Posted in Uncategorized

Abbie’s Recent Reads

Posted on by abbiebourelle

Dear Readers, welcome to another installment of Abbie’s Recent Reads! Over the last few months the main genres I have been reading have been Nonfiction and Horror. The Nonfiction reads have ranged from the true crime genre, ballet, to Polar exploration. Prepare for a wild ride through time, space, and the globe as I share some of my recommended books I have read recently!

The Stowaway by Laurie Gwen Shapiro

I will read any book I can find on Antarctic Exploration or North Pole Exploration. While awaiting my hold of Madhouse at the End of the Earth on Libby, The Stowaway was recommended to me as a similar read to enjoy while I waited. (I am still awaiting my hold of Madhouse at the End of the Earth to come in.) I am really glad I read this one. As I have read many books on Polar exploration, I have always wondered what it would be like to be along with the explorers on their grand adventures. Apparently a lot of other people at the time of these explorations were thinking the same thing! The Stowaway is the true story of Billy Gawronski, an ordinary teenage son of Polish immigrants living in New York. In the 1920’s Billy has grown up on adventure stories and dreams of going off on one of his own. He becomes obsessed with Captain Byrd and the expedition being planned to explore the Antarctic. Billy’s father and mother do not approve of their son’s dreams as Billy is expected to take over the family upholstery business. Billy feels he has no choice. If he wants any chance at adventure he is going to have to stowaway on Captain Byrd’s ship! The plot sounds like something out of a kid’s adventure novel, but this is a TRUE story! I took great delight in following Billy through his adventures and cheering him on along the way. As I followed Billy’s story I found myself asking on more than one occasion “could I be that brave and daring?” I greatly recommend this for anyone who loves reading about history, exploration, and scrappy underdog characters.

Click HERE to request The Stowaway!

Continue reading “Abbie’s Recent Reads” →
Posted in Uncategorized

Orchid Opulence

Posted on by Corrina

Dear reader, since my last blog post I have become the unwitting owner of not two, not three, but six orchids! It all started with the original three I brought home from my brother’s wedding, and just recently three more that my sister-in-law gave me. Apparently once orchids bloom you need to cut them back and wait for them to produce new shoots. Patience is something my sister-in-law does not excel at it, so after saying the magic phrase – I’m thinking of throwing them away – I once again donned my Plant Recuser Hat and swooped in!

You see, dear reader, I have an affinity for the discarded, the forgotten, and neglected. Be it plant or inanimate object. For instance, several years ago I rescued a sock snowman my mom had made at a women’s church retreat back in the 90’s. He has a hole in the back that is sealed with a piece of tape, it’s a small hole but one she deemed enough for him to be thrown away. The audacity! I simply replaced the piece of tape and he still sits atop my wardrobe, peaceably containing his birdseed and still sporting his black buttons.

This same attitude follows me into the plant world. A while back someone at work was giving away aloe vera plants. Day after day I saw them sitting in the staff break-room with no home to call their own. Frankly, dear reader, I felt bad for them, so that’s how I ended up with three aloe vera plants and two snake plants vying for space on my desk. You won’t find me complaining, though, I love having plants around, whether they flower or not. In fact, I’m accustomed to most of my plants not flowering. But more on that later. We’re here to talk about orchids aren’t we?

Understanding Orchids by William Cullina

Orchids are the largest family of plants in the world. With 30,000 known species, you could acquire a different orchid every day for eighty years and still not grow them all. Back in the realm of reality, readers of this beautiful book can quickly and easily find the orchids that are right for them — which ones will thrive on a windowsill, which prefer artificial lights, and which need a greenhouse; which are for beginners, which for experts. And you can pinpoint the species within a particular genus that are the best ones to start with. Once you select your orchid, William Cullina’s authoritative guide explains what to do to keep it alive and healthy.
Featuring more than two hundred color photographs, Understanding Orchids covers everything you need to know to grow orchids successfully, whatever your level of interest or experience. With improved tissue-culture techniques making orchids more affordable, and the Internet making them readily available to consumers, growing orchids is more popular than ever: membership in the American Orchid Society has more than doubled in the last fifteen years. This is the book orchid fans have been waiting for.

From a quick Google search I learned that the most common commercially sold orchid is the Phalaenopsis orchid. I have no idea what kind of orchids I have at home, but I can almost guess that they are this kind, since my sister-in-law bought them at Walmart.

Isn’t it interesting how there is always random facts circulating around that you’ve heard one way or another? This is the case with the fact that you can water orchids with ice cubes. Maybe you’re nodding your head right now, because you’ve heard that too. I always thought that was bizarre! And frankly it was one of the reasons why I vowed to never own orchids. Watering with ice cubes, it just seems so exotic and strange. Yet dear reader, here we are, I now have six orchids! Life is funny sometimes, isn’t it?

I’ve heard it both ways. I’ve heard that the ice cube method keeps orchids alive just long enough for them to bloom and then they die, but I’ve also heard that it was developed by orchid growers so the average person doesn’t accidentally overwater their orchid and kill it! Well, dear reader, I can tell you emphatically that I’ve been using the ice cube method exclusively and my orchids are still alive! Researchers at the Ohio State University of Georgia published a study on the impact of watering orchids with ice cubes and they found that it is completely safe. I will link the results of the study here, but to paraphrase, ice cube watering helps the orchids take in water more slowly, it did not adversely affect the temperature of the roots, and lastly it did not affect flower longevity or display.

While I love plants, I also know my weakness as a plant owner, which is I forget to water them! This is why I tend to gravitate toward succulents and other such forgiving plants. Also – shame! – I tend to gauge how long it’s been since I watered them by how wilted they are. I usually have a family watering day when this happens, everybody in the pool! Anyway, more books about orchid care! That’s why you’re here, right?

Continue reading “Orchid Opulence” →
Posted in Biography & Memoir, DIY & How To, Fantasy, Graphic Novels & Memoirs, Horror, LGBTQI+, Nonfiction, Science Fiction

Zachary’s Recent Reads

Posted on by Zachary

A couple of months ago, Abbie wrote a blog post about her recent reads. When I saw that post, I decided I would steal that idea for a future post of my own, so here we are. I have been reading more since I learned about BookCrossing this summer and because I made a New Year’s resolution to read 30 books in 2025. So far, I’ve been reading an eclectic mix of graphic novels, sci-fi, fantasy, self-help, and even a little bit of theology. There should be something in this week’s post for almost everyone!

Bloodborne Vol. 1: The Death of Sleep by Aleš Kot

Bloodborne is one of my favorite videogames. Unfortunately, Sony doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to release even a remaster of the game, much less a sequel; unless you count The Duskbloods as a spiritual sequel. While Elden Ring has definitely been a delight, it didn’t quite scratch that Lovecraftian itch the way Bloodborne did. For that reason, I decided to give the comic a shot. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the comic was able to strike that same ethereal, dreamlike vibe that the game did. The plot follows a nameless Hunter who’s protecting a child that might have magical blood. There’s even a reference to the “You Died” screen that any Fromsoft fan will recognize. The only negative I have is that one of the characters from the game didn’t seem quite how I remembered them.

Continue reading “Zachary’s Recent Reads” →
Posted in Uncategorized

Library Reads April 2025

Posted on by Molly

According to the five-second Google search I just conducted, one book is published about every eight seconds, which equates to roughly 11,000 books per day. PER DAY. With those kind of numbers to contend with it’s a wonder any of us can push past the choice paralysis and pick out a single solitary book. 

Once again, librarians have you covered. Below, I listed the top 10 adult fiction and nonfiction books hand picked by library workers and enthusiasts across the country, and roundly agreed upon to be worthy of our time and attention. 

Book descriptions are contributed to Library Reads by working librarians around the country. Scroll all the way to the bottom to reveal this month’s top pick.

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee (MIRA)
In the midst of the COVID pandemic of 2020, Cora’s haunted by her deceased sister and stalked by a serial killer as her chaotic life spirals further out of control. The journey to finding her way back to some semblance of normal won’t be easy. Readers seeking a book blending slasher and bio-horror need look no further.
—Jolie Hanlon, Girard Free Library, OH
NoveList read-alike: The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones 

Cold Eternity by S.A. Barnes (Tor Nighfire)
Hiding out due to a political scandal, Halley decides to take a job in the most remote place she can find. That turns out to be a large space barge holding cryogenically frozen wealthy people. The horror begins as Halley starts hearing noises and notices a presence at the foot of her bed. Thrilling and downright scary, this is a must-read.
—Terri Smith, Cornelia Library, GA
NoveList read-alike: Crypt of the Moon Spider by Nathan Ballingrud

A Drop of Corruption: An Ana and Din Mystery by Robert Jackson Bennett (Del Rey)

Din and Ana return in a new sci-fi/fantasy mystery. This time an official in the Treasury delegation has gone missing from a locked room. Tense negotiations are ongoing between the Treasury and a small outpost kingdom. What Din and Ana find is a hidden hornet’s nest and extreme danger to the Empire. Can the two stop a terrorist from destroying everything?
—Michelle Ogden, Crawfordsville Dist Public Library, IN
NoveList read-alike: The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older

Murder by Cheesecake: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery by Rachel Ekstrom Courage (Hyperion)
Golden Girls plus cozy mystery equals match made in heaven! This novel is nostalgic fun for fans of the TV show and might even draw some new fans in with the atmospheric 80s Miami vibes. The story is over the-top silly at turns, but it’s all part of the fun. Readers will be left hoping the series continues with more mysteries for the ladies to solve.
—Elizabeth Motyka, Wheaton Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: The Excitements by C.J. Wray

The Correspondent: A Novel by Virginia Evans (Crown)
Sybil’s life has centered around her correspondence with both people she knows and with strangers. Why she finds writing easier than conversing soon becomes clear, and her sadness and remove are explained through the events of her past and in her encroaching blindness. The plot unfolds with wonderful character development.
—Mary Robinson, Vernon Area Public Library District, IL
NoveList read-alike: Olive Kittiredge by Elizabeth Strout 

I See You’ve Called in Dead: A Novel by John Kenney (Zibby Publishing)
In this sensational novel, Bud gets a new lease on life after he starts visiting wakes and funerals. With equal measures of laughter and tears along the way, this character-driven novel probes the psyche of the contemporary male mind and takes readers in unexpected directions, all leading to a very satisfying conclusion.
—Todd Krueger, Baltimore County Public Library, MD
NoveList read-alike: Keya Das’s Second Act by Sopan Deb 

Any Trope but You: A Novel by Victoria Lavine (Atria Books)
Margot and Forest are genuinely likeable, though flawed characters, and seeing through their perspective is a delight. The conflicts come from practical issues, and the couple is not kept apart by miscommunication, but by respect for each other’s priorities and values. A love letter to “romancelandia” and the tropes it celebrates.
—Katrina Dagenais, Bucks County Free Library, PA
NoveList read-alike: Unromance by Erin Connor 

How to Seal Your Own Fate: A Novel by Kristen Perrin (Dutton) 
This second book in the Castle Knoll series has Annie involved in another mystery of long past and current murders. Annie realizes she’s being set up when all of the clues point to her. Readers will love that this book builds so well on the last one, and wonder just how many secrets exist in this small rural town.
—Linda Quinn, LibraryReads Ambassador, CT
NoveList read-alike: Agatha Raisin series by M.C. Beaton 

The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig (Del Rey)
Four friends are haunted when another climbs a mysterious staircase and never comes down. Years later, they decide to rescue the boy they lost. What they find is a haunted house preying on their personal nightmares. A coming-of-age story reminiscent of Stranger Things and It—plus all the perfect scary things that Wendig is known for.
—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin, TX
NoveList read-alike: The Children of Red Peak by Craig DiLouie 

BONUS PICK:

The Library of Lost Dollhouses: A Novel by Elise Hooper (William Morrow)

NOTABLE NONFICTION:

No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris (Random House)

TOP PICK:

The Sirens by Emilia Hart (St. Martin’s Press)
In 1800s Ireland, twin sisters are taken from their father and put on a ship bound for Australia. During the voyage, they begin to change as they hear the call of the sea. In 2019, while Lucy looks for her missing sister, she reads her old diary full of strange stories of the sea. Spanning centuries, this novel casts its magic with the story it weaves. 
—Jennifer Winberry, LibraryReads Ambassador, NJ
NoveList read-alike: To The Sea by Christine Dibley

I am pausing to briefly note that all Wisconsin library users have access to the excellent reader’s advisory tool, NoveList, among dozens of other resources. We have these nice things provided to us from a variety of funding sources, including funding from the federal level. Learn more about the importance of these funds and how their distribution is changing by clicking HERE. To satisfy curiosity about NoveList click HERE and take a spin around the block.

The above titles I listed will start dropping throughout the month of April. Reserve your copy now, and avoid the wait. What to do if none of the library picks appeal? Consider using Mead’s Your Next Five Books service. Learn more by clicking HERE. Library staff are more than happy to connect our community with great books for any occasion, ritual, emergency, and ordeal. 

Posted in Adult, Award Winners, Cooking/Baking, DIY & How To, Kids 5-12, Nonfiction, Teen & Young Adult

Adventures Through Cookbooks

Posted on by abbiebourelle

One of my favorite sections in the whole entire library is the cookbook section. I get super excited whenever anyone stops by the desk and asks where the cookbooks are. At home I enjoy watching all the food shows on Discovery Plus and experimenting in my own kitchen. One of my favorite kind of cookbooks to play with in the kitchen are the themed cookbooks. In recent years there has been an uptick in cookbooks based off of TV shows or movies. There are even cookbooks based off of videogame worlds! I am only going to cover the ones I have actually cooked from in this post, but will include a bonus list of other titles we own at Mead Public Library at the end!

Tasting History by Max Miller

This themed cookbook is not based off of some fantastical made up world, but pulls recipes from our very own human history. Some readers may recognize Max Miller from his youtube show also titled Tasting History where he cooks up good eats from times long past. This book contains selected recipes all assembled in one volume. The cookbook is broken into chapters ranging from the ancient past to just a few decades ago. Max Miller takes you from recipes written on ancient Babylonian tablets to good old cafeteria pizza from the 90s. If you cannot get enough of the recipes in this book and are curious to embark on more culinary time travel-check out the website https://www.tastinghistory.com/ where there are many more recipes featured.

My featured recipe from this volume is straight off a Babylonian clay tablet and helpfully translated for us by Max Miller: Babylonian stew of lamb. I have always been a history buff. One of my bachelors degrees is in history. I feel like eating what the people of the past ate brings us a step closer to understanding who they were and how they lived. The author also includes a historical lesson with every recipe so that you can better understand the food you are eating. For this recipe I also found the video on his website so I could watch what he did before attempting as I was a bit nervous.

In addition to watching the video and reading through the history lesson (learning about the flat tailed sheep was interesting) I prepared by looking online as to where I could order Persian shallots. We do not have anything like them in America which is a shame. They have a very nice spicy taste as if they are a cross between a radish, garlic, and onion. I ended up ordering them from Amazon (a fellow reader of Tasting History left a review that made me feel confident in my choice of purchase.) I then went shopping to assemble the rest of my ingredients. I decided on a mix of beef and lamb even though the recipe calls for lamb. The author says you can substitute if you wish. Leeks also feature prominently in this recipe (I did unfortunately not take my husband on this shop so I missed out on his leek puns).

The cook. This stew is traditionally served with rinatsu (a crouton like cookie or bread prepared with olive oil). You are to serve this as a crouton over the stew and mix some of it in ground for texture. The crumbled portion is needed for the stew. However, it is optional if you want to eat your stew with the rinatsu croutons on top. (My husband liked them more than I). I was nervous about the taste as there is no seasoning in the recipe. Surprisingly, the Persian shallots more than made up for it! Their flavor sure packs a punch and hits all the right notes on your tongue. I wish they were available at my regular shops. All you need to do is soak them in water to rehydrate them for 30 minutes or so as they come dried. I then stuck them into the food processor to mince them down. The rest of the cook was rather straightforward and just a matter of following the directions. If you have made soup before the cook will seem a familiar dance. All in all this ancient recipe was a fun learning experience and a rather tasty meal. I can now say I have eaten like an ancient Babylonian! My husband also gave a thumbs up on this recipe which is saying a lot as he can be rather picky!

Click HERE to request Tasting History!

Continue reading “Adventures Through Cookbooks” →
Posted in Film, Uncategorized

From Stage to Screen

Posted on by Sydney Anderson

Movie musicals are having a bit of a moment right now, best illustrated by the smash success of Wicked.  Speaking as a theatrical aficionado, I couldn’t be happier.  That being said, I think it’s a bit of a shame that compared to movie musicals past and present, movies based on plays tend to fall by the wayside.  After all, where better to see capital-A Acting than with a script meant to be performed live?  If you’re interested in seeing world-class performers and great scripts, check out these movies based on plays, selected from Mead Public Library’s catalog.

Amadeus

First thing’s first: this movie’s depiction of the lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri isn’t remotely historically accurate.  That said, this movie’s version makes for an incredible story.  Based on a play by Peter Shaffer adapted from an even earlier play by Alexander Pushkin, this film imagines that Salieri was consumed by jealousy over Mozart’s genius.  Salieri, portrayed by F. Murray Abraham in an Oscar-winning performance, falls deeper into resentment and obsession until he finally begins to plot murder.  I have to lay all my cards on the table here: this is one of my favorite movies of all time.  It’s visually enchanting, and the performances from F. Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce deserve every bit of their acclaim.  I’m also a particular fan of how the soundtrack expertly weaves Mozart’s music into the intrigue.  In addition to Abraham’s Best Actor win, the film won Best Picture, Best Director, and much more at the 1985 Academy Awards.  I could go on all day, but ultimately, I simply adore this movie, and I hope you will too.

Continue reading “From Stage to Screen” →
Posted in Adult, Award Winners, Film

Oscar Round-up: What to Watch While You Wait

Posted on by Molly

For me, it has been a year of folding inward and away from general awareness of the world at large. I have been keeping calm and sane dwelling on my interiority and reading dozens and dozens of cozy mysteries that take place in seaside bookshops and whatnot. Knowing this, perhaps my surprise that Oscar season was upon us can be forgiven. Not only had I not been aware that the big day was imminent until like, the day before the Oscars aired, I had no idea who and what the nominees were. Once I allowed myself the chance to emerge from the dank hole I live in, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and breadth of the nominees. 

Below, I listed all ten Best Picture nominees, along with films similar in tone to enjoy while waiting for Oscar 2024 holds to arrive. All listed films are available in the Monarch catalog in DVD and/or BluRay format, and often Academy Award winners in their own right. Blurbs sourced from IMDB.

Anora (Neon) starring Mikey Madison and Directed by Sean Baker
What to watch while you wait: Humanist explorations of people living on the fringe. Lucky for us, this is Baker’s bread and butter. 

Tangerine (2015) starring Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor; this film is notable for being the first feature-length film shot entirely on iPhones.
A hooker tears through Tinseltown on Christmas Eve searching for the pimp who broke her heart.

The Florida Project (2017) starring Brooklyn Prince, Bria Vinaite, and Willem Dafoe
A single mother and the manager of a roadside motel do their utmost to maintain the innocence of a six-year-old girl’s life.


The Brutalist (A24) starring Adrian Brody and directed by Brady Corbet
What to watch while you wait: Cinematic with a capital “C” period pieces.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) starring Noemie Merlant and Adele Haenel
On an isolated island in Brittany at the end of the eighteenth century, a female painter is obliged to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman.

Once Upon a Time in America (1984) starring Robert De Niro and directed by Sergio Leone
A former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to the Lower East Side of Manhattan 35 years later, where he must once again confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life.

A Complete Unknown (Searchlight) starring Timothee Chalamet and Elle Fanning
What to watch while you wait: Musician biopics, but maybe the musician is a big jerk.

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) starring Oscar Isaac and directed by the Coen Brothers
A week in the life of a young singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961.

Crazy Heart (2009) starring Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal
A faded country musician is forced to reassess his dysfunctional life during a doomed romance that also inspires him.

Conclave (Focus) starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci
What to watch while you wait: Catholic church-adjacent thrillers and controversies.

The Name of the Rose (1986) starring Sean Connery and Christian Slater
An intellectually nonconformist friar investigates a series of mysterious deaths in an isolated abbey. 

Doubt (2008) starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams
A Catholic school principal questions a priest’s ambiguous relationship with a troubled young student. 

Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.)
What to watch while you wait: epic, sprawling, and ambitious crowd-pleasers

Lawrence of Arabia (1962) starring Peter O’Toole and Alec Guinness
The Story of TE Lawrence, the English officer who successfully united the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes during WWI in order to fight the Turks.

Stargate (1994) starring Kurt Russell and James Spader
An interstellar teleportation device, found in Egypt, leads to a planet with humans resembling ancient Egyptians who worship the god Ra. 

Emilia Pérez (Netflix) starring Zoe Saldana and Karla Sofia Gascon
What to watch while you wait: stories that center on living an authentic life. 

I Saw the TV Glow (2024) starring Justice Smith and Jack Haven
A teenager just trying to make it through life in the suburbs is introduced by a classmate to a mysterious late-night TV show.

Joyland (2022) starring Ali Junejo and Rasti Farooq
The youngest son in a traditional Pakistani family takes a job as a backup dancer in a Bollywood-style burlesque and quickly becomes infatuated with the strong-willed trans woman who runs the show. 

I’m Still Here (Sony Classics) starring Fernanda Torres and directed by Walter Salles
What to watch while you wait: family dramas in times of war or conflict.

Roma (2018) starring Yalitza Cuaron and directed by Alfonso Cuaron
A year in the life of a middle-class family’s maid in Mexico City in the early 1970s.

Empire of the Sun (1987) starring Christian Bale and directed by Steven Spielberg
A young English Boy struggles to survive under Japanese occupation of China during WWII. 

Nickel Boys (Amazon/MGM) starring Ethan Herisse and directed by RaMell Ross
What to watch while you wait: reform school buddy films and coming-of-age pictures.

The 400 Blows (1959) starring Jean-Pierre Leaud and directed by Francios Truffaut
A young boy, left without attention, delves into a life of petty crime.

Crooklyn (1994) starring Alfre Woodard and directed by Spike Lee
Semi-autobiographical portrait of a school teacher, her stubborn jazz musician husband, and their five kids living in Brooklyn in 1973.

The Substance (Mubi) starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley
What to watch while you wait: mind-bending horror-adjacent and stylish thrillers. A smidge of body horror.

Mandy (2018) starring Nicolas Cage and directed by Panos Cosmatos
The enchanted lives of a couple in a secluded forest are brutally shattered by a nightmarish hippie cult and their demon-biker henchmen, propelling a man into a spiraling, surreal rampage of vengeance.

The Fly (1986) starring Jeff Goldblum and directed by David Cronenberg
A brilliant but eccentric scientist begins to transform into a giant man/fly hybrid after one of his experiments goes horribly wrong. 

Wicked (Universal) starring Cynthia Eriv and Ariana Grande
What to watch while you wait: eye-popping, crowd-pleasing musicals.

In the Heights (2021) starring Anthony Ramos and Corey Hawkins
In Washington Heights, a sympathetic New York bodega owner saves every penny every day as he imagines and sings about a better life.

Into the Woods (2015) starring Anna Kendrick and directed by Rob Marshall.
A witch tasks a childless baker and his wife with procuring magical items from classic fairy tales to reverse the curse put on their family tree. 

Did you notice how I did not include which film was nominated for which award or who won what? There are five million articles out there to this effect. Like the article HERE for instance, if one desired this information.

Not a big prestige/award season movie lover? Don’t worry, Mead owns copies of the highest art and lowest trash fit for the silver screen. Consider using our Your Next Five Movies tool, and be watching the movie of your dreams in no time. 

Posted in Uncategorized

Horse Crazy Nostalgia

Posted on by Corrina

Dear reader, I have officially reached the age where toys and music from my childhood are considered vintage. In fact, just yesterday, the radio station I was listening to in my car declared they were going to play a throwback song. I was thinking 80’s or 90’s, right? Dear reader, the song was from 2006! Yes, I realize that was almost 20 years ago, but seriously, to me 2006 doesn’t feel that long ago. Where does the time go?

Today I will be taking you on a nostalgic book trip, sounds exciting right? We’ll be going back to the late 90’s and early 2000’s to when I was a horse crazy child and teen. You see, during this time American Girl was in full swing, the My Little Pony toys were super popular, and there was no end to the animal-themed series a kid could read! I will be highlighting three of those in this blog post.

A Horse Called Wonder by Joanna Campbell

Ashleigh Griffen swore she’d never give her heart to another horse — not after a terrible disease wiped out her family’s breeding farm, along with Ashleigh’s favorite mare, Stardust.

Now the Griffens are starting over as breeding managers at Townsend Acres, and Ashleigh’s sure she is going to hate living there.

Then a small, sickly foal is born — a beautiful copper filly that looks like Stardust. No one thinks the foal will live or that it’s worth trying to save. No one but Ashleigh.

Can one girl’s love alone work miracles?

First of all, there is no link to the catalog for this particular book because it isn’t in the catalog at all. However, various other books in the series are in the catalog, so you’re in luck!

This series ran from 1991 to 2005, with the original series running from books 1-23 and then 23-72 completing the series with the focus shifting to a different girl and the subject matter of eventing, rather than racing. I remember just devouring these books, and since they came out in the 90’s there a good possibility I started reading them in elementary school. One of my core memories is reading that pivotal book number 23 and becoming so incensed at the drastic changes that I threw the book across the room! Dear reader, that may well have been my first rage over a book. I remember it distinctly to this day!

To hear my mom tell it, my horse crazy self was kickstarted when I got a kid’s meal at Hardee’s in, you guessed it, the 90’s, and I received a white plastic horse toy. I still have that toy in one of my dresser drawers. I also had a plush horse stuffed animal that I slept with at night. His name was Clip Clop, named for the little noisebox in his stomach that made sounds like horse hooves walking. I slept with him so much the stuffing had to be replaced in his stomach! I still have him as well.

Continue reading “Horse Crazy Nostalgia” →
Posted in Kids 0-5, Kids 5-12, Science Fiction

Kids Read Science Fiction!

Posted on by abbiebourelle

Lately I have been in a nostalgia mood and have been rereading through a series from my childhood: Animorphs. Revisiting science fiction books from my own childhood has engaged my curiosity to explore what kids are reading these days. Dear reader, though I speak of “kids books” I must point out that anyone at any age or stage in their life is welcome to enjoy and find pleasure in these pages. Not only do kids’ science fiction books contain heart pounding action (when done right) they also contain a humor that even as adults we can still enjoy. For this post I have chosen a couple books that I find nostalgic and will introduce you some of the new science fiction available on the shelves in the kids’ section. Enjoy!

Continue reading “Kids Read Science Fiction!” →
Posted in Adult, Audience, Biography & Memoir, Contemporary, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical, Horror, Mystery, Nonfiction, Romance, Science Fiction

Library Reads February 2025

Posted on by Molly

If you are anything like me, you love to know what books other people are reading. In particular, it’s interesting to learn what other library workers are excited about. Below, I have listed the top 10 fiction and nonfiction books hand picked by America’s library staff. Book blurbs sourced from publishers and selecting librarians.

TOP PICK: First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison (Berkley)

A cute story about Lucie, whose daughter calls into a radio show for people looking for love. Aiden, the show’s host, is taken by her honesty and invites her to the show to document her quest for love. It’s a bumpy ride, but Aiden is there the whole way! Readers will love the tension between Lucie and Aiden, and the secondary characters are chef’s kiss.
—Claire Schroeder, Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library, OH;
NoveList read-alike: Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens

Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis (Bramble) 

This cozy romance features a librarian hiding out as a dark wizard, a witch queen who’d rather nerd out about experiments, and the most wonderfully supportive found family. This has all the tropes you love of romantasy with the added bonus of witty banter, snarky witch queens, and a heart-melting romance. Give this one to fans of The Princess Bride.
—Sarah Bean Thompson, Springfield-Greene Cty Library, MO;
NoveList read-alike: Sword Crossed by Freya Marske

The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens (Mulholland Books) 

Hana, a librarian in a small town in Minnesota, lives a quiet life until the day a detective informs her of her close friend’s murder. Knowing her friend’s death is tied to her, Hana’s afraid she’s next. This historical thriller alternates between present day and 1995 Bosnia with a plot that’s intense and gritty, and writing that’s moving and heartbreaking. 
—Connie Laing, Great River Regional Library, MN; 
NoveList read-alike: Groundskeeping by Lee Cole

Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito (Liveright) 

Dark and diabolical, this is a tale of a governess pushed to the limit. Arriving at an estate to care for two spoiled brats, she must deal with a barrage of verbal and physical abuse, until Christmas arrives and she can take it no more. This gruesome gothic tale full of dark wit and horror is reminiscent of Sweeney Todd. 
—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin,TX; 
NoveList read-alike: Maeve Fly by CJ Leede

Isola: A Novel by Allegra Goodman (The Dial Press) 

This novel is based on the true story of Marguerite de la Rocque, an aristocratic French girl who was marooned with her lover on an island off of Canada in the 1500s. When her parents pass away, she’s entrusted to a guardian who seeks adventure and uses her fortune to finance his travels. Readers will enjoy her adventures as she makes a new life. 
—Claire Talbot, Greece Public Library, Rochester, NY;
NoveList read-alike: Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming (Berkley) 

When Dory Valentine is abducted and transported to another planet, she ends up falling for not one, but two sexy aliens. As you might expect, this book is funny, sexy, and very fast-paced. The subplot about her alien abduction—and the reasons behind it is interesting and intricate. Readers will absolutely look forward to more from this up-and-coming author.
—Dontaná M., Oak Park Public Library, IL;
NoveList read-alike: Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon

A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall (Flatiron Books) 

When Theo arrives at her new fiance’s family retreat, she realizes she has been there before. As the secrets this family has been holding onto for years start to come out, this drama goes in a dark, suspenseful direction. Just when you think you know where this is headed, it becomes full of twists and turns. Yes please! 
—Paige N., LibraryReads Ambassador;
NoveList read-alike: The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister (William Morrow) 

Cam can’t believe it when her husband Adam takes three hostages in an abandoned warehouse. Seven years later, Adam’s betrayal rears its ugly head again. Will Cam turn to amateur sleuthing, or put everything behind her and find closure? McAllister uses her standard smooth and emotional style to make sure all the puzzle pieces click together for a satisfying ending.
—Cari Dubiel, Twinsburg Public Library, OH;
NoveList read-alike: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce (Minotaur Books) 

Mina, a newly minted child psychologist, meets Sam, a journalist, who seeks her help on a piece about Alice, a teenager who claims to be possessed by a witch. Mina agrees, and they find themselves in a very unsettling small town, experiencing strange things that they can’t explain. This book is just spooky enough that you may want to read it with the lights on!
—Melissa Turner, Maricopa Library & Cultural Center, AZ;
NoveList read-alike: The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister

The Strange Case of Jane O.: A Novel by Karen Thompson Walker (Random House) 

After Dr. Henry Byrd is summoned by police to see Jane O. at the psychiatric hospital, they want him to reveal her confidential information: has she really lost three days under a dissociative fugue, or is she faking it to cover up a crime? This unique novel explores the idea of alternate and parallel realities, grief, friendship, and trust. 
—Donna Ballard, LibraryReads Ambassador;
NoveList read-alike: The Possibilities by Yael Goldstein

BONUS PICK: A Forty Year Kiss by Nickolas Butler (Sourcebooks Landmark)

NOTABLE NONFICTION: Fearless and Free: A Memoir by Josephine Baker (Tiny Reparations Books)

Didn’t see anything that tripped your trigger on the above list? Take a look at the Library Reads archive by clicking HERE. They have been at this once a month since 2013. The assembled lists reflect our collective shifts in reading habits and desires, which I think is fascinating. Still at a loss for what to read next? Take a look at Mead’s Your Next Five Books tool by clicking HERE. Send us a list of your favorite books, authors, and genres, and we will send back a custom list of at least five books you might like. Happy reading!