Children’s books

“The Night Raven,” by Johan Rundberg, translated by A. A. Prime

This mystery is for those who gravitate toward darker tales. Translated from Swedish, the story takes place in Stockholm in the winter of 1880. It’s freezing, and food and firewood are low at the orphanage where Mika lives. But a new baby, while dropped off under unusual circumstances, brings joy and new purpose to Mika’s life. Safety has also been restored since the serial killer known as the Night Raven was executed for his crimes — or was he?

After reading Mika’s statement about the person who delivered the baby to the orphanage, Detective Valdemar Hoff calls on her for help when a new murder victim turns up. Mika’s cleverness, keen observations and perseverance shine against a gritty backdrop. Keep your fingers crossed for translations of the additional books in the series.

“Much Too Busy,” by John Bond

Pigeon is an extremely busy business bird in the city. He is so busy that he forgets to pay attention to where he’s going and gets lost in the forest. Mouse offers to help lead Pigeon back to the city.

Along the way, Mouse notices nature’s beauty all around them, and eventually Pigeon does too.

Bright illustrations and expressive characters are sure to capture the attention of both kids and adults. Share with young students or grab your favorite reading buddy and each take on a role to read this mindfulness journey aloud together.

Teen books

“The Meadows,” by Stephanie Oakes

Entrance into an elite school could change Eleanor’s life, but the Meadows is an institution with a dark side. The exclusive school will remove her from her poverty-stricken life and distant mother, propelling her into a bright future. In a dystopian world where the government forces queer people to hide their true selves, Eleanor is trained to monitor “reformed” individuals in society. She quietly protests these policies by embellishing reports while hiding her love for a deceased classmate, Rose. When she learns that Rose may still be alive, her government-assigned future is thrown into question. Oakes weaves human rights, racism, climate change, and government control into lyrical prose with a deft hand. Recommended for ages 14 and up.

“An Impossible Thing to Say,” by Arya Shahi

Omid faces challenges as a first generation Iranian American in a post 9/11 world. Finding the words to communicate with his grandfather, his Farsi-speaking parents, and the girl he likes seems almost impossible, until he discovers rap music. The artform allows him to express himself fluidly even as he struggles to navigate the start of the school year in the fall of 2001. Omid finds that he can say on paper what he may not be able to verbalize out loud. Shahi employs first-person narration in this story told in verse, using a mix of Shakespearean language and hip hop traditions. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

Adult books

“The List,” by Yomi Adegoke

Ola and Michael are young, thriving in their careers, and about to get married. They are a model couple of London’s Black social media until Michael’s name appears on an anonymous list circulating the internet calling out sexual predators. Journalist Ola is tasked with reporting on the story as she tries to figure out how she and Michael became a part of it — is her betrothed guilty? Can she trust him? How did his name end up on this list? Told in alternating chapters, this suspenseful deep dive into cancel culture and the #MeToo movement explores the issues raised from a variety of perspectives, keeping readers engaged and guessing until the end.

“Bright Young Women,” by Jessica Knoll

Society is fascinated by serial killers. The enormity of their crimes inflates their personas, giving them outsize attention in our culture. Knoll turns that tendency on its head in this unforgettable novel that instead centers the victims.

In the 1970s, a serial killer (Knoll never names him and neither will I) broke into a sorority house in Florida and killed several of the women living there. It would be one of his last acts of violence before being caught, but there were plenty beforehand. This fictionalized version of the true story explores the impacts of misogyny on the women who survived or were left behind. Knoll’s characters burst with life as they confront their many injustices in this brilliant page-turner.