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Amazing Audiobooks (#AA2024) Featured Review: The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Tue, 12/12/2023 - 23:01

  • The Brothers Hawthorne
  • by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
  • Narrated by Jay Ben Markson
  • Hachette Audio | Little, Brown Young Readers
  • Publication Date: August 29, 2023
  • ISBN:9781668623817

Grayson Hawthorne takes care of his family. Always. When his half-sisters (who know nothing about him) need help, he’s there. Thankfully, Xander and Nash show-up, too, just when Grayson needs them most. Jameson Hawthorne loves to win. When his absent father presents him with the challenge to win back his father’s inherited family residence, he is determined to win, as usual. Avery (the girl who inherited the boys’ grandfather’s fortune in The Inheritance Games) becomes his his accomplice. Tobias Hawthorne prepared his grandsons to solve every puzzle, to protect family at all cost, and – above all else – to win. In the face of new challenges, Grayson and Jameson are prepared to do just that. Except, this time, the Hawthorne brothers aren’t together to do so.   

The mystery of the Hawthorne family seems to never end. New readers will fall in love with Grayson and Jameson and be drawn into the current challenges. Curiosity may lead to reading the previous titles, but isn’t necessary. Jay Ben Markson’s narration keeps readers on the edge of their seats, rooting for Grayson and Jameson as each works to solve the clues to their own challenge, likely to change each of their lives.  


Perfect for readers who read other books in the series or enjoyed One of Us is Lying, Truly Devious, or Firekeeper’s Daughter. Also a good choice for teens who’ve seen and enjoyed the mystery of Knives Out and Glass Onion

-Lysha Thompson

Other Nominated Titles Release Date: October 18, 2022 Release Date: June 13, 2023 Release Date: March 7, 2023 Release Date: September 6, 2022 Release Date: October 11, 2022 Release Date: June 6, 2023 Release Date: March 14, 2023 Release Date: September 26, 2023 Release Date: March 14, 2023 Release Date: May 2, 2023

The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2024) Feature Review: Royal Blood by Aimee Carter

Tue, 12/12/2023 - 09:11
  • Royal Blood
  • by Aimee Carter 
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Imprint: Delacorte Press
  • Release date: March 7, 2023
  • ISBN: 9780593485910

Evan Bright has been kicked out of many boarding schools but this last infraction included possible felony charges. Which leads her caretaker, Jenkins, with one option, get her out of the country and to her father, the King of England. Evan and the King’s legitimate family have always known about her parentage but when her existence is leaked to the press it becomes the scandal of the century. Soon after her arrival, Evan is assaulted by a friend of the royal family who later ends up dead, leaving her as the prime suspect and public enemy number one. She doesn’t know who to trust and has few people on her side in a foreign country while she is determined to clear her name.

Royalty is a hot topic in books and real life. Evan gets the Meghan Markle treatment in the press clippings that start each chapter. This book gives a peek into how real life mistakes can be twisted to create a narrative for the press. Evan is sympathetic and side characters grow to create a family and support system that Evan so desperately needs. The treatment of sexual assault and mental illness is gentle and educational. 


Readers might also enjoy American Royals by Katherine McGee and The Castle School for Troubled Girls by Alyssa B Sheinmel.

-Cathy DeCampli

Other Nominated Titles Release Date: January 17, 2023 Release Date: May 14, 2023

The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2024) Featured Review: For Lamb by Lesa Cline-Ransome

Sun, 12/10/2023 - 23:01
  • For Lamb
  • by Lesa Cline-Ransome
  • Publisher: Holiday House
  • Release date: January 10, 2023
  • ISBN: 9780823450152

Lamb Clark doesn’t spend a lot of time thinking about all the things she cannot change in Jackson, Mississippi. Her mom, Marion, does, though.  All her life, Lamb has heard her mother demanding strength of Lamb and her older brother, Simeon.  Hardship and keeping out of the way of white folks is just a way of life, and keeping one’s head down when white mobs go on a lynching rampage is a matter of life and death for the Clarks. That’s why Lamb’s forbidden friendship with Dr. Tremper’s daughter, Marny, is dangerous. Lamb and Marny share a love of reading, a parent who is not in the picture, and older brothers who try to parent the girls. Their difference is that while Lamb’s brother, Simeon, could be accused of and lynched for taking liberties with a white woman, Marny’s brother, George, can assault Lamb and then bring a mob calling for “justice” when Simeon retaliates. 

Cline-Ransome uses multiple perspectives–each with a unique voice–to bring readers into the violence of 1940s Mississippi. Like Emmett Till’s mother who insisted on an open casket, Cline-Ransome lays bare the brutal ugliness of a time period of history in which citizens of our country were treated with savage indifference and gross injustice. The plot is compelling. Lamb’s fears of what others will think of her, her aggravation with a mother who doesn’t seem to understand her, and the longing for a relationship with her father are universally recognizable, making the terror with which she lives daily all the more palpable. The conclusion is breathtakingly painful, and yet Cline-Ransome manages to end the story on a note of hope.


This is a book for teens who connect with characters empathetically. It will be especially appreciated by those who want to understand how historical traumas inform current events. Readers who connected with Liselle Sambury’s Delicious Monsters, Angeline Boulley’s Warrior Girl Unearthed, or Ruchira Gupta’s I Kick and I Fly will also find this an unforgettable story.

-Jodi Kruse

Other Nominated Titles Release Date: June 27, 2023 Release Date: April 4, 2023 Release Date: September 26, 2023 Release Date: April 25, 2023

The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.

Bookstagram and Booktok for Libraries

Thu, 12/07/2023 - 23:09

Instagram and TikTok are trendy ways to reach a younger audience, especially teenagers.  Hashtags Bookstagram and Booktok are used interchangeably on both platforms, raising the popularity of books, new and old.  Librarians are aware of the necessity of monitoring these trends for our collections.  In the same sense, they are a tool to not only promote our collection, but programs. 

How do we do that as libraries? 

First, we need to understand exactly what a Bookstagram and Booktok are and how to put them together. 

Bookstagram

A Bookstagram is “a book lover’s instagram account that features a collection of artistically composed photos of books,” Penguin Random House.  This definition and much of the following information applies to a BookTok account so as not to repeat I will add the differences when covering Booktok.

When creating a Bookstagram, it is important to consider your handle/name, making it memorable and catchy.  Libraries should include the institution name and fun version of their logo as well as how much time is able to be allotted to social media. This is where, depending on your library’s policies, where volunteers can be helpful. Much of your creativity will be in the actual content and hashtags of postings. 

Decor items are a fun way to showcase books, for example, you can use items giving clues as the genre of the book or books reviewing such as magnifying glass for mysteries or vintage doilies for historical fiction.  Not everyone has the budget to keep these on hand or have a professional looking back drop. Sometimes, we only have time for a quick review, but libraries have many fun nooks and crannies that can be used!  Imagination is key here.  Watching and studying other library accounts helps in gaining ideas.  

Do not be shy in including yourself in a Bookstagram, I have found Instagram posts get more views and likes when librarians are present.  Patrons love to see their local librarian having fun and they always want to know what we are reading.

Captions is where the meat of the content lives.  This gives voice to the visual of the photo.  What is the book about? Why does the librarian like it so much? Where in the collection can I find it? Make the caption fun by utilizing emojis and links to the catalog where the book is located.  A Bookstagram is essentially a quick reader’s advisory or LibGuide. If you have time, include a read-a-likes.  Younger readers tend to use Bookstagram and BookTok the most and they tend to be influenced by visuals and easy access to what they are looking for.

BookTok

BookTok adds a more precise video element to sharing books.  Captions are used less because the video can be used to convey most of what is shared in a caption. Be careful, as captions are not as easy to read on TikTok.  Much fun can be had with a BookTok and teen volunteers may have fun creating the content about books they are reading and more. 

Creating a BookTok is simple. You don’t need a special camera, your phone will do the job. Editing can be done right on TikTok or downloading apps such as CapCut or Microsoft Clipchamp are helpful ways to edit videos.  I do not always have a video and find I need to create a video with still photos and have found Clipchamp helpful for this. I do this for many of the teen programs I hold, but want to be mindful of not sharing any faces.  

I have discovered that once I create a TikTok from my phone it automatically adds it to my gallery.  I can then share it on the library’s Instagram account which I have connected to Facebook and the video is now shared on all three platforms.  This ensures it is shared with all age groups. I find if a Teen does not see it, their parents will and share it with them.  I use every method possible to reach my Teen patrons.  

Music can aid in reaching more followers, especially those that are trendy.

Hashtags

Hashtags are the umph in raising viewership. The more hashtags added to a Bookstagram or Tiktok the greater the findability.  At the moment, it is not always easy to come up with all the hashtags you would like.  I tend to see what other libraries are using, my community, target audience, city, state, author’s name, book name, if using music, the name of the song and artist, genre, elements within the book, and whatever I can think of that will catch people’s attention. 

Bookstagram and Booktok are a fun way to share what is new or popular in your collection and can take some time, but it is worth all the effort because in many cases it is the only way to reach patrons, especially teen patrons who find Facebook too old and don’t always check their email.  

The most important takeaway is have fun!

-Crystal Macias and Jennifir Huston

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2024) Featured Review: Invisible Son by Kim Johnson

Mon, 12/04/2023 - 05:37
  • Invisible Son
  • by Kim Johnson
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Release date: June 27, 2023
  • ISBN: 9780593482100

Seventeen-year-old Andres Jackson just spent two months incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit.  A restorative justice program is allowing him to return to his family home in Northeast Portland–and the neighborhood friends who were actually the guilty parties.  However, Andres’ plans for returning to school and establishing his innocence are interrupted by the COVID-19 Pandemic.  Andres now must juggle pandemic losses, family struggles, and the realization that perhaps the truth behind who framed him for stealing is much more complicated than he previously thought.  

This title is a suspenseful and dramatic mystery that slowly builds towards an action packed climax.  The story weaves together important aspects of the historical treatment of Blacks in Portland, contemporary social justice themes, a complicated romance storyline, and a slow burning suspenseful mystery plot.  Readers will connect with Andres’ struggle to learn the truth.

Teen readers drawn to storylines about social justice advocacy and emotion-filled dramas will be drawn to this text. Fans of Nic Stone’s Dear Martin and Dear Justyce, Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give and Concrete Rose, and Jason Reynolds’ and Brendan Kiely’s All American Boys will enjoy this important story of racial injustice and its intersection with the COVID-19 pandemic.

-Marie LeJeune

Other Nominated Titles Release Date: April 4, 2023 Release Date: September 26, 2023 Release Date: September 5, 2023 Release Date: January 24, 2023

The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.

The Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee appreciates teen feedback as members evaluate the nominated titles. Teen librarians are encouraged to share the List of Potential Nominees under consideration with their patrons and solicit feedback using the link: https://bit.ly/BFYA24TeenFB

#ICYMI: 8 Books You Might Have Missed

Sat, 12/02/2023 - 11:07

It’s almost the end of 2023 and time to submit your last carts for the year!  If you find yourself with extra funds, here are some titles from the last two years that you might have missed. Some are from debut authors that snuck under the radar, while others are old favorites with new projects.

    • There’s No Way I’d Die First
    • By Lisa Springer
    • Delacorte Press: 2023
    • ISBN: 9780593643174

    This debut is for the horror-obsessed teen and pulls out all the tropes in what ends up being a campy, gory romp. If the tropes aren’t enough of a tell, each chapter starts with a quote from a horror movie and gives a hint to upcoming events. This is an homage to all the greats, with references to Stephen King, Scream, a killer clown with superhuman strength that rivals Michael Myers, and a heavy dose of teen drama. It also tries to tie in some political and social commentary and a hint of romance. Does this require suspension of belief? Yes. That’s the point. Hand to your older teens or your horror movie buffs.

    • Holly Horror
    • by Michelle Jabé Corpora
    • Penguin Workshop, 2023
    • ISBN: 9780593386217

    A scary take on our patchwork-clad, bonnet-wearing gal, Holly Hobbie. After her parents split, Evie’s mom moves the family back to her hometown and into the Horror House, so named because Holly vanished from it decades before. As Evie pokes around in the attic and discovers more of Holly’s story, weird things start to happen to her. The book ends on a cliff-hanger and readers will eagerly await book two. For younger teens that are more into supernatural mysteries, rather than slasher stories.

    • 16 & Pregnant
    • by LaLa Thomas
    • MTV Books, 2023
    • ISBN: 9781665917278

    If you are a millennial, you probably remember when this show first aired back in 2009. The show followed teens that found themselves pregnant and documented how their lives were impacted, eventually leading to the spin-off series, Teen Mom. Two teens find themselves dealing with a surprise pregnancy that derails their life plans. All options are discussed and the book does not shy away from health challenges that can accompany a pregnancy. This is an empowering story about friendship and parenthood. This is a great option for those looking for relatable stories about teen pregnancy, as well as viewers of the MTV show. This would also be a great option for parents and teens to read and discuss together.

    • Hotel Magnifique
    • by Emily J. Taylor
    • Razorbill, 2022
    • ISBN: 978059340515

    This 2022 debut is Caraval meets Howl’s Moving Castle and my favorite cover of 2022. This dark fantasy features a magical hotel that moves to a new place every night. Employees of the hotel are magically bound to service and although the hotel is gorgeous and luxurious, it’s a gilded prison. Franco-philes and fans of lush, character-driven fantasy will devour this. Additionally, the stunning cover makes this an easy book to hand-sell.

    • A Million to One
    • by Adiba Jaigirdar
    • Harperteen, 2022
    • ISBN: 978006291632

    Published right before the end of 2022, I think this one snuck past a lot of people. Take a diverse group of teens, put them on the Titanic and add in a heist. Jaigirdar’s previous YA novels have been sapphic romances–here she moves more into action and historical fiction territory. This reads quickly and is a nice option for younger teens that enjoy heists or books about the Titanic. 

    • Something More
    • by Jackie Khalileh
    • Tundra Books, 2023
    • ISBN: 9781774882139

    This romance is about a Palestinian-Canadian teen, newly diagnosed as autistic. She makes a list of all the things she wants to accomplish in high school before she graduates. She quickly learns there is no guidebook for matters of the heart when she finds herself caught between two guys. This is a refreshing take on the classic coming of age story.

    • The Grimoire of Grave Fates
    • by Hanna Alkaf and Margaret Owen, et al.
    • Delacorte Press, 2023
    • ISBN: 9780593427453

    If you have teens looking for a Harry Potter-esque story, hand them this one. It checks all the boxes: a magical boarding school that flies around à la Howl’s Moving Castle or the aforementioned Hotel Magnifique, an evil professor, a murder mystery, and magical beasts. This isn’t really a short story collection, nor is it a traditional novel. Each chapter is by a different YA author and features a different character that propels the plot forward. Some stories are stronger than others–I need a whole book about Diego, please! This collaborative effort has something for everyone and is a great option for younger teens.

    • A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy
    • by Jeff Bishop
    • Putnam, 2022
    • ISBN: 9781984812940

    Don’t be fooled by the cotton candy cover!  This book is a lot of things–technically it’s speculative fiction. You could also consider it a romantic comedy. It should be about a boy having the best time of his life, the summer after his senior year. But ultimately, it’s about a boy that suffers a torn ACL, leaving him stuck on the couch recovering from surgery, while dealing with a really bad breakup with his girlfriend, who happens to be in a coma from a car accident, which makes it pretty weird that Cam can see and talk to her while on his sofa. Tandy is chaotic and will have you laughing and weeping, reminiscent of the John Hughes movies referenced throughout. This was my favorite debut of 2022 and one of my favorites of the year. Hand to your older teens– especially your broken-hearted high school seniors

    -Megan Nigh

    Celebrating Faces of Filipino American Music and YA Storytelling

    Fri, 12/01/2023 - 14:06

    October is Filipino American History Month, celebrating the second-largest Asian American ethnic group in the U.S. It honors the first recorded arrival of Filipinos in the continental United States in 1587. U.S. Congress officially recognized October as Filipino American History Month in 2009 (Filipino American National Historical Society [FANHS], 2020).

    So, let’s celebrate! Here are some of the music artists and YA authors contributing to Filipino American history:

    Listen H.E.R. Ruby Ibarra Olivia Rodrigo Toro y Moi Read Tracy Badua Mike Curato Juleah del Rosario Makala Gharib Maura Milan Rod Pulido Randy Ribay

    -Stephanie Mahar

    References

    About. (n.d.). Juleah del Rosario. https://www.juleahdelrosario.com/ 

    About the author. (n.d.). Rod Pulido. https://www.rodpulido.com/aboutandcontact 

    Bazan, M. (2022, April). [Photograph of Toro y Moi wearing hat]. MusicTech. https://musictech.com/features/interviews/toro-y-moi-new-album-mahal/ 

    Blake, F. (n.d.). [Photograph of Juleah del Rosario]. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58917c85a5790a492c823600/1569625827149-2USP4RRFJRQAYGMPR86V/Juleah+delRosario-3.jpg?format=2500w 

    Blog. (2019). Maura Milan. https://www.mauramilan.com/blog 

    Curato, M. (2023). Mike Curato. https://www.mikecurato.com/ 

    Filipino American National Historical Society. (2020). About Filipino American history month. http://fanhs-national.org/filam/about/

    Fury, R. (2020, January 26). [Photograph of H.E.R. at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards]. Harper’s BAZAAR. https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a30668618/her-without-sunglasses-grammys-2020/

    Geffen Records. (n.d.). Olivia Rodrigo. https://www.oliviarodrigo.com/ 

    HarperCollins, & Huang, A. (2023, January). [Image of book cover and author, Tracy Badua]. KPBS Public Media. https://cdn.kpbs.org/90/c4/3a0f8f164508ad1cf61be0724ef7/tracy-badua-this-is-not-a-personal-statement.jpg  

    Macaya, L. (2023). [Photograph of the author, Randy Ribay]. http://www.randyribay.com/uploads/1/0/9/7/109705059/ribay-author-photo-by-leopaldo-macaya-2023_orig.jpg 

    Malaka Gharib. (n.d.). https://www.malakagharib.com/ 

    Mercene, M. [Photograph of Malaka Gharib]. (n.d.). Malakagharib.com. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626c4eb59f0cac06991e5799/94afcc15-9a37-44bf-96a6-ab9cb1305939/IMG_0044+%281%29.jpg?format=1500w 

    Osborne, D. (n.d.). Mike Curato. Macmillan Publishers. https://us.macmillan.com/author/mikecurato 

    Randy Ribay. (n.d.). http://www.randyribay.com/ 

    Ruby Ibarra Entertainment, LLC. (2023). Ruby Ibarra. https://www.rubyibarra.com/

    Sony Music Entertainment. (2023). H.E.R. https://www.her-official.com/

    Sykes, C. [Photograph of Olivia Rodrigo on NBC’s “Today” show at Rockefeller Plaza]. (2023, September). KING 5 Media Group. https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/olivia-rodrigo-2024-arena-world-tour-full-list-dates-prices/507-5f065a7c-6a15-42a5-8786-b94d9d8f84df 

    Toro y Moi. (n.d.). Retrieved October 16, 2023 from, https://toroymoi.com/ 

    Vilcek Foundation. (2023, March 20). [Photograph of Ruby Ibarra for Vilcek Foundation Prize]. https://vilcek.org/news/ruby-ibarra-language-is-a-form-of-survival/

    Villanueva, G. (n.d.). Tracy Badua: Author. https://tracybadua.com/ 

    Amazing Audiobooks (#AA2024) Featured Review: Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim

    Wed, 11/29/2023 - 17:35
    • Spice Road
    • by Maiya Ibrahim
    • Narrated by Krupa Pattani
    • Books on Tape | Listening Library
    • Publication Date: January 24, 2023
    • ISBN: 9780593667859

    Misra tea has the power to awaken magic hidden within. However, the Council closely guards its use and severely punishes those who violate its rules. Misra misuse can lead to magical obsession and death if the Council doesn’t get to you first. Imani shows her loyalty to the Council by strictly following their Misra rules. She is determined to prove her worth as a Shield and is different from her deceased Misra-obsessed older brother. When Imani uncovers evidence that her brother may still be alive and using Misra, she takes the opportunity to prove her loyalty by returning him to the Council. Imani and a group of Council-selected Shields embark on the expansive journey to find her brother. The farther Imani gets from home, the more she learns about her world and Misra, which calls into question everything she thought was true. 


    This sweeping journey draws readers into a new sandswept world filled with ghouls and snarky djinns. There is something for every reader in this adventurous romantic fantasy.  Pattani’s narration takes this gorgeous story to new heights. She successfully helps readers navigate this new world and compels them forward. It is an audiobook that will hold listeners attention for just one more minute, followed by one more. Spice Road is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Roshani Chokshi.

    -Sarah Carpenter

    Other Nominated Titles Release Date: November 22, 2023 Release Date: March 14, 2023

    The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

    Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.