BPL Staff Picks: May 2026Like this list

23 items

• On Tyranny

  Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century

  Snyder, Timothy,

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  Nonfiction. A very small but mighty book. If you only read one book on politics, let it be this one. This is a great primer on how tyranny takes over as well as how to stand up to it and keep yourself informed and ready to fight back. - Jordan D.,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Unruly Heart of Miss Darcy

  Edwards, Erin

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  Teen Historical Romance. I think this is one of the better books about a Bennet sister's life post-Pride and Prejudice! This one follows Kitty Bennet and Georgiana Darcy as they get to know each other and fall in love. The characters in this don't…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Celestial Banquet

  Lim, Roselle,

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  Teen Fantasy. Set in a fictional world that is inspired by Chinese and East Asian cultures, the story follows Cai, a young noodle chef and prodigy. She dreams of competing in the deadly Celestial Banquet and being given the honor of the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• That's What Friends Are for

  Rouse, Wade,

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  Fiction. A charming, light read about 4 older male friends living in Palm Springs. I enjoyed the comradery between the friends, and the way they created a found family together. If you enjoy the Golden Girls, you will love this book! - Shane J.,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Empire of Sand

  Suri, Tasha,

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  Fantasy. I can’t believe this was Tasha Suri’s debut. It’s so good! The plot makes sense and is the perfect size for a standalone! Cool worldbuilding without the need to infodump constantly! The PINING! Deeply satisfying and wraps up in one book, no…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Fingers Crossed

  How Music Saved Me From Success

  Berenyi, Miki,

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  Memoir. Packed with personal history, musings, the raw, hard facts about the music industry, and plenty about how tough it is for women. Berenyi's deprecating, yet brash delivery suits both the time and the atmosphere. Compelling reading about a…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Soy Sauce!

  Lee, Laura (Children's author),

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  Children's Picture Book. Beautiful illustrations accompany the fascinating history and process behind how soy sauce is made. It really made me appreciate how unique Chinese, Japanese, and Korean soy sauces are from one another! Fun fact: soy sauce…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• We Live Here Now

  A Novel

  Pinborough, Sarah

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  Horror. This book was a RIDE. A couple moves into a country house after an accident... And just like the main characters, the house has its own baggage, and its own plans. This is a refreshing take on the haunted house genre with genuinely…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Clairboyance

  Kahakauwila, Kristiana,

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  Middle Grade Fiction. Full of believable magical realism, gorgeous writing, loveable characters, and Native Hawaiian joy, this coming-of-age tale has something for everyone, no matter their age! - Ana C., Branch Library Staff

• The Book Hog

  Pizzoli, Greg,

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  Children's Picture Book. Do you love books? Do you accumulate books more swiftly than you read them? What if you couldn't read them? What if you could not read at all? Enter the Book Hog! He's a sweet swine with a sad secret...he is an illiterate…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Possession of Alba Díaz

  Cañas, Isabel,

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  Horror. Set is 1700s Mexico, Alba and her family retreat to a silver mine to wait out a plague, and weird things immediately start happening. Heavy on gothic tension and light on gore, this twisty story is brought to life with historical…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Grace of Kings

  Liu, Ken, 1976-

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  Fantasy. Easily one of my favorite fantasy novels of all time. The first and best book in Ken Liu's magisterial Dandelion Dynasty series tells the tale of the charismatic bandit Kuni Garu and the mighty warrior Mata Zyndu, who join forces to…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• You're a Winner, Gracie Wei

  Chase, Kristen M.,

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  Children's Early Chapter Book. This book both warmed my heart and made me laugh out loud! Gracie Wei has been studying her hardest for the spelling bee, but learns that friendship matters more than winning. - Amy B, Central Library

• Out of the Sky

  Heroism and Rebirth in Nazi Europe

  Friedman, Matti, 1977-

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  Nonfiction. In 1944, a group of young fighters parachute into Nazi-occupied Europe to save as many as Jews as they can. Friedman has a gift for unearthing little-known episodes in history, and he brings to life these dreamers and their doomed…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Kaiju Preservation Society

  Scalzi, John, 1969-

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  Fantasy. This romp of a comedy essentially asks what life would look like as a zoo keeper. Except the creatures you care for are monsters, and part of your job is keeping citizens of Earth from knowing about them. In typical style, Scalzi pokes fun…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Hidden Wonders

  Discover Our Planet's Best-kept Secrets

  Maggi, Nicole,

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  Middle Grade Nonfiction. This book shares information about a bunch of really cool places in the world that kids (and adults) might not know about. Some of my favorites were the Giant Pumpkin Regatta in Oregon, Fingal's Cave in Scotland, and Cat…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Rainbow Fair

  Ma, Diana,

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  Children's Chapter Book. Sophie learns more about friendships, identity, and family in this delightful chapter book. Her school's annual Rainbow Fair encourages kids to make booths celebrating their heritage, but her teacher always has Sophie…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)

  Alameddine, Rabih,

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  Fiction. This book was fascinating, unique and unexpectedly hilarious for a story filled with war and atrocities. Raja, a 60-something gay man, shares his story of a life in Beirut through several wars, regimes and a pandemic. Listening to the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Tokyo Express

  a Novel

  Matsumoto, Seichō, 1909-1992,

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  Mystery. Matsumoto's debut novel is credited with launching the mystery genre in Japan, and for good reason. This short, compact mystery kept me guessing until the end! - Liz B., Fields Corner Branch Library

• Hamnet

  a Novel of the Plague

  O'Farrell, Maggie, 1972-

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  Historical Fiction. O'Farrell simultaneously deposits you into a world that is foreign, although beautifully imagined, with characters that feel familiar and dear. This book is an emotional rollercoaster that takes its reader through what it means…Read moreRead more of this annotation