BostonPL_BPL Staff Picks: August 2024Like this list

22 items

• Boys Weekend

  Lubchansky, Mattie,

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  Graphic Novel. With quirky art, biting satire, and a compelling premise, this graphic novel is a quick read and is both hilarious and mildly terrifying. Transfemme artist Sammie, invited to be their college best friend's "best man,"…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• America Redux

  Visual Stories From Our Dynamic History

  Aberg-Riger, Ariel,

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  Teen Nonfiction. In the vein of "Lies My Teacher Told Me" and "A People's History of the United States." I wish it had been longer but it really showed the throughline of different aspects of American history in a much better way than my…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Bagel in Love

  Wing, Natasha,

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  Children's Picture Book. Refined carbohydrates never looked so cute! But, not all the citizens of Sweet City are as sweet as our persistent, dance-loving hero, Bagel. Join Bagel as he searches for a dance partner and discovers more than he…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Secret Library

  Magoon, Kekla,

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  Children's Fantasy. This is a wonderful adventure story with lots of time travel, including adventures on a pirate ship. It left me thirsty for a sequel! - Amy L., Mattapan Branch Library

• All This Could Be Different

  Mathews, Sarah Thankam,

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  Fiction. Set in Milwaukee, Mathews' debut novel explores the life of twenty-two-year-old Sneha, Indian-born, who came to America with her family as a child. When upsetting circumstances force her parents to return home, Sneha forms her own…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Symphony for the City of the Dead

  Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad

  Anderson, M. T,

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  Teen Nonfiction. This is a very readable nonfiction book that I think would appeal even to people who mostly read fiction! It follows the life of Dmitri Shostakovich, particularly during the Siege of Leningrad and the composition of his…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Sleep Like Death

  Bayron, Kalynn,

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  Teen Fantasy. I had a hard time putting this book down! I was also lucky enough to see Bayron speak in person about this title, where she talked about "finding a new way into" fairy tales. This is a rich reimagining of Snow White that…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Don't Turn Out the Lights

  A Tribute to Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

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  Children's Horror. Summer is the perfect time for spooky tales around a campfire, and this collection would be excellent to read out loud! Based on urban legends and folklore, several of these stories managed to give me chills. - Ana C.,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Misfit

  Growing Up Awkward in the '80s

  Gulman, Gary

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  Memoir. Comedian Gary Gulman began working on his material on the basketball courts of the North Shore. His memoir covers his childhood through laugh-out-loud descriptions of Hebrew school, after-school fights, and the solace of the mall.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• My Private Property

  Ruefle, Mary, 1952-

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  Poetry. It's always a good time to read Mary Ruefle, but it's an especially good moment to read "My Private Property" if you've recently read Miranda July's new novel, "All Fours." Ruefle's take on midlife is as prickly and strange but…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Hedgewitch of Foxhall

  Bright, Anna

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  Teen Fantasy. This was a fun fantasy adventure with an interesting take on familial relationships. It also subverts the usual tropes regarding destiny and fate in fantasy novels. Plus, I love a good romantic subplot. - Alessandra N.,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Gaytheist

  Coming Out of My Orthodox Childhood

  Mann, Lonnie,

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  Graphic Novel, Autobiography. I enjoyed learning about the Jewish faith, and the overall coming out story of this one individual. - Shane J, Charlestown Branch Library

• Ratty

  Selfors, Suzanne,

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  Children's Fiction. This book reminded me of "Stuart Little" meets "Holes" ---funny, warm, and mysterious! - Maggie L, Central Library

• Baby Precious Always Shines

  Selected Love Notes Between Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas

  Stein, Gertrude, 1874-1946

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  Nonfiction. It's been awhile since I read this but I remember it being so sweet and tender and endearing with a dose of silly. Like love! - Meia G., Central Library

• Long Way Down

  the Graphic Novel

  Reynolds, Jason,

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  Teen Graphic Novel. As a fan of the novel in verse version of this book, I was excited to see how they would depict the story with art and I was not disappointed. Jason Reynolds had already done such a great job painting a picture with…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Long Live Evil

  Brennan, Sarah Rees,

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  Fantasy. A young woman dying of cancer is given the opportunity to save her own life by going into the world of her favorite book. One catch: it's a grimdark fantasy in which everyone keeps dying in gruesome ways, and she's been stuck in…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Cross My Heart and Never Lie

  Dåsnes, Nora, 1995-

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  Children's Graphic Novel. Tuva's diary was so much fun to read, both for the story and for the art style and handwritten feel! This graphic novel portrays the middle school friendship and dating situation really well, so kids this age, as…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Chicano Frankenstein

  Olivas, Daniel A.,

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  Science Fiction. "Chicano Frankenstein" is for the reader who loves epistolary writings, are interested in how right-wing politics affects personal lives, and Frankenstein retellings. Our unnamed character grapples with his sense of self…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• A Witch's Guide to Burning

  Dhaliwal, Aminder, 1988-

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  Graphic Novel. A heartwarming story of healing and self-discovery with lots of fun magic and beautiful art thrown in. - Nicole R., North End Branch Library

• The Winter's Tale

  Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616

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  Play. "The Winter's Tale" is this year's Shakespeare performance on the Common! Read it, then go watch the play come alive. It's so fun! - Karie S., Central Library