Category Archives: Rowayton Recommends

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!

written by Dave Eggers, and illustrated by Mark Hoffman. Whale songs are famously mysterious and soothing to listen to, but Soren, a young humpback whale, finds the traditional songs of his fellow whales too boring. Soren has all kinds of ideas about new songs that he wants to sing and he works hard to practice them, even if other whales, like his best friend Hans, don’t quite appreciate them yet. Beautiful illustrations of the underwater world of the whales add to the story’s theme of creative enthusiasm and experimentation.

Hornbeam All In by Cynthia Rylant and Arthur Howard combines a series of stories about Hornbeam, a goofy, cuddly moose who loves potato salad and puzzles! In this collection of stories, Hornbeam shares different activities with friends, like going on a picnic, having a sleepover (where Hornbeam’s friends discover that he snores very loud!), and facing his fears of the pool to learn how to swim. Hornbeam’s adventures and misadventures will charm readers of all ages.

by Rachel Burke and Daniel Gray-Barnett is a cute, funny story that might just change readers’ minds about cockroaches! The book shows one cockroach who lives underneath an artist’s table and loves to use the scraps that fall down from it to make arts and crafts. Soon he starts decorating himself with colors and sparkles and soon branches out to paintings of his own! The other bugs warn him that standing out might get him squashed like other bugs, but Craft Roach thinks that people might like bugs better if they sparkle!

written by Natasha Tripplett, and illustrated by Monica Mikai. In this sweet story set in Jamaica, our young narrator describes how she loves to help her grandfather, who lovingly calls her Ju-Girl,  work in his garage. She also loves to hear him tell stories about his old blue pickup truck, which he used to drive all over the island but has been sitting in the driveway for years. When Ju-Girl suggests that he fix it so that it can run again, the two embark on a shared project that shares memories and delights them both.

Hot Sheet: Sweet and Savory Sheet Pan Recipes for Every Day and Celebrations by Olga Massov and Sanaë Lemoine. If you’ve been using your sheet pan just for cookies and or one-off meat-and-vegetable meals, Hot Sheet offers dozens of recipes to get more use out of it. Massov and Lemoine offer ideas for easy weeknight meals, showstoppers for entertaining, and desserts, like oven ratatouille with eggs, coconut fish en papillote with cherry tomatoes, or strawberry snacking sheet cake.  (Cookbooks)

Normal Women: 900 Years of Making History by Phillippa Gregory takes a look at 900 years of British history through the lens of oft-overlooked women. Like her historical novels, Gregory’s foray into nonfiction is packed with fascinating and well-researched details. Prepare to be both enraged and fascinated by details like the fact that Charles Darwin believed women were both naturally inferior to men and evolving backwards, or that the Bayeaux tapestry, a work of astonishing historical and artistic significance, contains more depictions of male genitalia than it does of women at all. Gregory’s book tells the story of ordinary women whose role in history–whether leading a peasant’s revolt in 1381 or flying a Spitfire in World War II–deserves a second look. (Non-Fiction)

by Kristin Hannah follows a young woman’s physical and emotional journey as a nurse in the Vietnam War. In 1965, Frances “Frankie” McGrath leaves her sheltered upbringing among conservative parents in California to follow her brother to war. In the Army Nursing Corps, she hopes to make a difference in a world that is rapidly changing around her. Frankie’s experiences of the war are unlike anything she could have imagined, but for her and many other veterans, returning home to the United States only brings more challenges.

by C.J. Box. Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett has two new problems on his hands: a rampaging grizzly bear and a man, recently released from prison, who is bent on revenge. Dallas Cates leaves prison with a list tattooed on his arm of six people believes are responsible for the deaths of his family and the loss of his property. Unfortunately, Pickett, who helped put Cates away, is on that list. As Cates begins his deadly campaign of retribution, using the grizzly attacks as cover, Pickett has to stop him–and the bear–before it’s too late.

A Sign of Her Own by Sarah Marsh is a debut novel that takes a fresh look at the legacy of Alexander Graham Bell. In the spring of 1876, Ellen Lark, a young woman on the cusp of getting married, receives a visit from her former teacher, Alexander Graham Bell. Ellen is deaf and, as a child, was taught a method of “visible speech” developed by Bell’s father that discouraged using sign language, often forcibly. When Bell reappears in her life to ask for her support in a patent dispute over his new invention, the telephone, Ellen is torn. Should she speak honestly about Bell’s betrayal of deaf students like her, even if it means putting her impending marriage and her future at risk? Marsh, who is deaf, brings Ellen’s perspective to life vividly and shows how Bell’s obsession with visible speech robbed many of his deaf pupils of the richness and variety of communicating with a fluent, adaptable language.

by Tan Twan Eng is an absorbing historical novel. It’s based on real-life writer W. Somerset Maugham and the events that inspired one of his short stories, “The Letter”, a murky tale of illicit affairs and murder. In 1921 in a British colonial outpost in Malaysia, Maugham is broke, in failing health, and escaping from a marriage of convenience back in London. Traveling with his secretary and lover, Gerald Haxton, Maugham is reluctantly welcomed for a relaxing vacation at the waterfront home of a fellow British couple, Robert and Lesley Hamlyn. At first Lesley finds Maugham’s vulgar, but the two grow closer and Maugham finds that Leslie, too, is trapped in a marriage and probes her for more information when he finds she had a past romantic connection with the Chinese revolutionary Dr. Sun Yat Sen. Eng weaves together the different layers of this story into a compelling novel about secrets, betrayal, and the rot of colonialism.

The Guest by B.A. Paris is a domestic thriller about what happens when a close friendship begins to get, well, too close. Iris and Gabriel return from vacation to find their friend, Laure, staying in their house–a surprise, for sure, but then Laure has recently left her husband, Pierre, after he revealed an affair and a secret child. Gabriel and Iris want to support Laure while she’s going through an emotional separation, but her behavior becomes increasingly odd, wearing Iris’s clothes, rearranging furniture, even sleeping in the couple’s bed. As their relationship with Laure becomes increasingly weird, Iris and Gabriel befriend a new couple next door, but are they really what they seem? Or could they–and their mysterious gardener–be hiding something?

by Tessa Bailey is a steamy sports-related rom com that pairs a talented but struggling golfer with his biggest fan. Wells Whitaker’s once-promising career has hit a slump and everyone has started to give up on him, except for the redhead who keeps showing up to cheer for him when he plays, even when he’s off his game. Josephine Doyle still believes in Wells’s abilities–and finds him super hot–but when he calls it quits, she begins to question her fandom. But Wells surprises her with an offer for her to become his new caddie and help him turn his game around, an offer that coincides with some big changes in both Josephine’s personal and professional life. It’s a gamble for both of them, but they decide to give it a try. Will the risk pay off? Or will their growing personal relationship get in the way? Author Tessa Bailey was a featured speaker at a virtual event the library hosted back in February–you can watch her talk about Fangirl Down and her writing process here: https://libraryc.org/rowayton/38751

Death of a Spy by M.C. Beaton brings international intrigue and espionage to the sleepy village of Lochdubh in the Scottish Highlands. Sergeant Hamish Macbeth is dealing with the typical flurry of incidents that come with the tourist season: petty thefts, lost pets, and traffic accidents. But Macbeth has much more on his plate than usual, not least the presence of an American agent James Bland, who is visiting Scotland from Chicago, ostensibly as part of an exchange program to learn Scottish policing methods. But, as Macbeth is aware, Bland’s purpose in Scotland is actually to track down remaining members of a Russian spy ring that Macbeth himself was involved in uncovering. When a string of unusual thefts in Lochdubh is linked with a perpetrator nicknamed Spiderman, Macbeth realizes he and Bland may be dealing with something much bigger.

The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James is a magical realist novel that asks intriguing questions about the role of the past in the present. Antonio Sonoro, an outlaw known in Dorado, Mexico as El Tragabalas, comes from a long line of bad men. When a train robbery that Antonio is trying to pull off with his brother Hugo goes awry and Hugo is killed by Texas Rangers, Antonio begins a quest for revenge that will only add to his notoriety. In 1964, Antonio’s grandson, Jaime, has achieved massive success as one of Mexico’s most famous popular movie stars, playing a singing cowboy. But when a book surfaces that claims to uncover sordid details about the crimes of Jaime’s ancestors just as a mysterious stranger calling himself Remedio appears in Jaimie’s life, he’s forced to ask questions about his ancestors and their past deeds.

Famous Finds and Finders: Searching for the Past by Tom Velcovsky, Štěpánka Sekaninová, and Adam Wolf is an introduction to archaeology that also challenges young readers to think about who writes history. The book introduces some of the most famous and significant finds, like the Titanic, the tomb of Tutankhamun, China’s terra cotta army, and Pompeii, while also discussing both the technology and people who made them possible.  (Nonfiction)

written by Dr. Nick Crumpton, and illustrated by Gavin Scott. Think that dinosaurs are all scaly, mean, and not very smart? You’re in for a surprise as this informative book debunks some common myths about some of the coolest creatures in Earth’s history. It’s also an exciting testament to the way that new and ongoing research can change our perceptions of creatures we only learn about through fossils and bones. (Nonfiction)

by Ben Rothery is a fascinating introduction to the deadliest predators of the animal kingdom! The book categorizes the animals by different methods of catching prey, whether it’s by using powerful jaws and claws, speed, or mimicry. Some of these animals are well-known for their hunting skills, like the saltwater crocodile with its menacing teeth, or the grizzly bear, which can run over 30 miles an hour. Others, however, are more surprising, like the dragonfly. Using its sharp sight and double pairs of wings, the dragonfly catches 95 percent of its intended prey of bees and moths. This book is great for animal enthusiasts of all ages!  (NonFiction)

written by Yumi Hotta and illustrated by Takeshi Obata is a manga series based on the ancient board game Go. When Hikaru Shindo discovers an old, bloodstained Go board in his grandfather’s shed, the 6th grader knows things are about to get weird. His discovery unleashes the ghost of Fujiwara-no-Sai, an ancient Go master from thousands of years ago who has been trapped in the board for centuries. Because Hikaru is the only person who can perceive Sai, Sai joins his consciousness as a distinct entity and together, they become a formidable team. Can they achieve Sai’s long-held goal of achieving a “divine move?”  (Juvenile Graphic Novels and Manga

by Chad Sell brings snowball fights and some magical shenanigans to the neighborhood where cardboard boxes, with some imagination and magic, transform an ordinary block into a realm of new possibilities. During winter break, the kids from across the park want to play with the kids from the Kingdom. There’s just one problem: an evil sorceress who declares that there are rules to this kingdom and not everyone is welcome. When a snow battle breaks out between the two factions, will friendship triumph?  (Juvenile Graphic Novels and Manga)

Wind Riders: Shipwreck in Seal Bay written by Jen Marlin, illustrated by Marta Kissi. After discovering their magical sailboat Wind Rider in a mangrove forest, Max and Sofia have used it to travel across the globe to help other kids solve environmental crises. In the third installment of the Wind Riders’ adventures, Max and Sofia’s enchanted craft transports them to rescue harbor seals from a dangerous oil spill. Each adventure teaches Max and Sofia – and the reader–about a new animal habitat and the human-made dangers it faces, along with biological facts about the animals the pair are rescuing!  (Early Chapter Books)

When Rubin Plays by Gracey Zhang. Rubin loves listening to the music played by the orchestra that visits his small hometown in Bolivia and is inspired to play. But when he gets his very own violin, the sounds that he can make sound very different! Rubin heads into the woods to practice alone and finds an unusual audience accompanying him: cats! As the local cats happily meow along with the violin, Rubin’s discordant playing gradually gets better and better, until he finds his own unique style.

by Greg Pizzoli. Susan the duck is having a terrible day: she lost her favorite marble, her roller skates are too big, and she’s run out of pickles! Is she just having bad luck? Just when she’s feeling blue, her friend Wolf shows up with a present. It seems like Susan’s luck is starting to change…or is it?

Cranky by Phuc Tran and Pete Oswald melds the charm of Grumpy Monkey and Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site. It’s the last day on the construction job and Cranky the crane truck is not in a good mood. And no, he doesn’t want to talk about it. What can his friends Zippy, Wheezy, and Dump Chuck do to cheer him up?

by Mo Willems is a playful exploration of what “big” really means and the relativity of all things. Is a hot air balloon big? A planet? A galaxy? What about a galaxy of galaxies? Willems brings his trademark humor to big existential questions in a way that encourages curiosity and wonder.

Snacking Bakes by Yossy Arefi Instantly satisfy your cravings with a collection of sweet and savory bakes that are delicious and easy to make. Trusted baker Yossy Arefi promises simple recipes that require minimal effort with big rewards. Almost every treat can be made in under one hour, in one bowl, and with no fancy ingredients or equipment—leaving you with less time in the kitchen and more time for snacking! Its approachable, crowd-pleasing style makes it the perfect introduction to baking too, even

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson is a rollicking, riveting tale set in the Cosmere universe–a standalone adventure perfect for fans of The Princess Bride. The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?

Rabbit Hole by Kate Brody. Ten years ago, Theodora “Teddy” Angstrom’s older sister, Angie, went missing. Her case remains unsolved. Now Teddy’s father, Mark, has killed himself. Unbeknownst to Mark’s family, he had been active in a Reddit community fixated on Angie, and Teddy can’t help but fall down the same rabbit hole. Teddy’s investigation quickly gets her in hot water with her gun-nut boyfriend, her long-lost half brother, and her colleagues at the prestigious high school where she teaches English. Further complicating matters is Teddy’s growing obsession with Mickey, a charming amateur sleuth who is eerily keen on helping her solve the case. Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, My Favorite Murder, and Fleabag. 

The Other Mothers by Katherine Faulkner. In this whip-smart novel that “pulls out all the psychological thriller stops–and then some” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), a young nanny is found dead under mysterious circumstances. New mom, Tash, is intrigued. She has been searching for a story to launch her career as a freelance journalist. But she has also been searching for something else–new friends to help her navigate motherhood. When the mothers welcome her into their circle, she discovers the kind of life she has always dreamt of–their elegant London townhouses a far cry from her cramped basement flat and endless bills. She is quickly swept up into their wealthy world via coffees, cocktails, and playdates. But when another young woman is found dead, it’s clear there’s much more to the tight-knit community than meets the eye. The more Tash investigates, the more she’s led uncomfortably close to the other mothers. Are these women really her friends? Or is there another, more dangerous reason why she has been so quickly accepted into their exclusive world? Who, exactly, is investigating who?

by Hisham Matar. One evening, as a young boy growing up in Benghazi, Khaled hears a bizarre short story read aloud on the radio, about a man being eaten alive by a cat, and has the sense that his life has been changed forever. Obsessed by the power of those words–and by their enigmatic author, Hosam Zowa–Khaled eventually embarks on a journey that will take him far from home, to pursue a life of the mind at the University of Edinburgh.There, thrust into an open society that is miles away from the world he knew in Libya, Khaled begins to change. He attends a protest against the Qaddafi regime in London, only to watch it explode into tragedy. In a flash, Khaled finds himself injured, clinging to life, unable to leave Britain, much less return to the country of his birth. When a chance encounter in a hotel brings Khaled face-to-face with Hosam Zowa, the author of the fateful short story, he is subsumed into the deepest friendship of his life.

House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas is the latest addition to the Maas-iverse and the third book in the Crescent City series. Stranded in a new world, Bryce Quinlan can’t wait to get back to her home, her family and her old life on Midgard. Stranded in a strange new world, she’s going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that’s no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust. Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he’s in the Asteri’s dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce’s fate. He’s desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri’s leash, his hands are quite literally tied. In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt’s world is brought to the brink of collapse-with its future resting on their shoulders.

Front Sight by Stephen Hunter is a series of three linked novellas following the crime-fighting family the Swaggers across three generations. In “City of Meat”, set in 1934, federal agent Charles Swagger takes on the notorious Chicago underworld when a narcotics ring traces its roots back to the Union Stockyards. The second novella, “Johnny Tuesday”, follows up with Charles’s son, Earl, and his search for the suspect in a violent unsolved bank robbery in 1947 in Maryland. The last story, “Five Dolls for the Gut Hook”, takes its inspiration from 1970s Italian slasher films, Bob Lee Swagger, Earl’s son, is tapped as the lead on an investigation into a rash of horrific killings in Arkansas. All three stories are atmospheric and absorbing, great for Stephen Hunter fans and new readers alike.

Come and Get It by Kylie Reid is another clever social commentary about the interplay of power, money, and race from the author of the popular 2019 novel Such a Fun Age. Come and Get It takes a piercing look at academia through the relationship between Agatha Paul, a white 30-something professor at the University of Arkansas and Millie, the 24-year-old Black resident assistant at one of the school’s dorms. Agatha is writing a book about Southern women and contemporary weddings and she uses Millie as a source for her research. The ethics of this agreement become much more questionable when Agatha starts paying Millie, who’s desperately saving up for a house, to eavesdrop on some of her fellow students. As always, Reid’s ear for conversation and social observation is finely tuned and razor sharp.

The Witchfinder’s Serpent by Rande Goodwin melds historical representations of witchcraft with modern fantasy. After losing their father, teen brothers Nate and Marc Watson move from New York City to stay with their Aunt Celia in Windsor, Connecticut. It’s not long before they realize she’s keeping dark secrets from them, secrets that may involve a locked room filled with books on demonology and materials connecting the Watson family to centuries-old witch trials. When Nate and Marc accidentally unleash a trapped evil spirit named Malleus Hodge, they’ll need all the help that history and magic can give them to stand up against the forces of centuries-old evil.

Sky’s End by Marc J. Gregson is an action-packed sci-fi adventure that blends a Hunger Games-style dystopian universe with hints of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.Sixteen-year-old Conrad was born into the rigid class system on the island of Holmstead as an upper-status High, the son of the Archduke. When his uncle kills his father and usurps his position, Conrad is exiled under the rule of Meritocracy to live as a Low, the very bottom of the social hierarchy. When his ailing mother dies as well, Conrad’s uncle kidnaps his sister, Ella, endangering Conrad’s one surviving relative. To reunite with her, Conrad has to submit to the Selection, the only way that anyone can rise through the ranks of society. He’s chosen as a Hunter, the most dangerous of all the Twelve Trades, and must not only battle his murderous uncle, but also the horrible sky serpents that Hunters are charged with fighting. Plus, there’s mutiny and rebellion afoot in the lower ranks of society, and the combination of political intrigue and fantasy action keeps this series debut full of suspense.

Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce is perfect for fans of the enemies-to-lovers and fake relationship tropes in romance novels. Riley wants to be a Broadway theater director, but her more immediate goal is planning her high school’s spring musical–at least until stealing her mom’s car without permission lands her in trouble. For Riley, spending the hours after schoolworking in her dad’s game shop rather than rehearsing for the school musical seems like punishment. To get out of it, she convinces Nathan, the game shop’s other teen employee, to cover her shifts while she’s at rehearsal. In return, she agrees to flirt with him to make his crush jealous. What starts out as acting becomes more and more real as Riley realizes she enjoys gaming with Nathan and that her fake crush on him might turn out to be real.

The Atlas of Us by Kristin Dwyer is about a teen looking for escape in the wilderness. Atlas James has lost her father to cancer and has fallen into a cycle of grief and bad choices that she’s seeking refuge from when she joins the Bear Creek Community Service program, cleaning up the Sierra Mountain hiking trails in California. It’s both a way for her to honor her father, who loved the mountains, and a fresh start. Plus, fresh starts are what the program specializes in: many of the kids are there as part of a court-ordered program and Atlas, although she volunteered, gets the nickname Maps so that she, like everyone else in the program, can come to the mountains with a blank slate. The volunteer work is physically demanding, and Atlas’s grief is still heavy, but she’s drawn to trail leader King and the camaraderie with her trail mates helps ease her burden.

Why I Adopted My Husband by Yuta Yagi is a heartwarming and thoughtful nonfiction story about a gay couple in Japan who found a unique way to be together. Because same-sex marriage is not yet legal in Japan, the book highlights the challenges that LGBTQ couples face in a country where their relationship can’t be legally recognized. Yuta and Kyota meet, fall in love, and spend twenty years together, but can only be considered “family” if Kyota legally adopts Yuta. The book is a beautiful, profound exploration of love and the fight for recognition and independence in society.

Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama is a gorgeously illustrated manga series about a young girl and her quest to gain magical abilities. Coco is the daughter of a dressmaker and was not born with any magical powers. In a world where dragons, spells and other supernatural wonders are commonplace and magical knowledge is carefully guarded, Coco longs to become a witch. Her goal seems impossible–until she meets Qifrey, an enigmatic magician who performs magic unlike any Coco has encountered before, using ancient runes to cast a spell. When Coco accidentally uses similar means to cast a spell turning her mother to stone, Qifrey suspects that a dark coven of witches may be practicing a more sinister form of magic through Coco. But it also means that Qifrey takes on Coco as his apprentice to help her learn to undo the spell, and her magical adventure begins.

Dinosaur Sanctuary by Itaru Kinoshita. This clever, beautifully detailed series imagines a remote island where dinosaurs never went extinct. Discovered in 1946 and preserved through careful curation and genetic mutation, this forgotten population of dinos became Enoshima Dinoland. Once a thrivingattraction for visitors, the now-struggling park needs all the help it can get. Enter Suma Suzume, a young zookeeper who rises to the challenge of caring for these unique creatures. Dinosaur Sanctuary was created with the input of a paleontologist research consultant, Shin-Ichi Fujiwara, and the dinosaurs in the series are depicted as creatures with different personalities and needs, just like other animals, rather than the monsters we might be familiar with from movies. A must-read for all dinosaur lovers!

Picture Day by Sarah Sax takes a classic middle school nightmare–bad hair on picture day–and turns into a transformative moment for seventh grader Viv. She dreads picture day each year because it’s a reminder that no one will ever notice her or the boring old braid she wears in every school picture. So, this year, Viv decides to take a pair of scissors and live stream cutting her hair during her school picture, a radical act that turns her into an overnight viral superstar at Brinkley Middle School. Now, she has the popularity she’s yearned for – but it comes with more challenges than she expected. A thoughtful, clever take on the classic question of how to be true to yourself.

Never After: The Missing Sword by Melissa de la Cruz is the next in the Never After series, a wonderful fairytale mashup that returns readers to the land of Never After. Filomena’s mother is suffering from a mysterious illness caused by the wicked sorceress Olga and the only thing that can save her from the curse is the legendary sword Excalibur. In order to help her, Fil and her friends must travel to Camelot. Once they get there, Fil’s crew is surprised to find not only the land of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, but the Land of Oz as well! The friends must contend with the Wicked Witches of the East and West as they follow the yellow brick road to complete their adventurous quest in Never After. A fun middle-grade fantasy adventure!

Mindy Kim written by Lyla Lee, illustrated by Dung Ho, is an early chapter book series featuring the adventures of Mindy, a young Asian American girl. Mindy wants to fit in at her new school (and get a puppy) but feels isolated when the seaweed snacks in her lunchbox get a less than enthusiastic reaction from her classmates. Luckily, new friend Sally thinks they’re as delicious as Mindy does and the two decide to start the Yummy Seaweed Business so that Mindy can raise money for her puppy! In another book in the series, the death of Mindy’s beloved haraboji (grandpa) means the whole family will travel to Korea to honor him in the annual autumn Chuseok celebration. (Early Reader and First Chapter Books)

by Ali Bovis, illustrated by Ada Abigael Aco, is an early chapter book series featuring a young baker, Leela Patil, and her best friend Liam Katz. As second graders in New York City, they use their baking skills to make elementary school a little sweeter and learn valuable lessons (like how to clean up after you bake!). In the six books in the series, they brave a snowstorm that threatens to ruin their presentation of food at their school’s International Night, make a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and deal with disappointment when Leela accidentally leaves her prize dessert for Kindness Day on the bus! (Early Reader and First Chapter Books)

written by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Fred Blunt, is a great book for kids who are just beginning to read on their own. As each animal reacts to snow – “Cat cannot row the snow…Dog cannot blow the snow”–the repetition of words, rhyming wordplay, and adorable images will engage new readers and help them sound out each word. (Early Reader and First Chapter Books)

The Voice in the Hollow by Will Hillenbrand is a magical snowy journey that makes for perfect winter reading. When a blizzard closes the library early, Hubert the mouse has to take a shortcut home through a dark and scary hollow. As he tentatively makes his way through, another mouse appears, takes his hand, and offers to guide him through safely. As both mice pass through forests, ravines, and mountains, they see the most mysterious, mythical things that hint about the history of the earth and wondrous workings of nature.

written by Robert Frost, illustrated by Vivian Mineker. In this illustrated picture book presentation of Frost’s famous poem, the words come to life. The cool blues of the winter woods contrast beautifully the colorful faces and memories that Frost’s narrator conjures up in the snowy woods. A gorgeous introduction to a classic poem!

written by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts. Young Lila is a unique child with a curl on her head like a question mark, one that she tames by putting a knot on top of her head. But the questions, worries, and what ifs  aren’t as easy for Lila to tame. The what ifs  don’t get any easier when Lila’s big, bustling family moves to a new place with a new school. But with the help of Mrs. Kern, whose gentle encouragement and listening ear help Lila find ways to get through the fear of her what ifs and discover that sometimes uncertainty brings unexpectedly wonderful things! The ending shows grown-up Lila still using and sharing the lessons of her teacher with a class of her own.

Lawrence & Sophia by Doreen Cronin and Brian Cronin is a sweet story of friendship between a child and bird who stretch outside their comfort zones. Lawrence likes to stay close to his cozy house: he finds being outside big and scary. Sophia, meanwhile, stays up in the branches of her tree: “down there” on the ground is too dangerous! Lawrence and Sophia find inventive ways to play together from their respective safe spots, until a big storm means they have to band together to stay warm and dry.

Kitty & Cat: Bent Out of Shape by Mirka Hokkanen is a delightful book with visual humor and sight gags that reward rereading and looking closely at the pictures! It’s time for Cat’s bath, but Cat, to no one’s surprise, can’t be found anywhere! Or can he? Cat is very clever at squeezing into geometric shapes to hide in, under, or behind household objects like flower vases, toasters, and kites! Readers will have fun joining Cat’s housemates Kitty and Puppy in looking for Cat and learning to identify shapes at the same time.

Bing, Bop, Bam Time to Jam! and Ride, Roll, Run Time for Fun! written by Valerie Bolling, illustrated by Sabrena Khadija. Both of these books celebrate the joy of sound and movement in a wonderful read-aloud experience! Bing, Bop, Bam shows the joy of sharing music with a community and features a wide array of instruments from cultures all over the world, like agogô, banjo, daegeum, djembe drums, double bass, erhu, maracas, piano, steel drums, and trumpet. Ride, Roll, Run shows the fun of all different types of movement as children cement their friendships by playing through a diverse and cohesive neighborhood. Bolling’s upbeat words and Khadija’s colorful images create a vibrant reading experience. And, as an added bonus, come meet author Valerie Bolling at the Rowayton Library on Monday, January 8 at 4 p.m.! 

by Toni Tipton-Martin is a fantastic history of Black contributions to the world of cocktails. From the palm wine-making techniques that the formerly enslaved Olaudah Equiano wrote about in his 1789 narrative to the linguistic roots of the phrase “juke joint”, Tipton-Martin gives important historical context to the recipes she has researched and perfected from hundreds of years of African American culinary tradition. She offers definitive recipes of classics, like the whiskey sour, piña colada, and the Sazerac; holiday favorites like egg nog and coquito also get a special mention. Tipton-Martin also highlights some lesser-known traditional drinks that deserve another try, like claret cup, a wine-forward drink whose recipe dates back to 1914, or new recipes she’s created, like the ginger sunrise, which riffs off a ginger and hot chili-spiked simple syrup from chef Carla Hall and mixes it with fruit juice and rum. (Cookbook)

Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet by Taylor Lorenz is a fascinating social history of the Internet, from an acclaimed Washington Post reporter. Lorenz shows how the Internet has changed social dynamics, created new sectors of the economy, and upended traditional business models; in short, how it profoundly altered our lives. Extremely Online explores all facets of this change and how it came about, from moms with blogs who created the idea of a personal brand to how teens with TikTok accounts rewired the concept of fame. Lorenz talks about both the pitfalls and opportunities presented by the Internet and the idea of being “extremely online” and writes with a serious but entertaining style. (Non-Fiction)

The Book of (More) Delights by Ross Gay is a delightful book of essays from the award-winning poet about finding the joy that we often overlook in our daily lives. In his warm conversational writing style, Gay’s essays focus on subjects like coping with loss or celebrating his love of gardening and the connection it draws with nature. But he also writes about smaller bursts of joy with delightful specificity: the nostalgia of hearing an old favorite song blasting from a neighboring car in traffic, appreciating the cuteness of a passing dog, the communal warmth of sharing figs from a neighbor’s tree, the way his mother takes time to bake dozens of cookies for her grandchildren. It’s easy to take small moments for granted: Gay gives them their rightful attention and significance. (Non-Fiction)

‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas by David Rosenfelt features lawyer Andy Carpenter trying to solve a mystery involving his beloved dog rescue charity. The Tara Foundation is having its annual Christmas party, a party Andy loves because every dog who has ever been through the rescue organization is invited with their families. But this year, the festivities are interrupted by the arrest of Derek Moore, one of the foundation’s best volunteers, for murder. It turns out Derek, whose real name is Bobby, used to be in a gang and is accused of killing someone from his past. But Bobby insists that he’s innocent and that he’s turned his life around and devoted it to fostering dogs. Andy’s reluctant to get involved, especially since he’s got two new foster dogs at home, but his belief in Bobby’s innocence wins out. Can he save his client and find time to relax for the holiday? (Holiday)

The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson is a deliciously twisty holiday-themed mystery novella. In 1989, Ashley Smith, an American art student studying abroad in London, is invited by fellow student Emma Chapman to spend the holidays at Emma’s family estate, Starvewood Hall. At first, Ashley is charmed by the cozily decorated manor with roaring fires, the quaint local village, and the presence of Emma’s handsome brother, Adam. But it turns out that Adam is wanted for questioning by the local police in connection with the death of a teenage girl. And there’s talk of someone unknown stalking the path between the local pub and Starvewood Hall. Slowly Ashley realizes that her perfect holiday getaway might actually be more dangerous than she bargained for.  (Holiday)

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver is a sweet romance that revolves around a quaint gelato shop in Little Italy. In 1985, aspiring musician Vivien makes the hard choice to leave Santo Belotti, the only man she’s ever loved, in New York to pursue her career on the road. Before she leaves, he gives her his family’s secret gelato recipe, a recipe that Vivien shares with her daughter, Iris, along with her nostalgic love for the city where she fell in love. Now, Iris is 34 years old and moving to New York herself to pursue her own career as a chef. When she stumbles upon Santo’s gelato shop, she learns that the business’s future is in jeopardy because Santo’s health is failing, and he no longer remembers the famous recipe. Iris teams up with Gio, Santo’s handsome nephew, to try and save the gelateria, but she has to be careful not to let the past get in the way of the shop’s success, or her growing romance with Gio.

We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian is a historical queer romance set in the fast-paced world of 1940s newspapers, with echoes of a zingy His Girl Friday-style banter. Nick Russo is a kid fresh out of Brooklyn who finally landed a reporter’s job at one of New York City’s major papers, only to find that Andy Fleming, the hapless rich boy son of the newspaper’s publisher, has already scored a plum assignment. Despite his resentment, Nick shows Andy the ropes of newspaper journalism and finds himself falling dangerously in love, in a time when even expressing feelings was forbidden. As their friendship blossoms into romance in secret, Nick and Andy have to fight to keep their love–and wonder what kind of future is possible.

Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri is a masterful collection of short stories from a writer at the top of her craft. Written in Italian and translated into English by the author, the stories capture the city of Rome and the lives of both natives of the city and newcomers who might feel like outsiders. “The Steps” focuses on one public staircase that connects two different neighborhoods and explores the rich lives of the people who traverse it every day. In “The Boundary,” a young girl and her family have moved to the countryside following a racist attack on her immigrant father, and she becomes involved with another vacationing family to assuage her loneliness and hurt. Lahiri’s writing is, as always, lyrical and insightful.

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose is the second novel featuring Molly Gray, the hotel maid-turned-detective featured in Prose’s debut mystery The Maid. Molly is known for her impeccable organization and cleanliness, although she often struggles with social skills and the ability to read cues from other people. In The Mystery Guest, Molly has been promoted to the Head Maid at the five-star Regency Grand Hotel. But, when esteemed crime writer J.D. Grimthorpe drops dead in the hotel tearoom of decidedly unnatural causes, Molly’s life is thrown into chaos–and placed under suspicion–again.

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim is the story of how a close-knit Korean American family is rocked by a sudden disappearance. Narrated by the witty, fast-talking 20-something daughter Mia, the book begins when Mia’s father, Adam, and younger brother Eugene go missing. When 14-year-old Eugene returns home bloodied and alone, it raises more questions that can’t be easily answered, particularly since Eugene is neurodivergent and nonverbal. The search for Adam raises a series of possibilities–was he suicidal after being diagnosed with a terminal illness? Having an affair?–the book also delves into the dynamics of the family and how they shift in light of Adam’s vanishing.

by Jess Armstrong is the perfect mystery to curl up indoors with on a cold winter’s night. In the years just after World War I, American heiress Ruby Vaughan has made a comfortable life for herself, living in Exeter, and running a rare bookshop alongside her quaint elderly business partner. When she’s sent to bring a box of books to a mysterious folk healer in Cornwall, the journey brings her back to Penryth Hall, the spooky Cornish estate where Ruby’s former best friend Tamsyn, lives with her husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth. When Penryth’s bells ring for the first time in three decades and Sir Edward is found dead, the village begins to whisper about an ancient curse coming back to haunt the inhabitants of Penryth Hall. Ruby, well aware that she should stay far away from talk of curses and murder, can’t help herself because she fears that Tamsyn may be the curses–or the murderer’s–next victim.

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray is a sharply funny novel that the New York Times named one of the top books of the year. It follows the declining fortunes of the Barnes clan, a wealthy Irish family of four whose lives begin to go downhill following the financial crisis of 2008. Dickie’s car business is failing and he’s spending far too much time building a bunker to fend off the apocalypse. Imelda, his wife, is desperately selling her jewelry on eBay. Teenage children Cass and PJ are also struggling. Former star student Cass is binge drinking instead of studying and PJ is making elaborate plans to run away from home. The novel cleverly moves backward and forward in time to determine the precise moment when everything in Barnes’s life begins to unravel.

Alex Cross Must Die by James Patterson is another thriller featuring one of Patterson’s most popular and iconic characters. This installment finds detectives Alex Cross and John Sampson fighting two separate killers in a race against time. When an American Airlines flight explodes in the sky, investigators find that an obscure Vietnam War-era weapon is responsible, though the culprit is still at large and ready to strike another airplane. Meanwhile, a serial killer is at work and Alex is stretched thin between the two cases while he races against his own potential destruction.