April Staff Picks

Adults
Graphic designer by day and super-reader at night, Justin Cole recommends three series that will keep your book bag stocked until beach weather beckons.

Russell & Holmes
by Laurie R. King
Sherlock Holmes gets a little more than he bargained for when Mary Russell walks into his quiet life of tea drinking and beekeeping. This isn’t the Holmes you know – he’s older, wiser, and resigned to the simple life in the countryside. Mary Russell changes that as both a student and new partner to the well-known detective. She’s a modern woman of 1915 with her quick words and clever intellect that match that of the famous Sherlock Holmes. The first adventure, The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, works as an introduction to the relationship of Russell and Holmes, and thrusts the pair into the middle of a story dipping into Holmes’ past. You don’t need to be familiar with Holmes to love it - readers both acquainted and new can dive into a new set of mysteries with a classic sense of Sherlock Holmes. Laurie R. King reimagines the characteristic Holmes story while updating it in a way that makes perfect sense. The mystery will keep readers guessing until the end, and with fourteen books in the series, there is a lot of Russell & Holmes to discover along the way.    

A Song of Ice & Fire
by George R. R. Martin
Cue the Game of Thrones opening theme song! It’s almost time for Game of Thrones to return to TV, but if you haven’t read any of the books – let me tell you – you’re missing out. This is high fantasy in fine form with epic battles, political plots, and more wine drinking than anyone in the seven kingdoms really needs. Fair warning – these books are long, but each is worth the time. With rich detail and a fully realized world, George R.R. Martin paints a vivid picture of just how intricate and complicated medieval politics can be for both the high-born and low-born citizens of Westeros. Swords, secrets, and seduction all work to expand the world of Game of Thrones with plotlines and characters you won’t find in the television version. If you’ve got the time, then the series can be an emotional companion for a good read. There are two more books on the way to complete the series, but the five published so far will keep you busy until the next one arrives. A final note, and most importantly – dragons! You can’t go wrong with those.

The Southern Reach Trilogy
by Jeff VanderMeer
Offering readers science fiction spun with atmospheric horror, I blew through this series manically trying to figure out the mysteries of Area X – a secretive section of quarantined coast line that provides more questions than answers. The first book, Annihilation, ventures into Area X and keeps your view of what’s really going on just out of focus. There’s a very human quality in the storytelling, and author Jeff VanderMeer spins a visceral uneasiness with furtive glances into a story that eggs readers on to the end. The remaining two books take on different perspectives to give readers a wider, yet incomplete, perspective on what’s really going on at the Southern Reach and inside Area X. Unsettling, a little scary, and entirely unexpected is the Southern Reach Trilogy in a nutshell, but, at least in this case, if it came from Area X you may not want to crack it.

Teens
Maggie Mueller, Teen Librarian, offers a sprinkling of mystery, fantasy and romance for young adults.

I Hunt Killers
by Barry Lyga
Thrills, chills and one important question begging to be answered – this series centers on the teenage daughter of an infamous serial killer who becomes a suspect after a string of unsolved murders. So many twists and turns to keep you up at night!

Warcross
by Marie Lu
Emika Chen hacks into the dangerous depths of the virtual reality game Warcross to uncover a security issue. But, her investigation turns up something unexpectedly evil – putting the entire game at risk.

Anna and the French Kiss
by Stephanie Perkins
A gorgeous series following the lives of three teenage girls as they discover the joys and heartbreak of young love.

Children
Children’s Librarian Adeline Miller suggests books that entertain and engage readers of all ages. You’ll want to add a few to your summer reading list.  

Picture Books

Life-Size Farm: Horse, cow, llama, rabbit, and more - an all -new actual-size animal encyclopedia
by Teruyuki Komiya
590 L722 Children's Nonfiction

With stunning photographs that fill its oversized pages, this one-of-a-kind book series features life-sized photographs of more than twenty favorite animals—from aardvark to zebra. Perfect for animal lovers.

Skippyjon Jones
by Judy Schachner
Skippyjon Jones is no ordinary kitten. Oh, no. . . .He's actually El Skippito, a great sword-fighter ready to battle banditos the world over! With a little imagination and a whole lot of fun, this frisky cat dons a mask and cape and takes on a bad bumble-beeto to save the day.

Betty Bunny
by Michael Kaplan
Betty Bunny, a precocious and lovable character, is the youngest member of her rabbit family and she is just learning about some important things in life, such as, patience, greed, truthfulness, working hard and doing things for yourself.

Chapter Books

Tales of Sasha: The Big Secret
by Alexa Pearl
Read about one incredibly special horse named Sasha who discovers that she can fly! With the help of her better-than-best friend Wyatt, Sasha sets out to find other flying horses like her.

Warriors
by Erin Hunter
For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest according to the laws laid down by their ancestors. But now ThunderClan is in grave danger. Rival ShadowClan is growing stronger, a traitor may be hiding in their midst, and rising tensions threaten every cat in the forest.

The Last Apprentice (Revenge of the Witch)
by Joseph Delaney

For years, Old Gregory has been the Spook for the county, ridding the local villages of evil. Now his time is coming to an end. But who will take over for him? Twenty-nine apprentices have tried—some floundered, some fled, some failed to stay alive. Only Thomas Ward is left. He's the last hope, the last apprentice.