ADULT READS
For fans of fantasy, murder mysteries and romance…
Set in a supernatural world with elements from our own—think magic plus modern medicine and technology—House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas, the first in her Crescent City series, follows half-Fae, half-human Bryce Quinlan as she pieces together the mystery of her friends’ brutal murders. Maas is known for cornering the fantasy genre—her young adult Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses series have sold more than nine million copies worldwide.
After a long night of partying, Bryce stumbles home to find her friends’ eviscerated bodies and narrowly escapes the murderer herself, a powerful demon no person has seen before. Spiralling with guilt, she spends the next two years in self-isolation—until she’s paired up with Fallen angel Hunt Athalar to quietly find the culprit behind the new, eerily similar murders plaguing Crescent City. Hunt, a slave to the Archangels and now their assassin, cannot resist their deal: Help Bryce stop the murders and freedom will be within reach. As the unlikely pair unravel the mystery, they’re suspicions draw them into the savage and political underbelly of Crescent City—and forces them to face the romantic feelings they have for each other.
For fans of family drama and conspiracies…
Fans of Little Fires Everywhere will eat up Joanne Ramos’ The Farm, the tale of Jane, a young Filipino immigrant with a newborn looking for a better life. When her cousin introduces her to the Farm, aka Golden Oaks, a luxurious retreat dedicated to keeping its hosts (aka surrogates) safe, it sounds like a life-changing opportunity. The Farm woos Jane with organic meals, personal fitness trainers, massages and a big pay day—if she can carry and deliver a healthy baby to term. However, while Jane and the other surrogates are at the Farm, they cannot leave, all their movements are monitored and every moment of their day is scheduled. The Farm seems more worried about gestating the perfect baby for their wealthy clients than the well-being of their hosts—and the Farm has the means and motive to manipulate any person who gets in the way of their booming business.
Jane is worried about her own baby’s health, but if she leaves the Farm she’ll lose the money she so desperately needs. And she can’t leave, not while she’s still pregnant with someone else’s baby—but will a potential kidnapping charge stop her?
YOUNG ADULT READS
For fans of historical fiction and the supernatural…
The first of the Last Hours series, Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare (ages 14 and up) is part of the greater Shadowhunter world (which has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide): a place where Shadowhunters—half-angel and half-human warriors—protect humans from threats, whether those be demons, werewolves, vampires or even other Shadowhunters.
In Edwardian London, James and Lucie have grown up in a time of peace, listening to stories of their parents’ battles between good and evil. Cordelia Carstairs and her brother travel to London in the hopes of saving their family’s reputation after their father is accused of an awful crime—and her mother attempts to arrange a marriage, much to Cordelia’s chagrin.
Once the Carstairs arrive in London, demons unlike any the Shadowhunters have encountered plague the city—ones that can walk in the light, kill with an incurable poison and are extremely difficult to kill. When the city is quarantined, Cordelia, James and Lucie will discover that heroism comes at a cost.
For fans of witty heroines and adventure…
After fleeing to the city of Cersarine two years ago, Louise le Blanc has done her best to leave her life of magic behind and evade the Chasseurs, who protect the city with their motto: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. In Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin (ages 14 and up), witches are feared, hunted and burned. And Chasseur Reid Diggory has believed in that principle his entire life, ever since he was abandoned in one of the city’s dumpsters as a baby.
When a failed escape and misunderstanding put Lou’s life in jeopardy—and Reid’s (and the Church’s) reputation on the line, the two are forced into the unthinkable: marriage. Lou, coerced to marry a man who would undoubtedly kill her if he discovers she’s a witch and Reid, unhappy that his new wife is a foul-mouthed, common thief (when his heart lies with another), find themselves drawn to each other, especially as they work to untangle the city’s supernatural mysteries.
For fans of outer space and thrillers…
Aurora Rising’s (ages 12 and up) ragtag squad is the galaxy’s only hope for survival. The novel, similar to authors’ Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff’s bestselling Illuminae Files series, is told through multiple points of view. In the year 2380, top-of-his-class cadet Tyler Jones is ready to graduate from Aurora Academy and recruit the best cadets onto his squad. Before he can, he stumbles upon a mysterious ship with one lone survivor: Aurora, who has been in a cryo chamber for 200 years, wakes up to a whole new world—and there seems to be no record of the colony she was headed to two centuries ago. After rescuing Aurora and nearly dying, Tyler misses his chance to pick the best recruits and must fill his squad with the dregs of the Academy. But when their team discovers people are on the hunt for Aurora (and those same people keep trying to kill the entire squad), his team of misfits might be the only people capable of protecting her—and stopping a war that will rip them all to shreds. The novel’s sequel, Aurora Burning will be released this May.
MIDDLE GRADE READS
For fans of the paranormal…
Cass’s life hasn’t been easy since her parents began filming their TV show about the world’s most haunted cities in Victoria Schwab’s City of Ghosts. In Tunnel of Bones (ages 9-12), Cass and her ghostly best friend Jacob discover the city of love’s paranormal problem lay underneath…in the Catacombs. After she accidentally awakens a powerful spirit, Cass realizes she needs to use her newfound ghosthunting powers—fast. While she continues to hide her secret from her parents, she learns her ghostly companion has his own secrets too, and she’ll need to call upon friends old and new to save Paris from disaster.
For fans of detectives and riddles…
Author Ally Carter is no stranger to delivering twists, turns and fantastic casts of characters. Known for her Gallagher Girls and Heist Society series, plus Not If I Save You First and Dear Ally, How Do You Write A Book, Carter’s newest novel Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor (ages 10-12) follows April, who finds herself in a huge, creepy mansion with other orphans after some unfortunate incidents (like starting a fire and breaking a vase). But this can’t possibly be her life—not for long—because her mom will be back for her any day. April just needs to find the clues her mother left inside the giant mansion, and she’ll need help from her friends to discover the secrets of Winterborne House—which includes solving the riddle of the missing heir, a spooky legend and the mystery behind an intriguing key—before all the kids lose the only home they’ve ever known.
PICTURE BOOKS
For fans of biographies…
Before Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Fred Rogers was a shy boy who wasn’t sure how to express his emotions. In Fred’s Big Feelings by Laura Renauld (ages 4-8), readers follow a young boy struggling with his big feelings—until Grandfather McFeely says just the right thing: “I like you just the way you are.” After Fred grows up and creates his iconic kids’ TV program, the government threatens to cut funding for public TV, and Fred must leave the stage and head for Capitol Hill. Your little ones will learn that not only is it good to express their feelings, but that they’re not alone.
For kids who could use some inspiration to push forward…
Based on the worldwide Push Through movement (which has reached classrooms in 25 countries and four different languages), founder Jasmyn Wright’s I’m Gonna Push Through (ages 4-8) is all about inspiring kids to push forward when faced with adversity. If you want to teach your kids about grit and resilience, reaffirming the idea that they can lift themselves up is a great way to start. This picture book features inspirational figures like Oprah Winfrey, LeBron James, Malala Yousafzai, Barack Obama and more.
BOARD BOOKS
For fans of rhymes…
You can’t go wrong with Dr. Seuss and this new release starring Thing One and Thing Two. Dr. Seuss’s Spring Things (ages 0-3) follows the Things as they meander through iconic springtime “things,” like butterflies, worms, frogs, flowers, bunnies and ducklings. You can expect to hear the infamous author’s classic rhyme scheme.
For fans of animals…
Eric Hill’s well-known yellow pup Spot is back with a new adventure in Spot’s New Friend (ages 3-5). When Spot goes on vacation with his family, he’s worried he won’t have anyone to play with. After he loses his ball, his fears are assuaged when he forms a friendship with Alice the kangaroo, who returns his ball. Spot learns that even if he’s far from home, he can always make a friend—and there’s no reason to be afraid.
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