Irving, John. A Prayer for Owen Meany. New York: Morrow, 1989.

If you ever find yourself searching for a book to read, consider picking up a book you loved and reading it again. As staff members of Alamance County Public Libraries, we’re regularly asked to recommend our favorite books for displays featuring staff picks. Every time I’m asked, A Prayer for Owen Meany tops my list.

But here’s the thing: until recently, I hadn’t read it since 1999. Nearly three decades later, I still consider it one of my top ten favorite books of all time. Revisiting it reminded me why some books stay with us long after we’ve turned the final page.

The novel follows the main character, John, and his best friend, Owen Meany, who is known throughout their community for being unusual. Owen has what the book describes as a “wrecked voice,” which is emphasized by John Irving’s choice to write Owen’s dialogue in capital letters. He is also incredibly small and underdeveloped physically, yet he possesses a deep, philosophical mind. This contrast creates an interesting dichotomy within his character.

The central conflict of the story begins when Owen accidentally kills John’s mother during a Little League game by hitting a baseball that strikes her in the head. From this tragic event, the novel explores how the incident affects both John and Owen, as well as their friendship. The story moves back and forth between the past and the present, with an older John reflecting on his childhood and the events that shaped his life.

A Prayer for Owen Meany is an episodic novel, with each chapter focusing on a different significant event or character within the community. At its heart, however, it is a coming-of-age story. The novel is deeply reflective, with themes of faith and fate connecting its many different episodes. Following the death of John’s mother, Owen’s faith grows stronger as he comes to believe that he is an instrument of God. He also becomes convinced that he knows how and when he will die. The rest of the book follows Owen as he accepts what he believes is his fate and trusts that God will use him for a greater purpose.

Jennifer N. is the Public Services Manager at May Memorial Library.

As our littlest patrons get ready for another school year, here are some great books to read with them!

Hegedus, Bethany. Batter up for the first day of school! New York, N.Y. : Viking an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2025.

If your little slugger is anxious about the start of school, this fun rhyming book full of baseball terms and silly puns will make them feel better before sliding into first (period)!

Going, K. L. Big Kids. New York, NY : Little, Brown and Company, 2025.

If your preschooler or kindergartener is scared of the “big kids” at school, this book will set their mind at ease! Big kids are paired with the little kids, and help them with everything from finding their class to getting a pudding cup.

LaRocca, Rajani. Fall is for beginnings. New York, N.Y. : Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2025.

For Ravi, fall means school supplies and hanging out with his best friend Joe. But what happens when there’s a new girl, Ellie, who wants to be friends with you, too? At first, Ravi isn’t sure, but with a little help from his sister, he discovers that new friends can be pretty great, too.

Birdsong, Bea. How to grow a family tree. New York : Holiday House, 2025.

Emmylou has a small family. It’s just her and her mom. The family tree assignment has her grumpy and feeling horrible – how can she not have anyone else to add to her tree? But then she realizes that the people she and her mother choose to spend time with and love are her family. This is a great book for any child with a different type of family.

Mata, Niña. New. New York, NY : Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2025.

What does new mean? For a young Filipina girl, it means new city to navigate, and new stares from people. But it also means new beginnings and a new adventure. Kids beginning a new school will understand how new can feel both scary and exciting.

Agostini, Alliah L. Scarecited on the first day of school. New York, NY : Farrar Straus Giroux, 2025.

Scarecited may be a made-up word, but every kid knows exactly how it feels! Afua feels both scared and excited to be starting school. Can she find the courage to be herself and share her fears and her joy at school?

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

Penny, Louise and Fung, Mellissa. The Last Mandarin. New York : Minotaur Books, 2026.

The Last Mandarin chronicles the threats of AI, the interconnected global network, and the suspicion we hold for one another.

Alice has a contentious relationship with her mom, Vivien Li. Vivien is a former Chinese dissident and people’s hero from Tiananmen Square. She is elegant and serious and everything that Alice, who writes a food blog, is not. But when Alice’s friend Liam sends her a strange message, right before every alarm in the world goes off, they are both brought to the White House. Vivian is brought for her expertise on China, and Alice because of her links to Liam, who has been murdered, and is accused of being part of the group that is threatening the world. Thus begins an adventure that leads them to old friends in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, and a mandate to find out who is behind the attacks, before the world is destroyed.

I always love Louise Penny’s writing. Her friend Mellissa added her expertise and style to the book, and it made for a can’t put down read! It’s over-the-top and implausible, but its core is the very real threat that AI could be used to hack into systems all over the world. This is a book that might keep you all night, thinking, just one more chapter!

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

Did you know that May Memorial Library has a local history room and a genealogy specialist who can help you uncover your family’s history, find records, and explore county history? We invite you to visit the library to browse our physical collection. While some items cannot be checked out, you are welcome to sit and read or make copies.

An interesting item available for use is a microfilm reader, which allows you to view microfilm records on a computer. We also have maps, photographs, postcards, war records, and even school yearbooks.

We have both physical records and the following online resources:

Ancestry Library Edition: With more than 1.5 billion names in over 4,000 databases. Ancestry has information from the US census, military, court, church records, and more. The website is easy to navigate; simply enter a first name, last name, birth year, and/or location to get started. This resource is only accessible from inside the library.

Heritage Quest: An NC Live database that you can access with your library card. Heritage Quest provides access to U.S. census records, books, Revolutionary War service records, and Freedman’s Bank deposit or records.

Community History Archive: Archives of digitized newspapers available online, including Mebane Enterprise, Alamance Gleaner, Alamance News, Alamance-Orange Enterprise, Burlington News, Daily Times-News, Hillsborough Journal, Mebane Leader, News of Orange County, Saturday Times-News, and Sunday Times-News. Available online to view at library locations.

ACPL Genealogy Research Guide: A staff-created guide that includes video tutorials and webinars to assist you in learning how to use various websites and databases. It features PowerPoint presentations covering a range of topics, including the history of Alamance County Public Libraries, textile photographs, cemetery and death records, research on houses, African American history, and more.

Visit the local history room during library hours, and you will be fascinated by the resources we have. If you need assistance, our staff is happy to find the tools you need to begin your research. Check out our Local History & Genealogy webpage for more information or call May Memorial Library at (336) 229-3588.

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

Your library card unlocks so much more than books. Through the Alamance County Public Libraries’ Library of Things, you can borrow unique collections and equipment designed to educate, entertain, and enrich everyday life. From American Girl Dolls and Educational Resource Kits to Book Club Kits, Book & Stories to Go, LaunchPAD learning tablets, video games, hotspots, Chromebooks, blood pressure kits, EcoEXPLORE Discovery Packs, and more, the Library of Things offers free resources that help you learn new skills, explore new interests, and make the most of your library.

One of the most exciting collections is the Board Game Collection, housed at the Mebane Public Library, and available to all patrons.  With more than 115 tabletop games available for checkout, there’s something for every age, interest, and experience level. Whether you’re looking for a quick family favorite, a nostalgic classic, a cooperative adventure, a strategic challenge, or a solo puzzle to tackle, you’ll find a game worth bringing home. Browse the collection online to reserve your next game, or stop by Mebane to explore the colorful display and check one out that day. Games may be borrowed for up to three weeks, giving you plenty of time to gather family and friends around the table.

Board games have a remarkable way of bringing people together. They remind us of rainy afternoons spent with siblings, lively game nights with friends, and the simple joy of gathering around the table. They invite us to unplug from our screens, share stories, celebrate victories, laugh through defeats, and create lasting memories with the people who matter most. Whether you’re rediscovering a childhood favorite or learning an exciting new game, every box on our shelves holds the promise of a new adventure.

The benefits extend far beyond fun. Board games challenge our minds, strengthen memory, encourage critical thinking, improve communication, and foster creativity and problem-solving skills. They build confidence in young learners, keep minds sharp at every age, and provide meaningful opportunities for connection across generations. In a world that often moves too fast, a board game offers something wonderfully simple: time spent together.

Ready to Play?

Your next game night is just a library card away!

Browse the Library of Things online to explore our complete Board Game Collection and the many other items to checkout available through Alamance County Public Libraries. Reserve your favorite game for pickup at your preferred library branch or visit the Mebane Public Library to browse our display in person.

Shawn N is a Library Assistant at Mebane Public Library.

Olsen, Quenby. Miss Percy’s Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons.

Olsen, Quenby. Miss Percy’s Travel Guide to Welsh Moors and Feral Dragons.

Osen, Quenby. Miss Percy’s Definitive Guide to the Restoration of Dragons.

Available through Hoopla.

I have become an audiobook addict. I love listening to cozy mystery, cozy fantasy, and children’s books in the car. Most cozy mysteries and fantasies are appropriate for children’s ears, even if it’s not something they are going to care a lot about, making them perfect for parents who are driving kids to and from activities or going on a road trip.

If you love dragons and proper English ladies, I highly recommend the Miss Percy’s Guide series. Miss Mildred Percy lives with her younger sister Diana and her family, including her nieces and nephew, Belinda, Nettie and Matthew. She is considered very old at 40 (making me, at almost 52, feel positively ancient). Her sister makes sure to point out all of the “comfort” she has given Mildred (although Mildred has helped raise her children, so she didn’t have to hire a nursemaid, nanny, tutor, or governess). When Mildred receives a letter saying that her great-uncle has left her something in his will, she is immediately told by her sister that “they” are hoping for enough money to help launch Belinda with a nice dowry. Since when should Mildred’s inheritance, whatever it may be, belong to the family instead of her?

The inheritance comes one night when the family is out – a large trunk full of rocks, geodes, and other archeological treasures, as well as her uncle’s research papers. Mildred unloads it all into her room and drags the trunk to one of the outbuildings. The local vicar, Mr. Wiggan, happens to walk by and assists her. After they discuss what came in the trunk, he suggests that she bring some of the items to him, and he’ll help her research. Since this request was sincere and not at all attempting to steal her inheritance, she takes him up on the offer. One of the items, which she thought was a geode, turns out to be an egg. The egg hatches, and it is, well, a bronze reptile, with wings, and smoke that occasionally comes out of its nostrils. But naming it a dragon? That’s not something Mildred or Claude Wiggan are quite ready to do.

But they do name the creature Fitz (short for Fitzwilliam), and shortly he has charmed Mildred, Nettie, Matthew, Mr. Wiggan, and Mr. Wiggan’s housekeeper.  Unfortunately, there’s someone else who thought he ought to have inherited the dragon egg. Mr. Hawthorne arrives in Upper Plimpton, and he isn’t going to take no for an answer about “his” inheritance.

The story continues through three books, adding more locales (and dragons) to the mix. They are an absolute joy to listen to. The narrator is perfect – a lovely English accent plus perfect comic timing for all of the funny lines she gets to say!

What I love is watching/listening to Mildred become emboldened to dream again after many years of “just” being Aunt Mildred. So many women feel this way, whether they are mothers, aunts, or the unacknowledged presence at work or at home that makes sure things get done each day. Several times in the series, Mildred thinks, maybe I should go back to Upper Plimpton and live in my sister’s spare bedroom and have a predictable but boring life, but every time, she realizes that she’s grown too much for that life to ever fit comfortably again.

So get a cup of tea, some nice biscuits or cake, and listen to the Miss Percy novels. I hope you will be just as charmed as I was!

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

Tyng, Taylor. Clara Poole and the Long Way Round. New York : Pixel+Ink, [2023].

Content Warnings: Death of a Parent, Grief

“I’d give anything to fly.”

When twelve-year old Clara Poole is given the chance to join a hot air balloon race across the world, she jumps at the opportunity… even if that means running away from home. Working alongside a grumpy veteran pilot who prefers her monkey companions to humans, Clara learns the ropes in this high-stakes environment full of treacherous obstacles that spans from Paris to the Sahara to Hong Kong. However, the race poses more challenges than Clara expected: someone is trying to sabotage the competition, making it even more dangerous.

Reminiscent of the works of Jules Verne and Roald Dahl, Clara Poole and the Long Way Round is a delightful globe-trotting adventure through the skies with an eclectic cast of characters ideal for readers in upper elementary and middle school (grades 4-7). I would also recommend this book to fans of Mr. Limoncello’s Library series.

Check out a physical copy from Alamance County Public Libraries or a digital copy through NC Kids Level Up (Overdrive)!

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

“Everything for You” by Chloe Liese. Copyright 2024, New York: Berkley Romance (352 pages, $18.00).

“The Next Best Fling” by Gabriella Gamez. Copyright 2024, New York: Forever (376 pages, $18.00).

“The Wrong Mr. Darcy” by Evelyn Lozada. Copyright 2020, New York: St. Martin’s Griffin (288 pages. $17.00).

“Ride with Me” by Simone Soltani. Copyright 2025, New York: Berkley Romance (438 pages, $19.00).

I know that with Heated Rivalry out there, readers are chomping at the bit for sport romances. And even though hockey is very popular to write about, here are some other sports to keep you sated while waiting for that Heated Rivalry hold to come in!

Probably the closest parallel among the recommendations I have for you is Everything for You by Chloe Liese. It is book five in the series, but this series can be read out of order some and I think this one is fine to jump right into Liese’s world of the Bergman siblings and soccer. This book has everything, Ted Lasso vibes with our two main characters, Oliver Bergman and Oliver Hayes, chaotic bisexual antics, Hamilton sing alongs, and heartfelt emotions that might get you to read the rest of the series.

The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez is about Marcela Ortiz and Theo Young and their complicated unrequited feelings for mutual friends who just got engaged. But as they share in each other’s secret pining and cover for each other by fake dating, they begin to see the other side of that unrequited love and the chances that are right in front of them.

Try Evelyn Lozada’s The Wrong Mr. Darcy, a lightly inspired Pride and Prejudice re-telling with all of the classic errors of judgement in this romance. Hara Isari is your Lizzie Bennett, an inspiring sportswriter who is just trying to get out of her small town and her mother’s plans for settling down. Derek Darcy is your Fitzwilliam Darcy, an up-and-coming rookie with a major chip on his shoulder. Hara and Derek keep running into each other as Hara is just trying to do her job, in locker rooms and in ballrooms, all while ignoring the connection between them.

Ride With Me is the second book in Simone Soltani’s Formula 1 book series with the “marriage of convenience” trope but in a modern twist. After being stood up at the altar, Stella Baldwin wants to do anything but go to her cousin’s bachelorette party in Las Vegas but finds the evening palatable after meeting Thomas Maxwell-Brown. When waking up and seeing the rings on their fingers, Stella and Thomas are up for playing house to see if this marriage, and each other, are the solutions to their problems.

Kayleigh D. is a Library Technical Processing Assistant at May Memorial Library.

If you haven’t tried audiobooks yet, I encourage you to give them a chance! I am a huge fan of audiobooks and do most of my reading through the library’s digital services, Libby and hoopla. All you need is your library card and PIN number to get started. If you have any trouble setting up an account, stop by any library branch and we’ll be happy to help.

One of the things that I love most about audiobooks is that they allow me to keep moving while I read. I can listen while taking a walk, working in the yard, cleaning the house, or even putting together a puzzle. The list is endless. I still enjoy sitting down with a good book, but there is no way I could keep up with all the books I want to read if I relied solely on finding time to sit and read.

Audiobooks also come with some great features. If I’m enjoying a book but need to move through it a little faster, I can increase the playback speed, a trick I learned from one of my book club friends. And if I’m listening before bed, I can set a sleep timer, so the book automatically stops playing if I drift off to sleep.

My favorite genres are thrillers, family sagas, and romance, so I am always looking for books that combine suspense with strong relationships and memorable characters. One recent favorite is This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum.

This debut novel blends thrillers, romance, and mystery in a unique and engaging way. The story follows Joy and Benny, two best friends who host a popular podcast about survival stories. When Joy and her husband suddenly disappear, Benny becomes the prime suspect and must uncover secrets hidden within both their podcast and their personal lives to find out what happened.

What really made this book stand out for me was the audiobook experience. The story features dual narration, and both narrators did an outstanding job bringing the characters to life. For audiobook listeners, narration can truly make or break a book, and this one absolutely delivers. The podcast-style elements work especially well in audio format, making it feel immersive and authentic.

If you enjoy books that combine suspense, romance, and a touch of mystery, I highly recommend giving This Story May Save Your Life a listen. And if you think you don’t have time to read, audiobooks might be exactly what you are looking for. They have certainly helped me discover more great books that I ever could have managed otherwise.

Tracy W. is a Library Assistant at Mebane Public Library.