts, and maybe, going to find out who he really is.

Gallowgate by K.R. Alexander

Sebastian Wight is sent to Gallowgate to learn how to fight the ghosts and ghouls threatening the human world. He has the power to transverse the lands of the dead, but it’s the human world that has caused him the most trouble. In his new school, he finds people as eccentric as he is and who are willing to join him in the fight with the dead.

Grave Mistakes by Kitty Curran

For a more humorous ghost story, read about the Dade family. Molly is hiding that her dead mom and brother are still with their family (as a ghost and a poltergeist, respectively), and that her younger sister Dyandra is zombie. But even with all of her supernatural relatives, she still has to prepare for her school concert, work on a group project with her nemesis, and do normal kid things, all while trying to look solemn when someone mentions her mother or brother. She also has to find out who killed them, and why, before that person kills her as well.

Mary Beth Adams is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries. You can reach her at madams@alamancelibraries.org.

The Glimmer Falls Series by Sarah Hawley

“A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon” by Sarah Hawley. Copyright 2023, New York: Berkley Romance (390 pages, $17.00).

“A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch” by Sarah Hawley. Copyright 2023, New York: Berkley Romance (415 pages, $17.00).

“A Werewolf’s Guide to Seducing a Vampire” by Sarah Hawley. Copyright 2024, New York: Berkley Romance (434 pages, $19.00).

Content Warning: Sexual Content, Emotional Abuse, Toxic Relationship, Violence, Depression/Anxiety.

We begin with Mariel and a baking endeavor gone wrong. Instead of summoning flour, Mariel summoned Ozroth the Ruthless, a bargaining demon who can’t leave Mariel’s side until their bargain is complete. But Mariel is kind of fond of her soul and Ozroth is fond of Mariel’s emotions and they’re both fond of this awkward roommate situation they have fallen into. Nevertheless, once a magical wetland is endangered, Mariel and Ozroth team up to foil the plot of the upper elite witch, Cynthia, who wants to destroy this natural oasis.

Only a few days after Mariel and Ozroth’s story ends, we follow the chaotic week that Calladia (Cynthia’s estranged daughter and one of Mariel’s closest friends) and Astaroth (Ozroth’s Demon mentor) have to navigate. Our main characters take a road trip to find the witch in the woods in order to restore Astaroth’s memories. With Calladia’s “punch first, ask later” attitude and Astaroth being kind of ineffectual (since he doesn’t have any of his memories), the road trip has a lot of pitfalls, one being in the form of fire balls as another demon keeps popping up trying to kill Astaroth.

Now, A Werewolf’s Guide to Seducing a Vampire takes place roughly two years after the events in A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon and A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch by kicking off with an event that connects our previous characters to Ben (Mariel’s friend and boss). Ben is giving a speech among his friends but realizes that everyone’s happiness is putting into perspective that Ben is lonely, even with his thriving plant shop and support for his friend’s happiness. This leads to Ben drunkenly purchasing a supposedly possessed crystal from eBay and completely forgetting about the impulse purchase for two weeks until it’s delivered. Enter Eleanora, a vampire-succubus from the medieval period who was truly trapped in the crystal by the witch in the woods (yes, the one from A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch), and now Ben’s new roommate. But could this brash, aggressive vampire be the answer to Ben’s loneliness? And can Ben and Eleanora navigate the growing attraction between them while looking to break her curse?

This series is a fresh take on contemporary paranormal romance that will make you laugh out loud. It has some heavy themes (mentioned above) that our characters have to navigate and not only face on their own, but have to be vulnerable enough to allow others to help as well. Hawley has truly made the quaint town of Glimmer Falls a magical setting, one that readers will thoroughly enjoy in this page-turning trilogy.

Kayleigh Dyer is a Library Technical Processing Assistant at May Memorial Library. Contact her at kdyer@alamancelibraries.org.

Picture Books for Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is about halfway over. But there’s still plenty of time to get some great books about Hispanic heritage and culture to read to your young children!

Papá and me by Arthur Dorros

This wonderful picture book celebrates the love between fathers and sons. The book is written in English and Spanish, with the son speaking English and the father speaking Spanish. The book shares a day in their life, from waking up to going to bed.

The Tooth Fairy meets El Ratón Pérez by René Colato Laínez

The Tooth Fairy meets her Latin counterpart, El Ratón Pérez. El Ratón Pérez is brave and adventurous, and he wants Miguelito’s tooth. The problem is, so does the Tooth Fairy! Who will get the tooth?

Abuelos by Pat Mora

In the bleak midwinter in New Mexico, men of the village dress up as scary old men and tease the children, asking if they’ve been good. The children dance and play around a bonfire. Everyone enjoys empanadas and cookies. New audiences will love learning about this traditional celebration.

Sebi and the Land of Cha Cha Cha by Roselyn Sanchez

During El Carnival Latino is here, and Sebi is ready to dance! Her mother says she is too young to take dance lessons. But a beautiful Cotorra bird beckons, and Sebi and her friend Keeketo go on an amazing dancing adventure!

Mexique: a refugee story from the Spanish Civil War by María José Ferrada

In 1937, hundreds of children are sent away from Spain to Mexico to escape the Spanish Civil War. The children are told they’ll be gone for a few months, but most didn’t return for years, because the man who took power after the war, Francisco Franco, was hostile toward their families. This is a story of displacement, refugees, heartbroken families, and hope.

Oye, Celia! a song for Celia Cruz by Katie Sciurba

Celebrate the musicality of Celia Cruz with this great book. A young girl calls out to Celia at an impromptu neighborhood party, then says all of the emotions she feels in Celia’s music. Lovers of Cruz as well as lovers of all types of music will love this lyrical book.

Spanish is the language of my family by Michael Genhart

A young boy participates in a school spelling bee, and needs help learning the words. He asks his abuela for help, and she shares her experience in school as a child, when she was told to only speak English. He celebrates that his family speaks both Spanish and English, and how great it is to be able to spell the words in both languages.

The coquíes still sing : a story of home, hope, and rebuilding by Karina Nicole González

The frogs sing “Co-qui!” in the trees, but a hurricane is coming, and Puerto Rico is no longer safe for Elena and her family. After the storm, their community rebuilds. Elena knows they’re on their way to recovery when the coquies come back and sing their song.

Mary Beth Adams is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries. You can reach her at madams@alamancelibraries.org.

The Dallergut Dream Department Store

Yi, Mi-ye, translated by Sandy Joosun Lee. The Dallergut Dream Department Store. Toronto, Ontario : Hanover Square Press, 2024.

Dreaming of the perfect book to escape into next? 

The Dallergut Dream Department Store is a cozy, introspective novel about our relationship with dreams and what they mean to us. Brimming with whimsy and heart, readers will fall in love with the Dallergut Dream Department Store, its intriguing cast of characters, and its litany of dreams to purchase. 

At the heart of this story is the titular Dallergut Dream Department Store: a store that people can only visit in their dreams and sells as many dreams as you can imagine to clients all around the world—with multiple floors dedicated to specific types of dreams. It is the new workplace of Penny, a charming yet inexperienced young woman who is ecstatic to learn more about the world of dreams from Mr. Dallergut, the department store’s eccentric owner. 

Each chapter covers a specific type of dream, with an almost vignette-style of interwoven stories that center around the Dallergut Dream Department Store and new shop worker Penny, giving readers a clearer understanding of the role and power dreams play in this world—and maybe our own—with each turn of the page. 

The Dallergut Dream Department Store is the delightfully charming first book in a new duology perfect for fans of magical realism and Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s Before the Coffee Gets Cold. It is available as a physical copy at your local library and audiobook via Hoopla.

Sara Durbin is a Library Assistant at Graham Public Library. They can be reached at sdurbin@alamancelibraries.org. 

The Secret Book of Flora Lea

Henry, Patti Callahan. The Secret Book of Flora Lea. New York : Atria Books, 2023.

“Not so long ago and not so far away, there was once, and still is, an invisible place that is right here beside us. And if you are born knowing, and to be honest, we all are, you will find your way through the woodlands to the shimmering doors that lead to the land made just and exactly for you.”

If you’re looking for a beautifully written historical fiction novel, look no further than The Secret Book of Flora Lea.

Flora and Hazel are sisters, and live in London with their mother. It is World War II, and their father was killed in a training accident before seeing any action. Their mother is able to support them, but works long hours. Therefore, Hazel spends a lot of her free time taking care of Flora, and coming up with a fantasy world for just the two of them.

Whisperwood. The name invokes woods and a river and a castle on the hill. The girls lie down outside and pretend to go through shimmering doors that only they can see and become animals running through the wilderness and the cities of their shared imaginary world.

When Operation Pied Piper begins (moving many of the children of London to the countryside), the girls are sent to a small village outside of Oxford to live with Bridie and her son, Harry. Here is a real-life wild wood (and river, the Thames) to explore, and they do so. But they continue to travel to Whisperwood together, with no one else allowed to hear their stories and go with them.

One day, Harry and Hazel get distracted, and Flora disappears. The river and forest are searched, but she is never found. Hazel has trouble forgiving herself and moving on, continuing to believe that Flora may have survived somehow.

Twenty years later, Hazel works in a rare book store, Hogan’s, and lives in her family’s old flat in London. She is dating Barnaby, who is a professor of British medieval literature. And she just got a job at Sotheby’s in the rare literary collections department. On her last day at Hogan’s, a manuscript arrives from America. It is a first edition with beautiful illustrations. The book’s name is Whisperwood, and while the story is much more than what she created as a child, it is obvious the author, Peggy Andrews, knew her Whisperwood stories. In an impulsive action, Hazel steals the book and takes it home.

She researches Peggy Andrews, and even reaches out to her, but is told that the story came from Peggy’s mother and aunt, and it couldn’t be the same story. But Hazel is determined to find out once and for all who told them about Whisperwood, and what happened to her little sister that fateful day.

This story jumps back and forth from wartime 1939-1940 to 1960. It is fascinating to read about children who were moved to the country during WWII, and how some people took in kids just for the extra set of hands or the money and rations they received for doing so. Even though Flora and Hazel loved their temporary family and community, they still missed their mother dreadfully. The author includes a list of non-fiction books and resources about evacuees for anyone who wants to learn more.

This is wonderful historical fiction, as well as a romance and mystery novel. The ending is magical, as all good fairy tales are.

Mary Beth Adams is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries. She can be reached at madams@alamancelibraries.org.

The World-Famous Nine

Guterson, Ben. The World-Famous Nine. New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2024.

Middle grade mystery/fantasy books are always popular, because they are so much fun to read! The World-Famous Nine is no exception.

Zander and his parents live in Pittsburgh, where his parents are professors. But this summer, Zander gets to spend 5 long weeks with his grandmother, who owns and operates The Number Nine Plaza, an amazing department store with a Ferris Wheel, several restaurants, a pet shop, and many other magnificent departments to explore.

But strange things are happening at The Nine, from short power outages to attacks on the staff. Natasha is the daughter of one of The Nine’s staff and sometimes works at the department store (swinging above the diners at the 360, the rotating restaurant near the top of the building). Natasha and Zander become fast friends, and decide to investigate the strange happenings, and the inscriptions found all around The Nine. If they can figure out what the inscriptions mean, it will lead them to a precious artifact from the early days of the store that might be able to save its future!

This book is perfect for those in late elementary school and early middle school who love a good mystery with puzzles to figure out. The Nine is a bit magical, if for no other reason than it has 19 floors and takes up a city block and serves cherries and pickles ice cream! The supporting cast of characters are a lot of fun to read, and you’re never sure who is good and who is not. There’s enough excitement to keep even the most reluctant reader engaged in what will happen next to Zander and Natasha!

Mary Beth Adams is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries. She can be reached at madams@alamancelibraries.org.

Missing White Woman

Garrett, Kellye. Missing White Woman. New York : Mulholland Books / Little, Brown and Company, 2024.

Thriller lovers (especially those who loved When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole) will love Missing White Woman.

Breanna is ready for a romantic weekend with her boyfriend Ty in New York City. They’re staying just over the river in an Airbnb in Jersey City, and the row house is as gorgeous as advertised. The neighbors look a little suspicious of a black woman trying to enter the code on the door, but Breanna, unfortunately, is used to that. She and Ty have a great weekend together, even though there are a few discordant notes. Ty can’t stop working and takes calls even when they’re having a romantic carriage ride.

Then, on Monday morning, Breanna gets up and goes to find Ty. Instead, she finds the body of a white woman in the foyer. Ty is nowhere to be found. The police suspect Ty has something to do with the murder, and Breanna wants nothing more than to prove his innocence and escape without being arrested herself.

The back story for Breanna and the other characters is strong and gives emotional weight to what is happening in the present. This thriller is really well-written and would be a great book club read. Book clubs (or families or friends) would have a lot to discuss, from neighborhood watches and the use of social media as a news source to the coverage of missing white women versus the coverage of missing people of any other race and gender and the macro- and microaggressions people of color face every day, including those from the police.

I recommend listening to this book via Libby – you won’t want to stop listening when your car ride is over, or your chores are done! It also is available as an ebook through Libby and a hardback book at your local library!

Mary Beth Adams is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries. She can be reached at madams@alamancelibraries.org.