Emmaus Public Library: 2021 Staff & Volunteer Favorites

Press release from the Emmaus Public Library:

maria

2021-12-31

EPL Services Manager (and über-reader) Angie polled library staff and volunteers — and the list is quite full, especially if you like fiction. Miss Sue included her picks for children and teens, including graphic novels.

See how many you also enjoyed this year or may want to put on your ‘to read’ list for 2022…

Listed in alphabetical order (and published in 2021 unless otherwise noted). Titles link to the printed book format in the online catalog when possible (and you may place holds on items there from your online account); otherwise, titles link to OverDrive/Libby or Hoopla for digital versions when a printed book is not available through the library or the Lehigh Carbon Library Cooperative.

online catalog OverDrive/Libby Reader’s note: One of the highest-rated romances for fall 2021, Dade allows real women, not the Hollywood, rail-thin perfect types, to lead her novels. All the Feels is not quite an enemies to lovers story, but close enough to feel familiar in all the cozy ways. Reader’s note: What would you do if you could travel back in time, knowing your actions couldn’t alter the future, and you only have as long as it takes a cup of coffee to cool? These short snippets give hope, love, and life a second chance.] Reader’s note: Franzen is a master of scratching beneath the surface of suburbia. This time it’s the 1970s, when teens were discovering pot, marriages began to crumble, and God’s guilt loomed large. If you grew up in suburbia in the ’70s, you lived this. Reader’s note: A cozy mystery spinoff from the author’s Winston Brothers series. Jenn is the reigning Banana Cake Queen, and everyone is out to beat her in this year’s bake-off. Baking suppliers’ sabotage will not be tolerated by her beau and his brothers (one is actually named Beau). Fair warning — she writes some spicy sex scenes. Reader’s note: Teacher of the year Teddy wants to be one of the good ones — the teacher everyone loves, the teacher everyone respects, the teacher everyone trusts, the teacher who gets the full potential of his students to rise to the surface. His wife would be proud of how far he’s come, even if no one has seen her for a while. Now there’s been a murder of a prominent school parent (…her entitled kid totally did it…) and teachers are getting sick. If everyone would just leave him alone so he could teach these kids how to succeed, maybe it will all be worth it in the end. Reader’s note: This sweeping historical novel takes you along a great ride — from Marian Graves’ inauspicious beginnings in 1914 to her dreams of becoming a female pilot and mysterious disappearance. Reader’s note: Fan favorite Quan finally gets his own novel! When Ana Sun’s violin virtuoso goes viral, she is thrilled. Then, when she tries to recreate that magical moment, she gets burned out and frustrated. Then her boyfriend wants a change — instead of proposing marriage, he proposes an open relationship. What’s a talented, smart, family focused girl to do? Find the least suitable one-night stand she can (…that’s where Quan comes in). Until it’s not a one-night stand. It’s everything she didn’t think she deserved and more. Hoang is known for writing non-traditional women (and their sex lives) with complicated medical, financial, personal and interpersonal problems in a way that is open and accessible, though sometimes graphic. Reader’s note: McMurtry’s death this year made me wonder about all the accolades over his work. This was just a stunningly bleak portrayal of two teen boys and their dead-end Texas town. Reader’s note: Mariana Andros is lured back to her uni days at Cambridge by the grisly murder of her niece’s friend, a member of a secret society of female students known as The Maidens. Mariana is convinced that beloved educator Edward Fosca is the murderer and plans to stop him — with or without help from the police — even if it means risking her own life. [Reader’s note: A study in female power and strength set against the royal court and abbey life under Eleanor of Aquitaine. Marie finds herself in devotion, war, and politics while she focuses on protecting her sisters and her first true love.] Reader’s note: Psychological suspense/thriller set in remote Scotland with a heckuva twisted ending. How well do you know your spouse? What if you suffered facial blindness and were a self-confessed workaholic? When you celebrate each of your 10 anniversaries with traditional gifts, should you look a gift-horse (with a free weekend getaway) in the mouth? Reader’s note: Pressured into a ‘leave’ from her detective work, Elin visits Le Sommet — a new boutique hotel run by her estranged brother and his fiancée high up in the Swiss Alps. Trapped on the remote site after a storm, Elin and the remaining guests who are not able to evacuate down the mountain are starting to panic. One of them has gone missing, another found murdered, and everyone is under suspicion. Reader’s note: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Erdrich crafts a tale of a haunted woman during the year of Covid with her signature blend of humor and deft observations of human nature. Reader’s note: Just a fun, fun read about a group of septuagenarians who try to solve cold-case murders for fun in their retirement village, but then a real murder happens. Reader’s note: Nonfiction winner of the National Book Award by an award-winning historian at Harvard University. Miles tells the story of a simple cotton sack that an enslaved mother filled with life-sustaining items and gave to her 9-year-old daughter who was sold to another owner, never to be seen again. The sack was passed from generation to generation until a descendant embroidered the story onto the sack itself. Today the sack can be viewed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Reader’s note: Cognitive behavioral therapy is an oldie-but-goodie tool for anyone with stress, trauma, PTSD, or distress in general. This workbook walks you through basic building blocks of how to retrain your brain to process and accept situational stress and find healthy (or healthier) ways of managing your wellbeing. Reader’s note: A harrowing account of early Revolutionary War days and how one young girl became an important piece of the disputed Kentucky land divide between the Native tribes and the colonists. Reads like fiction, but definitely isn’t. Reader’s note: New parenting book to help us all work our way through a changing world. Reader’s note: Short, absurd essay format following James’ triple-threat (not the conventional kind) life. From realizing ballet is NOT for wusses, to earning that center-center spot with the American Ballet Theatre, and all of the after-party antics that go with it. If you don’t follow him and his alter egos on the socials (predominately TikTok and Instagram), you should.

Listed in alphabetical order (and published in 2021 unless otherwise noted).

Reader’s note: Sequel to War Girls (2019). After the Biafran wars, Ify find her dream job as a medical worker in the Space Colonies. When a viral infection breaks out, she must discover the cause. It is from back home? Reader’s note: Set in 2118 Manhattan, New York is home to the tallest building on earth — a towering 1000-floor supertower. High-tech luxury and glamour are everywhere on the highest floors, while the lower floors struggle for everything, including light. The series follows five young adults who are bonded together, but an unfortunate and deadly accident reminds them just how fortunate (or not) they really are. Reader’s note: This 5-book series (also made into an animé) follows the adventures of a klutzy red blood cell in her mission to supply the body with food and oxygen. Often attacked by sinister bacteria, she is defended by a brave white blood cell! Not as simplistic as it sounds, AND an interesting way to understand the workings of our systems. Reader’s note: Caitlin Doughty, of “Ask a Mortician” answers questions that young people have asked her about death, and what physically happens afterward. Positive approach, and can be shared with younger children in a family reading.

Listed in alphabetical order (and published in 2021 unless otherwise noted).

Reader’s note: Pangolins are really neat, but everyone seems to know more about penguins! Reader’s note: A girl confined to a wheelchair learns to use a paintbrush strapped to her head to make wonderful pictures! Lovely illustrations! Reader’s note: Three very different friends get into adventures. These early readers are beginning chapter books. Reader’s note: To cure her sick grandmother, Lily traps a tiger, and makes a deal with it. 2021 Newbery Award winner! Reader’s note: I love this series of graphic novels about a young girl named Phoebe, and her Unicorn named Marigold Heavenly Nostrils.  It’s not overly sweet, as both characters are somewhat snarky, and they deal with all the perils of ordinary (for humans) life. Reader’s note: I love this series of graphic novels about a young girl named Phoebe, and her Unicorn named Marigold Heavenly Nostrils.  It’s not overly sweet, as both characters are somewhat snarky, and they deal with all the perils of ordinary (for humans) life. Reader’s note: Fun facts, interesting tidbits, and awesome information about dinosaurs! What could be better? Viewer’s note: OMGee that trash-truck dress! Emma Thompson is flawless, Emma Stone is perfect, and the supporting cast is well-balanced and interesting. A great ‘villain origin story’ and an amazing opportunity for costume and set design to really shine. Viewer’s note: Frances McDormand and Chloe Zhao are a dream team. This movie is beautiful and painful and full of remarkable humans. Viewer’s note: Christopher Nolan does it again in this fast-paced, time-bending, ridiculously well-crafted sci-fi thriller.

* Available in our DVD collection.

Viewer’s note: Vikings alum Katheryn Winnick, newish comers Jesse James Keitel, Kylie Bunbury and Brian Geraghty, and 90s heartthrob Ryan Phillippe feature in this detective thriller (not a procedural). Loosely based on C.J. Box’s Highway series, these women focus on righting wrongs and staying just inside the lines. Sexuality, some strong language, use of drugs/alcohol, and lots of violence with gore. Viewer’s note: This show is based on the DC Comics super hero team of the same name. It’s an absurd dramedy that takes you places you’ve never been before. It stars Brendan Fraser, my long time favorite actor. Viewer’s note: A drama starring Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini as BFFs who keep deadly secrets from each other. Best viewed with a glass of wine. Viewer’s note: Yes, I know it’s not ‘new,’ but I much prefer Justin Long and his violin in the first Thanksgiving episode (season 1, ep. 6 pretty much perfectly sums up all the awkwardness of family holidays) over the Friends ‘flashback’ episode (season 5, with a turkey stuck on their heads…controversial, I know, but the Friends’ cast is to awful to each other and never seemed to grow into better humans). And the Santa episode (season 2, ep. 11) where Schmidt starts to believe in himself as more than just the ‘now hot dude who used to be overweight’ and Winston shows off his amazing kid-handling skills. This rag tag group of TV friends is #goals. Viewer’s note: These amazing dance sequences are AMAZING!! NYC drag life is equal parts inspiring and sad — I think James Whiteside (Center Center) would fit right in. These performers are human. Humane, fabulous, strong and inspiring. Perfect for a binge session or one at a time. Some sex and nudity, mild violence, lots of language and smoking, alcohol and drug use.

* Available in our DVD collection.

If you like podcasts, be sure to also check out these ‘bookish podcast’ recommendations from early 2020 shared by Lauri, adult services librarian.
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these ‘bookish podcast’ recommendations

There you have it! We’re excited to start finding the great reads and DVDs of 2022!

This press release was produced by the Emmaus Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.