BPL Staff Picks: February 2025Like this list

24 items

• We'll Prescribe You a Cat

  Syou, Ishida, 1975-

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  Fiction. This heartwarming little book proves that cats -- and books -- are the best medicine ever! This is part of a specific subset of cozy, vaguely magical Japanese fiction that I find so endearing, and it delivered on every front. I loved…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Black Water Sister

  Cho, Zen

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  Fantasy. My favorite thing about Cho's writing is her dialogue, and it is absolutely on point in this book. I can practically hear the lines when I read them. I especially love that she trusts the reader to figure out the non-English words instead…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Mismatched

  a Modern Graphic Retelling of Emma

  Camlin, Anne,

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  Teen Graphic Novel. This modern day graphic novel retelling of Jane Austen's "Emma" is the perfect read for February! It does a great job of bringing the humor and romance of "Emma" into a high school setting. I still think the movie Clueless is the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Assistant to the Villain

  Maehrer, Hannah Nicole

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  Fantasy/Romance. A silly, fun, tropey (and trope-subverting) romp with a good heart. This book started as a series of TikTok videos and retains that humorous episodic tone, while adding a surprisingly compelling character-driven story. It revels in…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Reading the Room

  a Bookseller's Tale

  Yamazaki, Paul,

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  Nonfiction. This slim but impressively packed book, presented in a Q&A format, provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of bookselling from the unique perspective of Yamazaki, who has been the principal buyer at the historic City Lights…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• My Damage

  The Story of a Punk Rock Survivor

  Morris, Keith

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  Nonfiction. Morris, founding member of Black Flag and Circle Jerks, shares his experiences in the late '70s-'80s Southern California hardcore punk rock scene. First show I ever saw was Circle Jerks at the Channel in 1986, I think it was. Brings back…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Martyr!

  Akbar, Kaveh,

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  Fiction. Wry humor, smart, and sharp all at once. - Karie S., Central Library

• The Skies Belong to Us

  Love and Terror in the Golden Age of Hijacking

  Koerner, Brendan I.

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  Nonfiction. Did you know that you could once buy hijacking insurance to compensate you for time lost while your flight got diverted to Cuba? This was a fascinating look into the '60s and '70s in America. The main story following Roger Holder and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Slouch

  Wyman, Christina,

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  Children's Fiction. Stevie is by far the tallest kid in seventh grade and gets quite a lot of unwanted comments about her height from family, friends, classmates, and strangers. I loved reading about Stevie's journey to feeling more confident in her…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Bewilderment

  A Novel

  Powers, Richard

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  Fiction. Theo and Robin are still mourning the loss of Aly, the wife of Theo and mother of Robin, who died in a traffic accident two years ago. Both Theo and Robin are having difficulty in navigating their lives without her, and while for Theo this…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• And So I Roar

  a Novel

  Daré, Abi,

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  Fiction. I loved this powerful and inspiring follow-up to "The Girl With The Louding Voice." It follows Adunni and her new friend Tia through another harrowing nightmare as Adunni learns just how powerful and important her louding voice can be. -…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• True Love and Other Impossible Odds

  Li, Christina,

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  Teen Romance. This sapphic romance has tons going for it: women in STEM, Chinese American rep (even featuring some Mandarin), freshman-year-of-college nostalgia, winter sports, excellent character development, and more! Beloved romance tropes and a…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Dangerous Fictions

  the Fear of Fantasy and the Invention of Reality

  Gold, Lyta,

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  Nonfiction. This book delves deep into different forms of media and how it divides us. Are book banners actually concerned with content? What's the difference between a film and a two-hour long advertisement? And why do we think that a TV show can…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Wedding People

  A Novel

  Espach, Alison

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  Fiction. This book was one part "A Man Called Ove," one part gothic romance, and one part dark comedy. Espach delivers wit and care for all of the novel's characters, even the most difficult personalities. - Ayelet R, Jamaica Plain Branch Library

• We Kept Her in the Cellar

  a Novel

  Gorman, W. R. (Fiction writer),

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  Horror. I liked this dark, twisted reimagining of the Cinderella story because it was very compelling. The story moved at a good pace. I never got bored, right up to the end. - Shane J., Charlestown Branch Library

• One Small Spark

  a Tikkun Olam Story

  Spiro, Ruth,

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  Children's Picture Book. This book explains the concept of 'tikkun olam' which is the Jewish concept of repairing the world. It's a beautiful way to explain how doing small acts of goodness can help our global community. - Maggie L., Central Library

• Song for a Whale

  Kelly, Lynne, 1969-

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  Children's Fiction. A heartwarming story for any age about a girl and a whale, who just want to be understood and included. - Nicole R., North End Branch Library

• Daniel's Good Day

  Archer, Micha,

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  Children's Picture Book. My daughter and I love to read this book regularly. The titular character, Daniel, walks through his neighborhood on his way to Grandma's house and greets a few of his neighbors, vendors, and workers along the way. It's so…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Picky Mrs. Pickle

  Schneider, Christine M.

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  Children's Picture Book. Growing up, "Picky Mrs. Pickle" was one of my favorite books. Mrs. Pickle’s hilariously over-the-top picky habits kept me hooked, and the rhyming text was so catchy I still remember some of it today. The colorful, whimsical…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Modern Fairies

  Pollard, Clare,

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  Historical Fiction. During the reign of Louis XIV, Marie D'Aulnoy presides over a Parisian salon where contes de fées -- fairy tales -- are told. Among the guests is Charles Perrault who would later publish well-known collections of tales, including…Read moreRead more of this annotation