Holiday Books by Cary Librarians
STAFF PICKS FOR ADULTS
Sing to Me by Jesse Browner
After the fall of Troy, an eleven-year-old boy sets off for the razed city when his father and sister vanish into the war zone; this “gorgeously drawn” novel offers an intimate vision of the most storied war in history, as seen through the eyes of a child.
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleon
A mysterious book with a legacy spanning from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day unites three women. London, 2024: American expat Margo Reynolds Havana, 1966: librarian Pilar Castillo and Boston, 1900: Cuban teacher Eva Fuentes.
Third Culture Cooking by Zaynab Issa
Delicious everyday multicultural recipes, borrowing from our parents and their parents’ homes, melding the old with the new and the familiar with the unfamiliar to create bold flavors and new classics for the next generation of cooks.
Disney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel’s Tween Empire by Ashley Spencer
Spent by Alison Bechdel
STAFF PICKS FOR TEENS
Sisters in the Wind by Angeline BoulleyEver since Lucy Smith’s father died five years ago, ‘home’ has been more of an idea than a place. She knows being on the run is better than anything waiting for her as a ‘ward of the state’. But when the sharp-eyed and kind Mr. Jameson with an interest in her case comes looking for her, Lucy wonders if hiding from her past will ever truly keep her safe.
The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Ancrum
Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray
Three timelines converge to unveil the mysterious disappearance of two girls during World War II.
A World Worth Saving by Kyle Lukoff
After coming out as trans, A is forced to attend weekly Save Our Sons and Daughters meetings, where he uncovers the terrifying truth that the group is run by a demon feeding on their pain and is part of a larger, darker force preying on the world’s vulnerable.
All Better Now by Neal Shusterman
They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran
STAFF PICKS FOR KIDS
Picture Books
Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan
Every Monday Mabel takes her breakfast outside and waits for her favorite part of the week: the garbage truck.
Broken by X. Fang
Island Storm by Brian Floca
Another Word for Neighbor by Angela Pham Krans
Han is happy to spend his days with his tea, his newspaper, and his plants. Everything is nice and quiet– just the way he likes it. That is, until Kate and Olly move in next door.
Everybelly by Thao Lam
Maddie and her mom spend a sunny day at the local public pool where she meets and greets friends and neighbors. Maddie is waist-high on most of them, and she knows there’s an interesting person behind every belly she passes.
Cranky, Crabby Crow (Saves the World) by Corey R Tabor
Chapter Books & Graphic Novels
The Strongest Heart by Saadia Faruqi
Mo is used to his father’s fits of rage. When Abbu’s moods shake the house, the best way to respond is not to engage. Apparently, his mama knows that too– which is why she took a job on the other side of the world, leaving Mo alone with Abbu. With Mama gone, the two move to Texas to live with Mo’s aunt and cousin Rayyan. The two boys could not be more different. Rayyan is achievement-driven and factual; Mo is a ‘bad kid.’ Still, there is a lot to like about living in Texas.
Growing Home by Beth Ferry
A motley crew of talkative plants, a curious spider, and a grumpy goldfish use their newfound magical abilities to defend their family from a greedy human.
Lu and Ren’s Guide to Geozoology by Angela Hsieh
Very Bad at Math by Hope Larson
Verity “Very” Nelson can do it all. She’s student body president, debate club whiz, and first chair clarinetist. You could say she’s pretty much the best at everything…Well, everything except math. Math just doesn’t make sense in her brain. But it better start soon, or else she can kiss her presidency — and her campaign promises — goodbye. All seems lost until a teacher helps her discover the truth: Verity has dyscalculia. When a podcaster dismantles her perfect image, Verity must choose: remain part of a broken system or fight to fix it.
The Gate, The Girl, and the Dragon by Grace Lin
Don’t Cause Trouble by Arree Chung
Nonfiction
Outside In and Inside Out: A Story About Arnold Lobel by Emmy Kastner
Arnold Lobel was many things: a quiet observer, an avid reader, and the kind of man who kept a gorilla suit in his closet, just in case. Above all else, Arnold was an artist and a storyteller. And he infused pieces of himself in the characters he created. This made sharing his books with the world scary sometimes-but his stories would go on to inspire and delight readers and live on in their hearts for generations.
Jella Lepman and Her Library of Dreams: The Woman Who Rescued a Generation of Children and Founded the World’s Largest Children’s Library by Katherine Paterson