This Month's Staff Picks
Allison
The Hazel Woods by Melissa Albert
Alice and her mother have never stayed in one place until her grandmother, an author of a dark twisted fairy tale book, dies. Her mother is then brought to the Hinterland where her grandmother's tales are based. She now has to team up with her classmate and travel to the Hinterland to rescue her mother.
Platforms: book, Libby audio
Eileen
Sherlock Season 1-4
Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman ARE Sherlock Holmes and John Watson in the 21st century. The series is full of clever allusions and witty takes on the original stories. I especially appreciate Mark Gatniss as elder brother Mycroft and Andrew Scott as the villainous Moriarty.
Platform: DVD
Joe
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
A fearless portrait of a society on the brink as a mother faces a terrible choice, from an internationally award-winning author.
On a dark, wet evening in Dublin, scientist and mother-of-four Eilish Stack answers her front door to find the GNSB on her step. Two officers from Ireland’s newly formed secret police are here to interrogate her husband, a trade unionist.
Ireland is falling apart. The country is in the grip of a government turning towards tyranny and Eilish can only watch helplessly as the world she knew disappears. When first her husband and then her eldest son vanish, Eilish finds herself caught within the nightmare logic of a collapsing society.
How far will she go to save her family? And what – or who – is she willing to leave behind?
Exhilarating, terrifying and propulsive, Prophet Song is a work of breathtaking originality, offering a devastating vision of a country at war and a deeply human portrait of a mother’s fight to hold her family together.
Worried about where America is headed? Read this book. You won’t sleep.
Platforms: Book, Hoopla
Kelly
Watercolour Lessons by Emma Lefebvre
I have learned quite a lot from participating in our BPL Watercolor Workshop for over two years. We all encourage and learn from each other, but one of the best resources for expanding my knowledge and getting a little better each week has been reference books like this one which has been one of my favorites. It covers everything from basic supplies and using them to color theory and techniques in part 1. In part 2, she gets more specific with simple examples and instructions for landscapes, food and animals and easy to follow how-to's. The artwork is fabulous and not intimidating and her written instructions are great.
This is Emma's first instructional book and I believe it is a must read for anyone considering watercolor painting for the first time. (It literally took me years before I seriously sat down and tried so it's never too late.) Whether you paint solo at home with the help of books and other resources like YouTube and social media or you join a group and paint and learn with others it is a simple art form and well worth the time. I have surprised myself with pretty good paintings and just wish I would have dabbled in watercolor painting much sooner. This book is a great place to begin.
Platforms: book
Linda
Ground Rules: 100 Easy Lessons for Growing a More Glorious Garden by Kate Frey
The pedigree of honey does not concern the bee; A clover, any time, to him is aristocracy. Emily Dickinson
All gardeners, no matter how passionate they are, come to value simplicity above all else. Even reading about gardening can become an obstacle.
Not so with Ground Rules! Everything is just right about this book: it is small in size, the font size is easy to read, and the photographs are dazzling but connected to reality.
The 100 Easy Lessons are labeled accordingly and span six sections that provide practical information to support gardeners from the design phase through planning and planting one’s paradise.
The Resource Section is comprehensive and includes a list of publications; Gardens to Visit throughout the United States; and Nurseries that ship worldwide.
Kate Frey is an award-winning gardener. She is also an excellent author!
Platforms: book
Samantha
Brisingr by Christopher Paolini
“Oaths sworn... loyalties tested... forces collide.
It's been only months since Eragon first uttered ‘brisingr’, an ancient language term for fire. Since then, he's not only learned to create magic with words — he's been challenged to his very core. Following the colossal battle against the Empires warriors on the Burning Plains, Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have narrowly escaped with their lives. Still, there is more adventure at hand for the Rider and his dragon, as Eragon finds himself bound by a tangle of promises he may not be able to keep.
First is Eragon's oath to his cousin, Roran: to help rescue Roran's beloved from King Galbatorix's clutches. But Eragon owes his loyalty to others, too. The Varden are in desperate need of his talents and strength — as are the elves and dwarves. When unrest claims the rebels and danger strikes from every corner, Eragon must make choices — choices that will take him across the Empire and beyond, choices that may lead to unimagined sacrifice.
Eragon is the greatest hope to rid the land of tyranny. Can this once simple farm boy unite the rebel forces and defeat the king?” (goodreads.com).
Platforms: book, Libby ebook/audio
Tricia
Map of Flames by Lisa McMann
Fifteen years ago, eight supervillains escaped to a hidden beach. Twice, small groups of them set out for supplies but never returned, leaving only one adult at the hideaway with the group’s five children. Now he has died and the children are on their own. Armed with little more than an old map and the knowledge that society hates superpowers, Birdie is convinced that they need to go find the missing parents.
Platforms: book, Libby audio
Past Staff Picks
Staff picks March 2025
Staff picks February 2025
Staff picks January 2025
Staff picks December 2024
Staff picks November 2024
Staff picks October 2024