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ADULTS
“Mercury Rising: John Glenn, John Kennedy and the New Battleground of the Cold War” by Jeff Shesol – “If the United States couldn’t catch up to the Soviets in space, how could it compete with them on Earth?” was the question facing President John F. Kennedy at the height of the Cold War. John Glenn orbited the earth on Friendship 7 on February 20, 1962, to give the American public a belief in itself and to calm the fears of the free world. Mercury Rising reveals “how the astronaut’s heroic lifted the nation’s hopes” in what President Kennedy described as the “hour of maximum danger”. You can read a review of this title, available in print or on Overdrive, at kirkusreviews.com/ book-reviews/jeff-shesol/ mercury-rising/
“Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty” by Patrick Radden Keefe – In this New York Times Notable Book of the Year, the Keefe writes a “devastating portrait” of the three generations of the Sackler family who are famed for their philanthropy. Their fortune was built by Valium and their reputation was destroyed by Oxycontin. This book is a “study of impunity among the super elite and a relentless investigation of the naked greed and indifference to human suffering that built one of the world’s great fortunes.” You can read a review of this title, available in print or on Overdrive, at publishersweekly. com/978-0-385-54568-6
“The Island of Missing Trees” by Elif Shafak – This rich, magi cal novel written by the Booker-shortlisted author, Shafek, follows two teenagers, one a Turkish Cypriot and the other a Greek Cypriot. They experience forbidden love until war breaks out and their world is reduced to ashes and rubble. “A moving, beautifully written, and delicately constructed story of love, division, transcendence, history, and eco-consciousness.” You can read a review of this title, available in print or on Overdrive, at kirkusreviews.com/bookreviews/elif-shafak/the-is-land-of-missing-trees/
“The Four Humors” by Mina Seckin – At twenty years old, Sibel thought she knew her plans for the summer. She would take care of her grandmother in Istanbul while studying for her MCAT with a visit to her father’s grave. Her plans are changed when she diagnoses own possible chronic illness with the ancient medicine theory known as the four humors. “Told with pathos and humor, Sibel’s search for strange and unusual cures is disrupted as she begins to see how she might heal herself through the care of others, including her own family and its long-fractured relationships.” You can read a review of this title, available in print or on Overdrive, at kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ mina-seckin/the-four-humors-seckin/
CHILDRENS
“We All Play = Kimêtawânaw” by Julie Flett
A joyous book about playtime for babies, toddlers, and kids up to age 7. Animals and kids love to play! This wonderful book celebrates playtime and the connection between children and the natural world. Beautiful illustrations show: birds who chase and chirp! - bears who wiggle and wobble! whales who swim and squirt! - owls who peek and peep! - and a diverse group of kids who love to do the same. A beautiful ode to the animals and humans sharing our world with and a wonderful good night book. This book also includes: a glossary of Cree words for wild animals in the book and pronunciation guide with a link to audio pronunciation recordings. hbook.com/ story/review-of-we-allplay
“The Strangers” by Margaret Petersen Haddix
Book 1 in the Greystone Secrets Series: Told from separate viewpoints, Chess, Emma, and Finn Greystone, ages twelve, ten, and eight, investigate why their mother went missing and uncover their ties to an alternate world. A science fiction adventure novel that presents a picture of a supportive family life. commonsensemedia.org/bookreviews/the-strangersgreystone-secrets-book-1
“I Can Make a Train Noise” by Michael Emberley and illustrated by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
In this rhythmic readaloud picture book, all you need is an imagination to experience the thrill of a great train ride. When a girl shouts "I can make a train noise, now!" her imagination transforms a coffee shop into a zooming train, and her words clickityclack across the tracks and blare like a train horn. publishersweekly. com/9780823444960
“The Curse of the Mummy: uncovering Tutankhamun's tomb” by Candace Fleming
Award-winning and critically acclaimed au thor Candace Fleming presents the edge-of-your-seat true story of the search for Tutankhamun's tomb, the Western public's belief that the dig was cursed, and the battle for ownership of the treasures within. During the reign of the New Kingdom of Egypt, the boy pharaoh Tutankhamun ruled and died tragically young. To send him on his way into the afterlife, his tomb was filled with every treasure he would need after death. And then, it was lost to time, buried in the sands of the Valley of the Kings. His tomb was also said to be cursed. Centuries later, as Egyptmania gripped Europe, two Brits -- a rich earl and determined archeologist -- worked for years to rediscover and open Tutankhamun's tomb.nytimes.com/2021/11/12/books/review/candace-fleming-the-curse-of-the-mummy-uncovering-tutankhamuns-tomb.html
YOUNG ADULTS
“Freedom Swimmer” by Wai Chim-A powerful story of
A powerful story of friendship, bravery, and a desperate bid for freedom, inspired by true events. Ming survived the famine that killed his parents during China's "Great Leap Forward", and lives a hard but adequate life, working in the fields. When a group of city boys comes to the village as part of a Communist Party re-education program, Ming and his friends aren't sure what to make of the new arrivals. They're not used to hard labor and village life. But despite his reservations, Ming befriends a charming city boy called Li. The two couldn't be more different, but slowly they form a bond over evening swims and shared dreams. But as the bitterness of life under the Party begins to take its toll on both boys, they begin to imagine the impossible: freedom. Publishers Weekly: publishersweekly.com/978-1-338-65613-8
“Dreams Lie Beneath” by Rebecca Ross-
From Rebecca Ross, acclaimed author of The Queen's Rising duology, comes a story about magic, vengeance, and the captivating power of dreams. A must-read for fans of The Hazel Wood and The Night Circus. The realm of Azenor has spent years plagued by a curse. Every new moon, magic flows from the nearby mountain and brings nightmares to life. Only magicians--who serve as territory wardens--stand between people and their worst dreams. Clementine Madigan is ready to take over as the warden of her small town, but when two magicians arrive to challenge her, she is unknowingly drawn into a centuryold conflict. She seeks revenge, but as she gets closer to Phelan, one of the handsome young magicians, secrets--as well as romance--begins to rise. To fight the realm's curse, which seems to be haunting her every turn, Clementine must unite with her rival. But will their efforts be enough to save Azenor from the nightmares that lurk around every corner Publishers Weekly: publishersweekly.com/978-0-06-301592-0
“Jade Fire Gold” by June CL Tan-
In an empire on the brink of war . . . Ahn is no one, with no past and no family. Altan is a lost heir, his future stolen away as a child. When they meet, Altan sees in Ahn a path to reclaiming the throne. Ahn sees a way to finally unlock her past and understand her lethal magical abilities. But they may have to pay a far deadlier price than either could have imagined.
Kirkus Review: kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/june-cl-tan/jade-fire-gold/
“Your Life Has Been Delayed” by Michelle Mason-
Past and present collide in a captivating YA debut about a girl who takes off on a flight and lands . . . twenty-five years later. When Jenny boards her flight back from New York, the biggest things on her mind are applying to Columbia and reuniting with her brand-new boyfriend. But when she and the other passengers disembark in St. Louis, they're told that their plane disappeared-twenty-five years ago. Everyone thought they were dead. The world has fastforwarded. Three of her grandparents are gone, her parents are old, and her "little" brother is now an adult. There's so much she's missed out on, not the least iPhones, social media, and pop culture. When some surprising information comes to light, Jenny feels betrayed by her family and once-best friend. She's also fighting her attraction to Dylan, a cute and kind classmate who has an unusual connection to her past. And then there's the growing contingent of conspiracy theorists determined to prove that Flight 237 hides a sinister truth. Will Jenny figure out how to move forward, or will she always be stuck in the past? Debut author Michelle I. Mason offers a smart and funny highconcept debut about the most unbelievable of life changes-and the parts of yourself that can always stay the same.
Kirkus Review: kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ michelle-i-mason/yourlife-has-been-delayed/
