Warrior on the Mound by Sandra W. Headen. Narrated by twelve-year-old Cato, this intense and evocative story of racial unrest in prewar North Carolina ends with a dramatic match between white and Black little league teams. It’s1935. Twelve-year-old Cato wants nothing more than to play baseball, perfect his pitch, and meet Mr. Satchel Paige–the best pitcher in Negro League baseball. But when he and his teammates “trespass” on their town’s whites-only baseball field for practice, the resulting racial outrage burns like a brushfire through the entire community, threatening Cato, his family, and every one of his friends. There’s only one way this can end without violence: It has to be settled on the mound, between the white team and the Black. The winner takes all.

by Andrea Beatriz Arango. How do you speak up when it feels like no one is listening? In this moving novel verse, one girl takes on seventh grade while facing mental health challenges and must find her voice to advocate for the help and understanding she deserves. Seventh grade is going to be Iveliz’s year. She’s going to make a new friend, help her abuela Mimi get settled after moving from Puerto Rico, and she is not going to get into any more trouble at school. . . Except is that what happens? Of course not. Because no matter how hard Iveliz tries, sometimes people say things that just make her so mad. And worse, Mimi keeps saying Iveliz’s medicine is unnecessary–even though it helps Iveliz feel less sad. But how do you explain your feelings to others when you’re not even sure what’s going on yourself?

The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln. Night at the Museum meets The Land of Stories in this thrilling new graphic novel adventure series in which two siblings, a mysterious Night Librarian, and a motley cast of book characters try to save the New York Public Library. Twins Page and Turner know about the magic a library holds–they’ve been going to their beloved New York City public library for years, especially since their parents are always traveling for work. But a secret mission involving their dad’s rare and valuable edition of Bram Stoker’s Dracula uncovers a world they’ve never known, featuring a mysterious Night Librarian, famous heroes (and villains) that have broken free from classic books, and an epic battle to save the library from total destruction.

by Sylvie Kantorovitz. Pocketville is a small town, set in its ways, and the arrival of a stranger causes a stir. Monti the mole is stunned one morning to find Leo the lizard hogging his special reading rock. When Monti visits the bakery and the library, he learns that the last cinnamon roll has been purchased, and the book he was waiting for has been checked out. What’s a fastidious mole to do? When Monti confronts Leo, the newcomer turns out to be agreeable to the extreme, and friendship is a given. Now to convince the town’s cantankerous baker, Ms. Sheep, to stop turning everyone against Leo. Together, Monti and Leo hatch a plot that will have Ms. Sheep singing Leo’s praises in no time. This reassuring tale of friendship against the odds from the creator of the graphic memoir Sylvie draws on the author’s experiences as an immigrant and will appeal to anyone who has struggled to fit in in a new place.

by Dori Hillestad Butler and illustrated by Kevan Atteberry. Andy has two pets and two houses: a cat, Simon, at his mom’s house, and a dog, Baxter, at his dad’s house. But when Andy’s mom goes on a business trip, Simon must spend a few nights at Andy’s dad’s house. A sleepover with the beast? Simon says, “No, thank you.” Baxter, on the other hand, is sooooo excited to play together. He and Simon can go on walks! Stay up late! Eat liver treats! He can’t wait to finally meet his pen pal in person. What could go wrong? This funny and heartwarming collaboration between is a tribute to the love of a good pet–and the joy found in a new friendship.

written by Liz Garton Scanlon and illustrated by Dung Ho. Meet Bibsy Cross, the precocious eight-year-old heroine of this charming chapter-book series, as she navigates a relationship with a teacher who thinks that Bibsy is just too much. This year, Bibsy has Mrs. Stumper as a teacher… and Mrs. Stumper doesn’t seem too keen on Bibsy. She thinks Bibsy talks too much–especially about her science fair project. But one day, when Bibsy talks a little too much and goes a stone too far, Mrs. Stumper punishes her by punching a hole in her paper apple that hangs in the classroom. And Bibsy is devastated. How can she make the best science fair project when she feels so rotten?

by Vicky Fang. Ava Lin is six and a half years old, and she loves bubble tea, finding treasures, and animals (note the 117 varieties of pets on her wish list). She’s very good at drawing and balancing pasta on her nose. And there’s a Very Exciting Thing happening in her life right now: tomorrow is her first day of first grade! Which means she gets a new backpack, new pencils, and a new lunch box. But what she really wants to get in first grade is a best friend, which isn’t as easy as she thought. Ava’s quest has her navigating some confusing social rules, with unintentionally comical results–but she always manages to wriggle out of her mishaps in ways young readers will find very familiar.

by Matt Hunt. A walk down busy city streets can feel scary when you’re small, but the world doesn’t seem so frightening when you’re perched up high on Dad’s shoulders! Going up high on Dad’s shoulders is the best way to feel BIG in cities that make you feel small. This tender, funny celebration of the bond between father and child will resonate with children and adults alike.

by Roxane Turcotte and Lucie Crovatto. Charlie’s grandfather, Papa Jo, uses an hourglass to remind himself that every moment is precious. When Charlie asks Papa Jo what his hourglass is for, she doesn’t really understand his answer. To teach Charlie the importance of taking her time and savoring her day, the pair spend their day at a leisurely pace, transforming every ordinary day into a wonderful time. In  The Sun Never Hurries, Lucie Crovatto’s rich and tender illustrations transport readers to a cozy day cooking and exploring the outdoors. Roxane Turcotte’s writing showcases the special bond between a grandparent and a grandchild.

Lighthouse and the Little Boat written by Katie Frawley, illustrated by Ben Mantle. A sweet, tender, and touching tale about a wise lighthouse guiding a young boat through the turbulent waters of life. A lighthouse stands by the sea and keeps everything in her sight safe and sound. When a little boat named Brightness appears in her harbor, Lighthouse offers to watch out for her. But, as Brightness becomes more confident, she goes out farther than Lighthouse can see. When a big storm hits, will the Lighthouse be able to protect Brightness? Perfect for both young readers and adults!

written by Amy and Grace Webb and illustrated by Merrilee Liddiard. Emma is going to her first summer camp, and she is so excited! Camp Waterfall is an accessible camp, which means that Emma, Charley, and a host of new friends with different abilities can all participate, with nobody feeling left out or getting left behind. But will Emma really be ready to meet all the challenges and new experiences of camp?

Cesaria Feels the Beat written by Denise Rosario Adusei and illustrated by Priscila Soares. In this powerful and inspiring picture book, a deaf girl stands up for herself and takes off her shoes while dancing at her Carnival performance so she can feel the music through her bare feet. But when her dance director tells her she must put on her shoes to go on stage, Cesaria signs, “Peacocks don’t wear shoes!” You see, Cesaria hears the music through the soles of her feet, but no one seems to understand…That is, until all the dancers take off their shoes, and learn to feel the music, just like Cesaria. Cesaria Feels the Beat is a lyrical and heartfelt story about deafness, community, and Carnival.

Birth of the Bicycle: A Bumpy History of the Bicycle in America written by Sarah Nelson and illustrated by Iacopo Bruno. From the pedal-less, brakeless wooden velocipedes of the 1800s to the sleek racing machines of today, from a luxury for the wealthy to a lifeline for the working class, the bicycle’s journey is a study in invention, innovation, and ingenuity. Sarah Nelson’s affectionate and poetic tribute covers almost a century of the two-wheeler’s development, while Iacopo Bruno’s bold, bright artwork illuminates this marvel of engineering.

Sobremesa: Tasty Mexican Recipes for Every Day by Susana Villasuso is a fresh, delicious introduction to Mexican cuisine. Villasuso was inspired by her definition of “sobremesa”, or “over (or upon) the table”, the idea of taking time to linger over and enjoy a meal, from the process of prepping and cooking ingredients to the precious moments of sharing drinks and conversation with family and friends after a meal is over. This cookbook offers delicious options for any season and occasion–like adobo verde roasted cauliflower tacos or haddock and chipotle tostadas–but many of the meals are perfect for making the most of late summer meals, from pico de gallo with heirloom tomatoes to roasted pineapple paletas with a dash of mezcal. (Cookbook)

by Charan Ranganath explores new science behind how our memory works. Neuroscientist and psychologist Ranganath offers a fresh perspective on a function of the brain that we still don’t completely understand and explores recent theories on how memories develop, positing that our memories are constantly reworking our experiences. Our memories are also somewhat programmable, meaning that we can create “false” memories through the power of suggestion, but, on the plus side, we can also trick ourselves into remembering where we put our keys by connecting their image to something else. A fascinating look at the current science of the mind. (Non-Fiction)

by Judith Butler is a follow-up to the academic’s groundbreaking book Gender Trouble, which redefined the popular understanding of gender and sexuality. Now, Butler returns to look at the impact that the “anti-gender ideology movement” and attacks on gender ideology have on society, from reproductive justice to bodily autonomy, and queer and trans rights. (Non-Fiction)

by Claire Messud is a multigenerational family story that spans from the 1940s to the 2010s and is inspired by the author’s own family history. It follows the Cassar family, French Algerians who were expelled from the country when Algeria won its independence from France in 1962. The book begins in 1940 when the Nazis occupy France and Gaston Cassar, serving as a naval attaché to the French embassy in Greece, must choose whether to heed Charles de Gaulle’s call to arms or to return with his family home, to French Algeria. The decision he makes will haunt his family history down through the decades, as does the legacy of colonialism, as various members of the Cassar family try to find a sense of home.

by Ruth Ware is the latest thriller from the author of The Woman in Cabin 10 and The It Girl. This time, Ware builds suspense by depicting a grueling reality TV show that sounds like “Love Island” meets “Survivor”. Lyla Santiago joins the show with her boyfriend Nico because he’s sure it will help his acting career, despite the fact that it means putting her career and months of research on hold. Nevertheless, Nico and Lyla arrive on a gorgeous island in the Indian Ocean to compete on the show “One Perfect Couple”, which pits ten strangers against each other for survival–the last couple standing wins. However, when the first challenge doesn’t go as planned and a storm isolates them from their crew, the mainland, and mobile phones, the show takes a dark, sinister turn. Soon it’s not about who will win, but who will make it off the island alive.

by Sujata Massey is a historical mystery set in 1920s India. Perveen Mistry has the rare distinction of being a female solicitor in colonial Bombay and when she volunteers to defend a servant accused of trumped-up charges, the case unveils a complex web of corruption and murder that leads back to the misappropriation of charitable funds at a women’s hospital. Massey writes a compelling, layered mystery that explores the lack of equality and corruption under the British Raj and fills in the setting of her story with deep historical context.

by Lucy Foley is the latest summer thriller from the author of The Guest List. Like its predecessor, The Midnight Feast exposes dark forces working beneath the glittering facade of a glossy, expensive event. It’s the summer solstice party and opening night for The Manor, a historic estate turned exclusive retreat in the English countryside run by Francesca Meadows, an irritatingly perfect social media influencer who used to spend summers in the village. As wealthy guests from London dressed in expensive linen sip artisanal cocktails amidst the trees, resentment simmers among locals who feel that the retreat is taking over land that has, for centuries, belonged to the village. And then there are hints of something darker, perhaps even supernatural, lurking in the trees. Are they just superstitions? Or have Francesca and her monied ilk really angered forces beyond their control?

by Colm Tóibín is the sequel to his acclaimed 2009 novel Brooklyn, which chronicles a young woman in the 1950s torn between her old home in Ireland and the prospect of making a new one in America. Long Island picks up with Eilis 20 years later, in 1976, a mother of two teenagers living in the suburbia of the title, at the moment when her life is shattered. A strange man appears claiming that Eilis’s husband, Tony, has impregnated his wife and demands that Eilis take the baby. Caught between Tony’s family, who never really accepted her, and memories of her past, Eilis decides to return once again to Ireland, the homeland she hasn’t seen in more than two decades.

Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan, author of Crazy Rich Asians, is another witty, escapist romance that looks at the lives of the uber-wealthy. Rufus Leung Gresham is handsome, and clever, but no longer very rich. His family fortune has been squandered by previous generations and now his parents want him to marry for money to replenish the coffers. Will it be the French heiress tied to royalty, the venture capitalist with billions to burn, or the woman he’s always loved, the girl next door? The trouble is, that Eden Tong, Rufus’s longtime crush, isn’t wealthy enough to satisfy his parents’ ambitions. Meanwhile, Rufus’s sister Augusta is set to marry into Scandinavian royalty –until a volcano eruption derails the wedding and a family secret comes to light.

by John Connolly brings back private investigator Charlie Parker to work on a dark case tinged with supernatural horror. When her two-year-old son, Henry, vanished from his bed in the middle of the night, young mother Colleen Clark was accused of an unthinkable crime: abduction and possible murder. Charlie’s friend, attorney Moxie Castin, is defending Colleen and is one of the only people who believes she might be innocent. As Charlie and Moxie delve deeper into the case, including into an affair Colleen’s husband was having and evidence from a psychic, Henry’s disappearance takes on a different character.

by Kevin Barry is a rollicking Western romance adventure. As the winter of 1891 creeps into a Montana mining town, local poet, drinker, and ne’er-do-well Tom Rourke is beginning to despair about his prospects when the beautiful Polly Gillespie arrives in town and sweeps him off his feet. The problem? She’s set to be the new bride of the rigid, devout mine captain Long Anthony Harrington. As sparks fly between Tom and Polly, they decide to run further west together with nothing but a stolen horse and a violent posse in pursuit. Irish writer Barry offers a fresh, exciting take on a classic genre.

by Steven Rowley picks up five years after the original novel, The Guncle, which introduced Gay Uncle Patrick and his growing relationship with his niece and nephew, Maisie and Grant, after their mother’s death. Now, he’s here to help them with a new challenge: their dad’s destination wedding to a titled Italian woman. Patrick relishes the chance to introduce his charges to Europe, all while dealing with the emotional fallout of breaking up with his younger partner, Emory, and the prospect of turning 50. Fans of Rowley’s lovable characters will enjoy spending more time in their company.

by Olga Tokarczuk is a twisty, dark mystery novel by the Nobel Prize-winning Polish writer. Set deep in the misty Polish mountains, the book centers on Janina, an astrologer, an enthusiast of the poet William Blake, and something of a loner who generally prefers animals to people. When her neighbors–all highly regarded members of the local community and also all avid hunters–start turning up dead one after another, it starts to look as if the animals themselves are turning against their human predators. As the death toll mounts, Janina throws herself into the investigation, but will anyone take her and her discoveries seriously?

by Holly Jackson. Eighteen-year-old Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her mom’s mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished and young Bel was the only witness, but she has no memory of it. Rachel is gone, long presumed dead, and Bel wishes everyone would just move on. But the case is dredged up from the past when the Price family agrees to a true crime documentary. Bel can’t wait for filming to end, for life to go back to normal. And then the impossible happens. Rachel Price reappears, and life will never be normal again. Rachel has an unbelievable story about what happened to her. Unbelievable, because Bel isn’t sure it’s real. If Rachel is lying, then where has she been all this time? And—could she be dangerous? With the cameras still rolling, Bel must uncover the truth about her mother, and find out why Rachel Price really came back from the dead . .

It Waits in the Forest by Sarah Dass. Unlike the other residents of the small Caribbean Island of St. Virgil, Selina DaSilva does not believe in magic. With a logical mind and a knack for botany, Selina used to dream of leaving the island to study Pharmacology–until a vicious, unsolved attack left her father dead and her mother in a coma. Now her guilt over her mother’s condition keeps her tethered to the island, relegated to conning gullible tourists with useless talismans and phony protection rituals. But when one of those tourists ends up at the center of a string of strange murders, the truth that Selina has been denying can no longer be avoided: there is evil lurking in the forests that surround St. Virgil. Another thing that can’t be avoided? Selina’s ex-boyfriend Gabriel, newly employed at the local newspaper and eager to put his investigative skills to use. Desperate to put an end to the killings and claim justice for Selina’s family, these two former lovers race to find answers. But evil bides its time. And as long-buried feelings and long-hidden secrets about Selina’s family’s past begin to reveal themselves, only one answer remains–and it waits in the forest.

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala. Mars has always been the lesser twin, the shadow to his sister Caroline’s radiance. But when Caroline dies under horrific circumstances, Mars is propelled to learn all he can about his once-inseparable sister who’d grown tragically distant. Mars’s genderfluidity means he’s often excluded from the traditions–and expectations–of his politically connected family. This includes attendance at the prestigious Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy where his sister poured so much of her time. But with his grief still fresh, he insists on attending in her place. What Mars finds is a bucolic fairytale not meant for him. Folksy charm and sun-drenched festivities camouflage old-fashioned gender roles and a toxic preparatory rigor. Mars seeks out his sister’s old friends: a group of girls dubbed the Honeys, named for the beehives they maintain behind their cabin. They are beautiful and terrifying–and Mars is certain they’re connected to Caroline’s death. But the longer he stays at Aspen, the more the sweet mountain breezes give way to hints of decay. Mars’s memories begin to falter, bleached beneath the relentless summer sun. Something is hunting him in broad daylight, toying with his mind. If Mars can’t find it soon, it will eat him alive.

by Sabaa Tahir. Salahudin and Noor are more than best friends; they are family. Growing up as outcasts in the small desert town of Juniper, California, they understand each other the way no one else does. Until The Fight, which destroys their bond with the swift fury of a star exploding. Now, Sal scrambles to run the family motel as his mother Misbah’s health fails and his grieving father loses himself to alcoholism. Noor, meanwhile, walks a harrowing tightrope: working at her wrathful uncle’s liquor store while hiding the fact that she’s applying to college so she can escape him–and Juniper–forever. When Sal’s attempts to save the motel spiral out of control, he and Noor must ask themselves what friendship is worth–and what it takes to defeat the monsters in their pasts and the ones in their midst.

by Elaine Dimopoulos. After their remarkable rescue, the meadow creatures are back–now closer than ever and with beloved rabbit Butternut still captivating them all with her storytelling. But when a dazzling group of traveling turkeys shows up and persuades the meadow creatures to join them in putting on a performance, Butternut is not sure she can find her place in all the excitement. She questions her storytelling abilities compared to this new crew. When it turns out the turkeys–and the grand show–are not what they seem, Butternut’s family and friends are suddenly in imminent danger. Butternut must figure out how to trust herself and find help. In the end, the hope is that friendship will win once more. Beautiful and arresting black-and-white illustrations bring the animals to life in this nail-biting and heartwarming story about trust: trusting our instincts, trusting our creative talents, and trusting those who know and love us, even when it’s hard.

by Dan Gutman. In Central Park, New York, stands Cleopatra’s Needle. But what do you know about it? Did you know that thousands of people worked in 1461 BCE to build it? Then hundreds more moved it, and erected it in Alexandria, where it stood for 3,000 years? So how did a monolith weighing over 200 tons get moved all the way to New York City–and in the 19th Century, no less? In this historical fiction account by bestselling author Dan Gutman, five kids who watched the Needle at each phase of its history recount the daring story of how something that seemed to be impossible–and that nearly ended in disaster–finally succeeded against all odds. Including photos, diagrams, and illustrations, this book will leave history lovers and fans of problem-solving astounded at all that was accomplished

by Naila Moreira. Sammie, a budding naturalist, knows of a secret and wonderful place: Winghaven, an abandoned lot in the middle of the suburbs where wildlife flourishes. She spends hours making notes and drawings in her meticulous field journal. When Bram, a new boy, turns up with his camera, Sammie worries he’ll give away her hidden haven–after all, the other boys at school bully her. But Bram is a scientist like Sammie, and together they observe tiny pond creatures, a pileated woodpecker with a red crest like a pirate’s bandana, and thriving monarch butterflies whose habitats are becoming scarce. When Sammie and Bram discover bright flagging tape encircling the trees, they learn Winghaven is in danger from a local developer–and it’s going to take courage, spirit, and science to save it. This beautifully written story, full of details about the natural world, includes Sammie’s field illustrations as well as real-life notes on keeping a nature journal, studying monarchs, and bird-watching.

by Ashley Granillo. Cruzita is going to be a pop star. All she has to do is win a singing contest at her favorite theme park and get famous. But she can’t go to the theme park this summer. Instead, she has to help out at her family’s bakery, which has been struggling ever since Tío Chuy died. Cruzita’s great-uncle poured his heart into the bakery–the family legacy–and now that he’s gone, nothing is the same. When Cruzita’s not rolling uneven tortillas or trying to salvage rock-hard conchas, she has to take mariachi lessons, even though she doesn’t know how to play her great-grandpa’s violin and she’s not fluent in Spanish. At first, she’s convinced her whole summer will be a disaster. But as she discovers the heart and soul of mariachi music, she realizes that there’s more than one way to be a star–and more than one way to carry on a legacy.

by Lisa Fipps. Joe Oak is used to living on unsteady ground. His mom can’t be depended on as she never stays around long once she gets “the itch,” and now he and his beloved grandmother find themselves without a home. Fortunately, Joe has an outlet in his journals and drawings and takes comfort from the lessons of comic books–superheroes have a lot of “and then, boom” moments, where everything threatens to go bust but somehow they land on their feet. And that seems to happen a lot to Joe too, as in this crisis his friend Nick helps them find a home in his trailer park. But things fall apart again when Joe is suddenly left to fend for himself. He’s never felt so alone–until an emaciated little dog and her two tiny pups cross his path. And fate has even more in store for Joe because an actual tornado is about to hit home–and just when it seems all is lost, his life turns in a direction that he never could have predicted.

adapted by Shiro Amano, is a manga series based on the Kingdom Hearts action role-playing game. Like the game, the series mixes classic Disney characters with another richly imagined fictional universe. The series begins when a young boy named Sora survives a storm that decimates his island home and sets him adrift. As he sets out in search of his friends, Riku and Kairi, Sora encounters adventurers from Disney Castle, Wizard Donald and Captain Goofy, who are in search of their lost king, Mickey. A perfect series for Disney lovers!

is an engaging board book that goes along with the classic children’s song, with cute images of the famous spider. But it also includes an attached “little book” focused on opposites that the song highlights: up/down, in/out, sun/moon, etc. It helps to reinforce the concepts and is perfect for little hands to flip through while listening to the story!

written by Hannah Pang and illustrated by Isobel Lundie is a gorgeous interactive book that welcomes close and careful inspection.Habitats show different ecosystems found around the world–from rainforests to deserts to mountains–and offer detailed illustrations and descriptions of the animals that inhabit them. Each page is divided into flaps that represent distinct layers of the habitat and, when lifted, show the masses of life that teem in these spaces.

written by Emma and Susan Straub and illustrated by Jessica Love, is an ode to a grandchild’s days with grandma. “Gaga” is a glamorous, fun-spirited grandmother who loves to break the rules or make up her own “mistakes”. They walk backward all the way to the park, fill the tub with bubbles, make sure to eat all the marshmallow “goblins” in the house, and read bedtime stories upside down. Written by Emma Straub, author of Very Good Hats with her own mother, Susan Straub, and gorgeously illustrated by Jessica Love, this book is a perfect multigenerational read.

A Friend for Eddy by Ann Kim Ha mixes humor and suspense to tell the tale of an unlikely friendship. Eddy is a goldfish living alone in a fishbowl and, while he’s very good at entertaining himself by chasing his tail, sometimes life gets lonely. Then, when he spots two new yellow fish outside the bowl, he’s overjoyed: two new friends! In an attempt to say hello, Eddy takes a big risk and jumps out of his bowl–only to discover that his new friends are not actually fish but the two yellow eyes of a cat! What happens next will surprise and delight readers.

Brave Baby Hummingbird, written by Sy Montgomery and illustrated by Tiffany Bozic is a beautiful, informative book about one of the most remarkable types of birds. Narrated from the point of view of a young hummingbird, the book follows the journey of the bird from the nest to the wider world. Packed with gorgeous, lifelike illustrations, the book also contains fascinating facts about these birds, like the fact that they can fly backward or even upside down! 

Knife by Salman Rushdie is a long-awaited, unsparing memoir that recounts the brutal attack Rushdie suffered in August 2022 that nearly killed him. Rushdie describes the event and its immediate aftermath as displaying both “the worst and best of human nature”. His assailant stabbed him in the midst of a conference in which he was speaking, with cruel irony, about the importance of keeping writers safe. But it was also the other members of the audience who rushed into action in the moment that saved him. Now, having lost the use of an eye and a hand but having survived, Rushdie offers his perspective on endurance, censorship, gratitude, and the ability of art to counter hate.

I Heard Her Call My Name by Lucy Sante is a memoir about a writer’s gender-affirming transition at the age of 66. The book is a kind of dual biography, describing her process of transitioning and also chronicling the story of “Luc”, the persona that Sante lived in for much of her life. Sante recounts the gender dysphoria she experience from her early life as the child of conservative Belgian parents to her years living amongst the thrilling artistic scene of the 1970s in New York City. Here, Lucy befriended other creative souls whose names are indelibly linked with that time and place: artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, and writer Elizabeth Hardwick, among others. Yet, even in the midst of an artistic awakening among her peers and an introduction to the rich queer scene in the city, Lucy still felt that she couldn’t embrace her true identity then. She writes movingly about finally coming to terms with and expressing what she describes as  “the consuming furnace at the center of my life.”

This American Ex-Wife by Lyz Lenz is both a memoir of the author’s own divorce and a social and political history of divorce itself and its particular place in American society at the moment. As Lenz charts her own personal journey from a strict evangelical household through her difficult marriage to the hard-won liberation she felt through getting her divorce. In the midst, she writes a fiery manifesto about the way traditional gender roles are still baked into marriage and the toll that takes on women financially, emotionally, and professionally.

You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue is a wildly original novel that mixes gritty realistic details with alternate history, satire, and farce. Enrigue’s novel reimagines the conquest of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán in 1519 by Spanish conquistadors, focusing on the individuals in the midst of this brutal clash of empires. One on side, there’s the enigmatic Aztec princess Atotoxli, consort to the emperor Moctezuma, who is himself mercurial and reliant on psychedelics. On the other, there’s Jazmín Caldera, one of the nine Spanish captains accompanying Hernan Cortes into the city, who is overawed and slightly suspicious of their grand welcome into the New World. A fascinating take on a critical moment in history.

The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger is a thriller that imagines prosperity gone awry. Chad and Rosie are struggling to make ends meet living in New York City when they receive what seems to be an amazingly lucky break: Chad’s wealthy uncle has left them his luxury apartment in a glamorous prewar building. But as soon as they move in, they realize that life at the Windermere, for all its “old New York charm”, has some troubling elements. The doorman never seems to leave, there are cameras installed everywhere, and, as Rosie begins to investigate, the building’s history contains a disturbing amount of violent crimes.

Holmes Marple & Poe by James Patterson and Brian Sitts introduces three new detectives, Brandon Holmes, Auguste Poe, and Margaret Marple, with a tongue-in-cheek nod to the classic mystery genre. All three detectives are set up to subvert expectations and solve a variety of crimes as they open a Brooklyn office together and immediately crack a case that brings them both acclaim and perhaps unwelcome attention from the police. As new crimes come to their door–an art theft, fraud, kidnapping–each detective makes use of their distinctive skills.

Funny Story by Emily Henry is a cozy romantic comedy that’s perfect to pack in a tote bag and read outside in the spring sunshine. Children’s librarian Daphne just uprooted her life to move with her perfect fiancé, Peter, to his gorgeous lakeside hometown of Waning Bay, Michigan. The only problem? As soon as they moved, Peter immediately dumped her for Petra, his beautiful girl-next-door childhood best friend. And now the only person that introverted Daphne knows in town is Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak. When they move in together, what starts out as the world’s most awkward roommate situation turns friendlier when the two decide to hatch a plan to make their respective exes jealous by pretending to fall in love.

The Extinction of Irena Rey by Jennifer Croft is a quirky, captivating debut novel. It’s 2017, and Argentinian translator Emi has been invited, along with seven other translators from all over the world, to the home of Irena Rey, a renowned author who lives deep in the middle of a primeval Polish forest. When the translators arrive at Irena’s house, the writer mysteriously disappears, leaving behind her chaos, questions and clues that she may have been deceiving her public. The translators, who Emi sometimes refers to as a collective consciousness of “we”, try to solve the riddle of Irena’s disappearance while still working to translate her magnum opus. Croft, who herself has translated the Polish Nobel Laureate Olga Tokarczuk’s work, weaves a fascinating fable about the relationship between translator and author.

Everyone on This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson cleverly plays with the tropes of a classic whodunit, as the title suggests. Writer Ernest Cunningham has been invited to the 50th Australian Mystery Writers’ Festival, which means joining five other (much more famous) crime writers aboard a luxury train through the Australian desert. When one of the writers turns up dead, naturally everyone else – including Cunningham – is a potential suspect. But each writer can also use their crime writing skills to crack the case. So, who can you trust?

Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford is a mixture of noirish historical and speculative fiction that imagines an alternate history of the United States in which indigenous populations, rather than being decimated by disease and colonization, had thrived and built their own states. In Spufford’s novel, the year is 1922 and the setting is Cahokia – which takes its name from a real-life ancient indigenous city – the cultural center of a Native-led U.S. state where different racial and cultural enclaves thrive side by side in a kind of uneasy harmony. When a white man is murdered, racial tensions boiling below the surface of the city explode. Joe Barrow, the mixed-race police detective in the vein of a hard-boiled, Raymond Chandler-inspired sleuth, takes on the case and serves as a compelling moral center of this rich, complex novel.

Rebel Skies by Ann Sei Lin is a fantasy novel set in a world of floating cities and flying ships. Kurara is a servant on one of those ships, the Midori when she discovers that what she thought was her secret talent – making paper figures come to life just using her fingers–is actually a prized and somewhat feared skill in the Mikoshima empire. When the Midori is attacked and her secret discovered, Kurara embarks on a new life and mission joining a new skyship to hunt the shikigami, wild paper spirits that are coveted by the Imperial Princess for reasons that remain mysterious. But, as Kurara embraces her new life, she’s troubled by the ethics of hunting paper spirits that might have souls and minds of their own and begins to wonder if she herself might be in danger. (Young Adult Books)

The Prisoner’s Throne by Holly Black is the exciting sequel to The Stolen Heir that picks up with the perspective of Prince Oak, imprisoned by the woman he once loved. In order to survive under Queen Wren’s thumb, he has to seduce, manipulate, and regain her trust. But will doing so test his loyalty to the kingdom of Elfhame? Or will he have to destroy his former love? As a fierce battle for the future of Elfhame looms, Prince Oak’s choices will have dire consequences for some, while securing victory for others. (Young Adult Books)

by Ann Liang shows what happens when a perfect student’s facade slips. Sadie Wen feels like she has to maintain her role as an ideal student: academically perfect, universally liked, and “a pleasure to have in class”. She only lets out her “real” personality and opinions in the emails she drafts but never sends – until inevitably, one day, they get sent by accident. Most of her schoolmates are shocked by finding out Sadie’s true bluntness and real opinions, but the one person who actually appreciates the honest, unvarnished Sadie is her longtime academic nemesis, Julius. A very satisfying enemies-to-lovers romance that pairs well with To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and a lot of Taylor Swift songs. (Young Adult Books)

by Erin Hahn is a slow-burn romance set in the ranch country on the Texas panhandle between two very different teens with shared passions. Case Michaels is shaken by the sudden death of his best friend, Walker, and his behavior is quickly turning self-destructive. Meanwhile, Winnie Sutton, a talented rodeo rider, has put aside her dreams to work on Case’s family ranch to help support her family. When the two of them cross paths working in the stables, they confront their differences in privilege, but also realize how much they share in common: grief over Walker, for one thing, and goals they’re too afraid to pursue. A bittersweet, emotional romance. (Young Adult Books)

by Erin Entrada Kelly is a time travel adventure that also asks bold questions about how much we should know about the future. In 1999 Michael Rosario is turning 12 years old, obsessing about the Y2K crisis that’s supposed to be coming, and pining after his 15-year-old babysitter, Gibby. But when a mysterious teenager named Ridge shows up on Michael’s birthday, Michael soon has more pressing concerns. Ridge is from the future, having time-traveled from the year 2199 through a new and highly controversial new technology, and Michael wants to know secrets from the future. But Ridge is concerned with whether or not he can get home–and is also thrilled to discover things like shopping malls.

Ferris by Kate DiCamillo is a tender coming-of-age story from DiCamillo, author of Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux. Ferris–also known as Emma–got her unusual nickname from her unusual birthplace, under the ferris wheel at a fairground, and the book takes place in her summer vacation between fourth and fifth grade. The story centers around Ferris’s lovably eccentric family, from her grandmother who claims to have discovered an unfriendly ghost in their house to her little sister, who has developed the habit of yelling, “Out of my way, fools!” and is plotting a life of crime. DiCamillo’s writing draws readers into each of these endearing and real-seeming characters’ lives to depict a memorable summer for Ferris.

Hilo: Rise of the Cat by Judd Winick follows the antics of Hilo’s favorite feline friend, Polly. Polly is a talented warrior cat, the youngest student ever to be named sorcerer, but her hijinks with Hilo have landed her in trouble! She’s now been sent to Wombatton, the boarding school for troublemakers. But when she arrives there, she finds mysterious things happening–everyone picks on her roommate for some reason, and, even worse, students are disappearing. It’s up to Polly and her old pal Hilo to figure it out! (Graphic Novels)

by Maurice Sendak is a previously unpublished book by the late, great children’s author. Its format is simple and full of Sendak’s signature sense of humor, as his distinctive artwork depicts a child dressed up in a top hat and tales, performing a magic show that goes slightly awry. Readers are encouraged to count as the boy magician produces rabbit after rabbit from the hat, eventually getting overwhelmed by rabbits!