Children’s books

“Mr. Monkey Bakes a Cake” by Jeff Mack

Mr. Monkey, the eponymous hero of a new beginning readers’ series, has decided to bake a cake.

But after eating almost all of the bananas while baking, his tummy feels full and a little rumbly. Given his dubious tummy, he decides to enter a cake show rather than eat his cake. After a hilarious adventure featuring a gorilla, a flock of birds and other assorted obstacles, Mr. Monkey finally makes it to the cake show only to discover it is all over. This book is perfect for beginning readers and proves that you can have your cake and eat it too. Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

“Star Wars: Are You Scared, Darth Vader?” by Adam Rex

Children of all ages are captivated by anything in the Star Wars universe, but until now it has been difficult to find books appropriate for the youngest Star Wars lovers. Darth Vader is the unlikely hero in this new picture book. Using his classic imperious language and tone, Vader proves that he is not frightened by vampires, ghosts and werewolves, but when it comes to children he is most displeased. This picture book is funny, often charming, and well-illustrated. Recommended for ages 5 to 8.

Teen books

“Furyborn” by Claire Legrand

A thousand years separate Eliana and Rielle, yet their lives are entwined by an ancient prophecy that foretells the rise of a Sun Queen, who will be a savior, and a Blood Queen, who will be a destroyer. Told in parallel storylines, “Furyborn” is a tale of two powerful women shaped by history, magic and fate. Neither woman is faultless in their words and deeds and the consequences are steep. Legrand’s world-building and complex characters make this first book of a planned trilogy a must read for older teen fantasy aficionados.

“Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe” by Preston Norton

Cliff Hubbard (aka Neanderthal) is a 6 foot 6 inch, 250 pound teenage mass of anger and despair. It has been a year since his brother committed suicide, and every day he struggles to find any reason to keep going. A reason finds him in the form of one Aaron Zimmerman, Happy Valley High School’s big man on campus, who wakes from a coma claiming God has given him a “List” to make high school “suck less” and that Cliff must be his partner on this mission. Cliff is understandably skeptical but eventually becomes a believer. Regularly profane, frequently funny and always poignant, Cliff’s journey through and past high school is one to respect.

— Cheryl Weems, Deschutes Public Library youth services collection development librarian

Adult books

“The Ensemble” by Aja Gabel

Like the best pieces of chamber music, “The Ensemble” brings a variety of themes and voices together into one beautiful, whole piece. A cellist herself, Gabel fully understands music and the music business, but the strength of this novel is her flair for characters and relationships. She drops into the lives of Jana, Henry, Brit and Daniel throughout their career together as a string quartet, weaving their individual journeys, triumphs and challenges together into a nuanced study of human nature.

Their stories are compelling enough to keep the pace moving, but Gabel’s stunning insights will make you pause.

“The Word Is Murder” by Anthony Horowitz

Horowitz gets meta in his newest murder-mystery, inserting himself as a bumbling Watson character to cranky disgraced detective Daniel Hawthorne. The two find themselves investigating the strange case of a woman who is murdered on the same day she arranged her own funeral. While Horowitz struggles through the clues, we get the sense Hawthorne has already solved the whole thing and is simply tying up loose ends. Horowitz wrote the bestselling “Magpie Murders” and the popular BBC television series’ “Midsomer Murders” and “Foyle’s War,” and much of the fun here comes from his insights and forays into the worlds of publishing and television production.

— Jenny Pedersen, Deschutes Public Library community librarian