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Staff Picks

The Giving Flower

Book cover: "The Giving Flower: The Story of the Poinsettia" with a woman holding poinsettias under a starry night sky.

Alda P. Dobbs

Juvenile Non-Fiction 

If you have ever wondered why a flower that struggles to tolerate temperatures below 50°F is so popular around Christmas, check out "The Giving Flower" by Alda P. Dobbs. This book is brilliantly illustrated with the story of how the Poinsettia came to be.  Starting with the Nahuas in Mexico and Central America up to modern times. This book includes a variety of ways to learn about the Mexican Flame Flower that will surely entice curious readers.  

-Emily Stone, Youth Services Coordinator

 

Tuck Everlasting: The Graphic Novel

Cover of "Tuck Everlasting" graphic novel with a cabin, trees, a boat, and a sunset. Adapted by K. Woodman-Maynard.

Natalie Babbitt

Juvenile Fiction Graphic Novel

From Newbery Honoree and E. B. White Award winner Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting is a modern-day masterpiece that has been a staple on home bookshelves and in classrooms and libraries for half a century. Drawing closely from the original text, it is now brought to visual life in K. Woodman-Maynard’s gorgeous watercolor artwork. The perfect book for new readers and long-devoted fans alike, Tuck Everlasting: The Graphic Novel is sure to be an all-time favorite for every generation.

Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

 

Teen Skincare

Caroline Hirons

"Teen Skin Care: The Ultimate No-Nonsense Guide" by Caroline Hirons.

Young Adult Non-Fiction

Packed with easy-to-follow routines, myth-busting insights and budget-friendly product recommendations, Teen Skincare helps teens take control of their skin with confidence. Inclusive, practical and relatable, with advice from a dermatologist, nutritionist and psychologist, this book goes beyond the surface, offering a holistic approach to self-care and well-being.

No unrealistic promises, no pressure to be perfect. Just the tools, tips and truths every teen needs to feel great in their own skin and build habits that last a lifetime.

-HQ

 

I'll Be Right here

Amy Bloom

Adult Fiction 

Book cover: "I'll Be Right Here" by Amy Bloom. A glass bowl with plums and a peach. Novel.

Immigrating alone from Paris to New York after the crucible of World War II, young Gazala becomes friends with two spirited sisters, Anne and Alma. When Gazala’s lost, beloved brother, Samir, joins her in Manhattan, this contentious, inseparable foursome makes their way into the twenty-first century, becoming the beating heart of a multigenerational found family.

In I’ll Be Right Here, Amy Bloom embraces the complexity and richness of humanity and the lawlessness of love, bringing her trademark voice, wry humor, and compassionate eye to the many, often mysterious ways we live as we love, and hope to be loved in return.

-‎Random House

 

A Flower Traveled In My Blood

Haley Cohen Gilliland

Book cover with a crowd holding signs, titled "A Flower Traveled in My Blood" by Haley Cohen Gilliland.

Adult Non-Fiction 

In the early hours of March 24, 1976, the streets of Buenos Aires rumble with tanks as soldiers seize the presidential palace and topple Argentina’s leader. The country is now under the control of a military junta, with army chief Jorge Rafael Videla at the helm.

One of the military’s most diabolical acts is kidnapping hundreds of pregnant women. After giving birth in captivity, the women are “disappeared,” and their babies secretly given to other families—many of them headed by police or military officers. For mothers of pregnant daughters and daughters-in-law, the source of their grief is twofold—the disappearances of their children, and the theft of their grandchildren. A group of fierce grandmothers forms the Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, dedicated to finding the stolen infants and seeking justice from a nation that betrayed them. At a time when speaking out could mean death, the Abuelas confront military officers and launch protests to reach international diplomats and journalists. They become detectives, adopting disguises to observe suspected grandchildren, and even work alongside a renowned American scientist to pioneer groundbreaking genetic tests.

-‎Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster

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