This month's new titles include the debut children’s picture book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Díaz (in English and Spanish), about memories, family, and heritage; a very funny and cute book for children in the Stick Dog series; a magical adventure story for teens set in Africa; a true-life adventure story for adults set in Borneo; an adult novel about a family dealing with the tragedy of a policeman killed in the line of duty; and a film about the tempestuous relationship of a teen and her mother that has already been nominated for numerous awards. All of these new titles can be found by browsing our catalog and by visiting your neighborhood library.
Young Children (Up to 2nd Grade)
At Lola’s school most students come from different countries, including Lola herself. She was a little baby when her family moved from the Dominican Republic to the U.S., so Lola doesn’t remember the island. A school assignment to draw a picture of the students’ "first country", the country where they were born, changes everything. Lola may not remember, but she asks her family and neighbors, gathering from each of them a different memory, image, and experience. Together, they are able to compose her own understanding of her neighborhood and of the island where she was born. Simultaneously published in English and Spanish, this lovely story celebrates heritage and diversity.
Older Children (3rd Grade to 6th Grade)
Take a break from homework and join Stick Dog and his dog friends Mutt, Poo-Poo, Stripes, and Karen as they discover a fancy wedding reception in Picasso Park! It’s night time and there are strings of lights, fireworks, and an endless buffet full of treats to be tasted. If you like Big Nate series, then be sure to check out all the Stick Dog books!
Teen Nonfiction
When an evil king comes to power in the West African land of Orisha, he outlaws magic and ruthlessly kills those who practice it. As the daughter of one of the last maji, it’s up to Zelie to bring hope (and magic) back to her people. Perfect for fans of Marvel’s Black Panther or Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy.
Adult Fiction
Evi was nine months pregnant when her husband Eamon, a police officer, was killed in the line of duty on a steamy morning in July. Now it is winter and Eamon's adopted brother Dalton has moved in to help her raise six-month-old Noah. From an author Roxane Gay has called "a consummate storyteller," Leesa Cross-Smith's mesmerizing first novel is told in three intertwining, melodic voices: Evi in present day, as she's snowed in with Dalton during a freak blizzard; Eamon before his murder, as he prepares for impending fatherhood and grapples with the danger of his profession; and Dalton, as he struggles to make sense of his life next to Eamon's, and as he decides to track down the biological father he's never known. Whiskey & Ribbons is a requiem for marriage, friendship and family, with a complicated brotherly dynamic. It's a meditation on grief, hope, motherhood, brotherhood, and surrogate fatherhood. Above all, it's a novel about what it means—and whether it's possible—to heal.
Adult Nonfiction
The riveting story of Swiss environmentalist Bruno Manser, who lived among the Penan tribe in Sarawak and spent years helping them organize against logging conglomerates; and American art dealer Michael Palmieri, who embarked on expeditions into the heart of Borneo purchasing often sacred works for the world’s most prestigious museums and wealthy private collectors. One found riches while the other disappeared mysteriously. Supported by his own extensive travels and interviews with the principal players, Carl Hoffman traces the experiences of these two men and the impact they had on the land and its people.
Adult DVD and Blu-Ray
This touching, funny, personal, and mature coming-of-age comedy focuses on a turbulent year in the life of the McPherson family as they look to survive and grow in their home in Sacramento, California. Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson is a senior at a faith-affiliated private high school who hopes to win a place in college across the country in New York. Lady Bird (Saoirse Ronan) fights against—but is exactly like—her wildly loving, deeply opinionated, and strong-willed mom (Laurie Metcalf), a nurse working tirelessly to keep her family afloat after Lady Bird's father (Tracy Letts) loses his job. Nominated for 5 Oscars, Lady Bird is a look at the relationships that shape us, the beliefs that define us, and the unmatched beauty of a place called home.
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