Kid’s books

The trio of Blue, Barry and Pancakes is back with an exciting adventure. Barry wants a trophy for his room and a fantastic contest is announced: The Build a Sundae Contest! Barry decides they need the best ice cream ever and the trio set out for Mount Choco to find it. Silliness and adventure ensue in this heartwarming story of friendship. For ages 6 and up.

Fans of X-Men and James Patterson’s Maximum Ride series are in for fun new graphic novel. Six kids with unique but unpredictable abilities, living in a government facility, are enjoying life until a character known as The Collector goes on the hunt for them. An exhilarating read of adventure and friendship. For ages 10 and up.

Teen books

In the remote city of Ilvernath, magic exists, and seven families control it. Only one family may access high magic, which was thought to be nonexistent, and to gain exclusive control a death match is held once a generation under the Blood Moon. All Of Us Villains begins the story of the present generation — most of whom have been training their entire lives to fight. What distinguishes this generation’s battle is that the secret of the death match has been exposed. Outsiders have traveled to the city exposing each family’s likely combatant, making them both celebrities and victims. Secrets are revealed, lies are disclosed, and decisions must be made as the Blood Moon has risen. “All Of Us Villains” is a riveting, bloody, and heartbreaking book that leaves the reader unsure as to who to root for and who to trust. Also, stay tuned because the battle has just begun!

Consider the passenger pigeon — once so numerous that the skies darkened for days as they passed overhead with some flocks estimated to contain one billion birds stretching out 300 miles. After overhunting and habitat destruction, the last passenger pigeon died in a cage in a zoo on September 1, 1914. Since 1970, a study published in Science in October 2019 concluded that nearly 30% of all birds in the U.S. and Canada have vanished. The culprits for this alarming statistic are many: glass windows, -light pollution, pet and feral cats, pesticides and climate change. This is a fascinating, sit-down-and-read in-one-fell-swoop book that is accessible and alarming, yet hopeful. No matter one’s attitude toward birds, readers cannot close this book and not be motivated to do something, anything, to help save the birds.

Adult books

Keira seems to have it all: a business she’s poured her heart into, a loving husband and three kids, friends she can count on for anything. On one New Year’s Eve, she’s celebrating and couldn’t be more content. But the coming year has other plans: a tubular breast cancer diagnosis. How does Keira cope with her new illness as a woman, mother, wife and business owner? The answer is her new running club, whose other members are all undergoing cancer treatment. Many will enjoy this uplifting and informative read based on the author’s own experience with cancer.

Remember when comedic actor Kal Penn put his well-earned career on hold to work for the Obama administration? In his debut memoir, Penn details his journey to the White House, and it isn’t as far-fetched as many seem. From a young age, the author wanted to stand out from the ordinary and fight social injustice. In 23 entertaining stories, Penn explains how these two callings manifested themselves throughout his life. First, growing up Indian-American in New Jersey, then in his acting career, lastly, working with President Obama. Serious and funny collide in Penn’s chase for the American dream.