“When you hurt people, they begin to love you less. That’s what careless words do. They make people love you a little less.” – Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things
Amity by Nathan Harris
fiction / historical fiction.
New Orleans, 1866. The Civil War might be over, but formerly enslaved Coleman and June have yet to find the freedom they’ve been promised. Two years ago, the siblings were separated when their old master, Mr. Harper, took June away to Mexico, where he hoped to escape the new reality of the postbellum South. Coleman stayed behind in Louisiana to serve the Harper family, clinging to the hope that one day June would return.
When an unexpected letter from Mr. Harper arrives, summoning Coleman to Mexico, Coleman thinks that finally his prayers have been answered. What Coleman cannot know is the tangled truth of June’s tribulations under Mr. Harper out on the frontier. And when disaster strikes Coleman’s journey, he is forced on the run with Mr. Harper’s daughter, Florence. Together, they venture into the Mexican desert to find June, all the while evading two crooked brothers who’ll stop at nothing to capture Coleman and Florence and collect the money they’re owed. As Coleman and June separately navigate a perilous, parched landscape, the siblings learn quickly that freedom isn’t always given—sometimes, it must be taken by force.
As in his New York Times bestselling debut The Sweetness of Water, Nathan Harris delves into the critical years of the Civil War’s aftermath to deliver an intimate and epic tale of what freedom means in a society still determined to return its Black citizens to bondage. Populated with unforgettable characters, Amity is a vital addition to the literature of emancipation.
“A memorable, impeccably written tale that engages the reader, with its twists and turns, from beginning to end.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Harris offers a swiftly moving, brutal account of a time and place where political turmoil and an unforgiving landscape meant death was always near… Painful, powerful, and bittersweet.” – Lesley Williams, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“…transporting… As the outlandishly charming [Coleman] heads to Mexico with his former enslaver, Mrs. Harper, and her daughter to track down her husband, who has absconded with Coleman’s beloved sister June, you may feel you would follow him to the ends of the earth. You’ll almost have to, to reach the end of this glorious Western-style melodrama.” – Marion Winik, Oprah Daily
Apostle’s Cove by William Kent Krueger
fiction / mystery / suspense.
A few nights before Halloween, as Cork O’Connor gloomily ruminates on his upcoming birthday, he receives a call from his son, Stephen, who is working for a nonprofit dedicated to securing freedom for unjustly incarcerated inmates. Stephen tells his father that decades ago, as the newly elected sheriff of Tamarack County, Cork was responsible for sending an Ojibwe man named Axel Boshey to prison for a brutal murder that Stephen is certain he did not commit.
Cork feels compelled to reinvestigate the crime, but that is easier said than done. Not only is it a closed case but Axel Boshey is, inexplicably, refusing to help. The deeper Cork digs, the clearer it becomes that there are those in Tamarack County who are willing once again to commit murder to keep him from finding the truth.
At the same time, Cork’s seven-year-old grandson has his own theory about the investigation: the Windigo, that mythic cannibal ogre, has come to Tamarack County…and it won’t leave until it has sated its hunger for human blood.
“[A] top-shelf whodunit… Krueger’s muscular prose keeps the action chugging along, but not at the expense of detailed character work… this proves that Krueger is still at the top of his game.” – Publishers Weekly
“Krueger is, as ever, a skilled and moving storyteller.” – Dwyer Murphy, CrimeReads
“As ever with Cork O’Connor mysteries, Krueger delivers beautifully rendered atmosphere and an intriguing main character.” – Connie Fletcher, Booklist
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan ★
fiction / historical fiction.
In Bonhomie, Ohio, a stolen moment of passion, sparked in the exuberant aftermath of the Allied victory in Europe, binds Cal Jenkins, a man wounded not in war but by his inability to serve in it, to Margaret Salt, a woman trying to obscure her past. Cal’s wife, Becky, has a spiritual gift: She is a seer who can conjure the dead, helping families connect with those they’ve lost. Margaret’s husband, Felix, is serving on a Navy cargo ship, out of harm’s way—until a telegram suggests that the unthinkable might have happened.
Later, as the country reconstructs in the postwar boom, a secret grows in Bonhomie—but nothing stays buried forever in a small town. Against the backdrop of some of the most transformative decades in modern America, the consequences of that long-ago encounter ripple through the next generation of both families, compelling them to reexamine who they thought they were and what the future might hold.
Sweeping yet intimate, rich with piercing observation and the warmth that comes from profound understanding of the human spirit, Buckeye captures the universal longing for love and for goodness.
“Love and war, births and deaths, coming together and falling apart — this intimate portrait of small-town, midcentury America is a must-read. The writing is both straightforward and poetic, and the story is compelling, cathartic and expertly crafted.” – B&N Reads
“[A] quietly affecting and nuanced story… The narrative deftly blends in surprising twists and insights as it follows seemingly ordinary people living seemingly typical lives, resulting in a tale that comes across as absolutely authentic and deeply satisfying.” – Kathleen McBroom, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Buckeye’s got an indelible cast of characters, a propelling narrative, and combines the plainspoken with the mystical, the American everyday with the implacable sweep of history, and unspeakable tragedy with hope.” – Robert McDonald, The Indie Next List
“I loved Buckeye, by Patrick Ryan. In fact, if I were talking to you about this book instead of writing about it, I would add a few more ‘loveds,’ accompanied by gestures emphasizing how much… ‘Involving’ and ‘unbelievably well-written’ are the best ways to describe Buckeye. There is nary a false note as Ryan carries out the interplay between his characters’ lives and the historical stage… I didn’t want to leave the pages of Buckeye and neither will you. It’s the kind of book that reads like the culmination of a writer’s career — a magnum opus of depth and care.” – Maren Longbella, Minnesota Star Tribune
Fearful by Lauren Roberts
fiction / young adult / fantasy / romance.
Mara never intended to set foot in Ilya again. But when the king makes a life-altering decision, her interest is piqued, and Death is determined to understand Kitt Azer’s mind if he is destined to join her in the Mors.
Spending time with the king while observing the castle’s inhabitants reminds Mara that there is more to life than just death. There is love. But even the purest of intentions spur revenge and the pursuit of power. And fate will have its way with all of them—to live, to rule, to love, and most certainly, to die…
“…if you’re ready for a journey that will leave you both aching and hopeful, grab some tissues and prepare for a ride you won’t soon forget.” – LibriDilectio
“Right as your heart begins to heal from the aftermath of the Powerless Trilogy, we return to the kingdom for another battle. Set against the backdrop of Fearless, a beautiful and tragic tale tethering love, death and the price of power unfolds before our eyes.” – B&N Reads
Ghosted: A History of Ghost Hunting, and Why We Keep Looking by Alice Vernon
nonfiction / paranormal / history / sociology.
The history of ghosts is ancient, but the history of active ghost-hunting is relatively recent, and investigations into the paranormal have developed hand-in-spirit-hand with scientific discoveries, from radio waves to smartphone apps. Now, more than ever, we want to find our own ghosts. Is it to help process grief? Become influencers? Or ease our fears of death?
Ghosted follows the story of paranormal investigations from the Victorian era to the modern day, examining how our fascination with ghost hunting has changed alongside technology and culture. Where we once gathered around tables, observing and recording every movement of the medium, we now take electronic equipment and app-laden phones around haunted locations to catch ghosts digitally. Where theatres and concert halls held sold-out performances by conjurers recreating the tricks of fraudulent mediums, we now delight in picking apart and exposing the evidence presented on reality television programs.
In this book, Alice Vernon embarks on a journey to encounter a ghost, travelling to some of the UK’s most haunted locations and encouraging readers to interrogate their own skepticism and belief. Ghosted examines what we are looking for, why we are looking for it, and why have we never given up the ghost.
“[A] lively, highly readable book… astonishing…” – Ysenda Maxtone Graham, The Daily Mail
Hansel and Gretel by Stephen King; illustrated by Maurice Sendak
fiction / childrens / fairy tales / horror.
Let Stephen King, global bestselling and award-winning author, and Maurice Sendak, beloved creator of the Caldecott Medal–winning Where the Wild Things Are, guide you into the most deliciously daring rendition of the classic Grimm fairy tale yet. But will you find your way back out?
With a personal introduction from Stephen King, the beautiful book has been created in close collaboration with The Maurice Sendak Foundation. This stunning storybook makes the perfect gift for fans of King, Sendak, and the Brothers Grimm.
“…splendidly chilling… While the narrative’s characterizations and diction hew to tradition, its horrors land with fresh force in an epic retelling that suits the illustrations’ eerie magnificence.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“Pairing the iconic art of Maurice Sendak and the whip-smart words of Stephen King sounds like a dream, and it is. This is a haunting and unforgettable rendition of a classic fairytale, retold by literary legends.” – B&N Reads
“If anyone can successfully conspire with a ghost, it is King, and what better artist to resurrect in the name of fairy-tale magic than Sendak?… Whimsically grotesque… The resultant sense of unease amplifies the children’s plight and makes their escape all the more satisfying.” – Julia Smith, Booklist
Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy ★
nonfiction / memoir.
Mother Mary Comes to Me, Arundhati Roy’s first work of memoir, is a soaring account, both intimate and inspirational, of how the author became the person and the writer she is, shaped by circumstance, but above all by her complex relationship to the extraordinary, singular mother she describes as “my shelter and my storm.”
“Heart-smashed” by her mother Mary’s death in September 2022 yet puzzled and “more than a little ashamed” by the intensity of her response, Roy began to write, to make sense of her feelings about the mother she ran from at age eighteen, “not because I didn’t love her, but in order to be able to continue to love her.” And so begins this astonishing, sometimes disturbing, and surprisingly funny memoir of the author’s journey from her childhood in Kerala, India, where her single mother founded a school, to the writing of her prizewinning novels and essays, through today.
With the scale, sweep, and depth of her novels, The God of Small Things and The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, and the passion, political clarity, and warmth of her essays, Mother Mary Comes to Me is an ode to freedom, a tribute to thorny love and savage grace—a memoir like no other.
“There are sentences that jump out of the text, tearing into you with brute force… Arundhati’s memoir is a dangerous ride, with sharp bends and steep inclines, which makes you suppress either a scream or a loud laugh. The sometimes-unintentional comic relief is very welcome.” – Sanghamitra Chakraborty, Scroll
“An intimate, stirring chronicle.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“To the long, sonorous roll call of difficult mothers in literature — Mrs. Bennet; Joan Crawford; Rose Hovick; heck, Medea — now add Mary Roy.” – Alexandra Jacobs, New York Times
“Roy’s stunning, dramatic, funny, far-ranging, and complexly illuminating chronicle portraying two strong-willed women fighting for justice and truth is incandescent in its fury, courage, and love.” – Donna Seaman, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley
Fiction / young adult / mystery / suspense.
Ever since Lucy Smith’s father died five years ago, “home” has been more of an idea than a place. She knows being on the run is better than anything waiting for her as a “ward of the state”. But when the sharp-eyed and kind Mr. Jameson with an interest in her case comes looking for her, Lucy wonders if hiding from her past will ever truly keep her safe.
Five years in the foster system has taught her to be cautious and smart. But she wants to believe Mr. Jameson and his “friend-not-friend”, a tall and fierce-looking woman who say they want to look after her. They also tell Lucy the truth her father hid from her: She is Ojibwe; she has – had – a sister, and more siblings, a grandmother who’d look after her and a home where she would be loved.
But Lucy is being followed. The past has destroyed any chance at safety she had. Will the secrets she’s hiding swallow her whole and take away any hope for the future she always dreamed of?
When the past comes for revenge, it’s fight or flight.
“A powerful story of family, belonging, and identity…” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Weaving together the history of stolen Native children with the contemporary dangers to vulnerable teens, this unforgettable novel is impossible to put down.” – Christine Hartmann Derr, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Boulley delivers a propulsive mystery thriller anchored by an unforgettable protagonist and urgent commentary on both the foster care system and Indigenous child welfare… a devastating yet gripping tale of finding family, recontextualizing faith, and reclaiming ancestry that serves as a searing critique of the ways that systems can fail vulnerable youth.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
Vianne by Joanne Harris
fiction / historical fiction.
On the evening of July 4th, a young woman scatters her mother’s ashes in New York and follows the call of the changing winds to the French coastal city of Marseille.
For the first time in her life, Vianne feels in control of her future. Charming her way into a job as a waitress, she tries to fit in, make friends, and come to terms with her pregnancy, knowing that by the time her child is born, the turning wind will have changed once again.
As she discovers the joy of cooking for the very first time, making local recipes her own with the addition of bittersweet chocolate spices, she learns that this humble magic has the power to unlock secrets.
And yet her gift comes at a price. And Vianne has a secret of her own; a secret that threatens everything…
“Is chocolate magic? Whether you savored the 1999 bestseller or the 2000 movie, this sensuous prequel to Chocolat will make you a believer… delicious.” – Marion Winik, People
“[A] heady mix of cooking, chocolate-making, sorcery, and suspense… Harris’ writing is vivid and filled with insights as we see Vianne struggling to create her own recipe of self. Stunning.” – Connie Fletcher, Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Witty, delicious and heartening, Harris’ prequel to the much-loved series is a warm hug to a troubled heart and a reminder of why Vianne shall always remain precious… If Chocolat was the book that was evocative enough to reach for a cup of hot chocolate, this book is doubly sensuous. It is sure to swirl its readers in daydreams of sitting by a café in France with no phone; just a book, and a cup of spiced hot chocolate on a cold, rainy day.” – Rahul Singh, Deccan Herald
We’ll Prescribe You Another Cat by Syou Ishida; translated by E. Madison Shimoda
fiction.
It’s time to revisit the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul.
Though it’s a mysteriously located clinic with an uncertain address, it can always be found by those who need it. And the clinic has proven time after time that a prescribed cat has the power to heal the emotional wounds of its patients. This charming sequel introduces a new lovable cast of healing cats, from Kotetsu, a four-month-old Bengal who unleashes his boundless energy by demolishing bed linens and curtains, to tenacious and curious Shasha, who doesn’t let her small size stop her from anything, and the most lovable yet lazy cat Ms. Michiko, who is as soft and comforting as mochi.
As characters from one chapter appear as side characters in the next, we follow a young woman who cannot help pushing away the man who loves her, a recently widowed grandfather whose grandson refuses to leave his room, the family of a young woman who struggle to understand each other, and an anxious man who works at a cat shelter seeking to show how the most difficult cats can be the most rewarding. This moving, magical novel of interconnected tales proves the strength in the unfathomable bond between cats and people.
“…charming…” – B&N Reads
“Ishida, again charmingly translated by Shimoda, follows We’ll Prescribe You a Cat with a second book about delightfully unconventional, feline-assisted healing. More of Chitose and Dr. Nikké’s backstory reveals why humans truly do not deserve our pets, but eternal gratitude for their company can never be overestimated.” – Terry Hong, Booklist
Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross
fiction / fantasy / romance.
Born in the firelit domain of the under realm, Matilda is the youngest goddess of her clan, blessed with humble messenger magic. But in a land where gods often kill each other to steal power and alliances break as quickly as they are forged, Matilda must come of age sooner than most. She may be known to carry words and letters through the realms, but she holds a secret she must hide from even her dearest of allies to ensure her survival. And to complicate matters… there is a mortal boy who dreams of her, despite the fact they have never met in the waking world.
Ten years ago, Vincent of Beckett wrote to Matilda on the darkest night of his life―begging the goddess he befriended in dreams to help him. When his request went unanswered, Vincent moved on, becoming the hardened, irreverent lord of the river who has long forgotten Matilda. That is, until she comes tumbling into his bedroom window with a letter for him.
As Fate would have it, Matilda and Vincent were destined to find each other beyond dreams. There may be a chance for Matilda to rewrite the blood-soaked ways of the gods, but at immense sacrifice. She will have to face something she fears even more than losing her magic: to be vulnerable, and to allow herself to finally be loved.
“…enchanting…” – B&N Reads
“The world of gods—their relationships, histories, and politics—is enthralling, and Matilda’s self-discovery and desperation to protect those she loves make for captivating material.” – Leah von Essen, Booklist
“No one writes pining like Ross… This tale of thriving after abuse and finding renewed hope in love leaves readers with a brutal, yet achingly romantic story.” – Gina Collett, Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
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