Our librarians are recommending a great mix of reads for all ages to help pass the time while Safer at Home.
Adults
Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit
by Michael Finkel
This is the true story of Christopher Knight aka The North Pond Hermit who lived in near total isolation in the Maine woods from 1986 to 2013, surviving by wits and, unfortunately, by stealing from nearby cabins and camps. I found the story of someone who willingly chose decades of isolation to be fascinating. There’s something weirdly romantic about it, in a Walden sort of way, while also being a bit sad.

The More Than Complete Hitchhiker’s Guide
by Douglas Adams
This collects the entire Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series and is the funniest thing I have ever read. When I need a literary pick me up, I always come back to the whimsical, highly improbable adventures of Arthur, Zaphod, Ford, and, of course, Marvin as they bounce around the galaxy. It reminds me things will probably be OK, as long as I know where my towel is, and, Don’t Panic.

The Complete Cosmicomics
by Italo Calvino
A collection of 12 short stories which all begin with a scientific fact, or at least what was held as fact in 1968 when they were published, and then build a whimsical, absurdist, and sometimes touching story around them. Most of the stories center around Qfwfq, who witnesses everything from the Big Bang, to the creation of time and space, human evolution, etc. Even in translation, the prose is so much fun to read. With some extra time on my hands I hope to finally finish all the stories, if only my kids would let me quietly read for more than five minutes!

Teens
Beauty Queens
by Libba Bray
When a plane crash leaves 13 beauty contestants stranded on a mysterious island, they’re left with little food, little water, and practically no eyeliner. What’s a beauty queen to do? Continue to practice for the talent portion of the program, or wrestle snakes to the ground? Beauty Queens is witty, satirical, and sarcastic. If you have a dark sense of humor, this is the book for you.

Don’t Get Caught
by Kurt Dinan
To his great surprise, uncool 11th-grader Max Cobb is invited to join the Chaos Club, an exclusive group of students responsible for some of the biggest pranks at his high school. But when the invitation turns out to be a setup, Max wants revenge. Filled with pranks, jokes and self-deprecating humor, Don’t Get Caught is a fun, quick read.

Camp Midnight
by Steven T. Seagle
Skye is not happy when she finds out her dad and “step-monster” are sending her to summer camp, so to spite them, she decides she will purposefully have a miserable time and not fit in. But as it turns out, that will be easy for Skye to do because her parents accidentally sent her to a camp for monsters. But don’t worry, this graphic novel isn’t too scary, and Skye’s sarcasm and dark humor will have you laughing out loud.

Children
More recommendations for children can be found here.
Picture Books
Glasswings: A Butterfly’s Story
by Elisa Kleven
Join Claire, a glasswing butterfly, and her friends as they set off to find flowers’ nectar Claire needs to live. As she cross-pollinates, a beautiful and colorful urban garden starts to grow.

A Surprise for Rosie
by Julia Rawlinson
Daddy Rabbit has a surprise for Rosie. As she sets off across the meadow in search of her surprise, she gets clues along the way from her animal friends.

Hokey Pokey: Another Prickly Love Story
by Lisa Wheeler
Are you ready to dance? Barb the hedgehog loves to dance but Cushion the porcupine has two left feet. Will they ever learn to dance together? Will you join them?

Chapter Books
A Nearer Moon
by Melanie Crowder
This story takes readers to a truly charming, enchanted village. But beware! The river water will make you gravely ill if you drink it. When her sister contracts the illness, Luna shows her strength and determination to find a cure. Kids and their adults will be drawn in by the huge heart found in this slim volume.

Gregor the Overlander
by Suzanne Collins
While Safer at Home, readers may find themselves craving adventure. Sprinkle in suspense and you might find your next good read in this dark fantasy from the author of the Hunger Games. From excellent character-building of the creatures that inhabit the “Underworld” of New York City to the thought provoking ethical and moral dilemmas presented, this is a gem that, lucky for us, has four more in the series!
*Available on Overdrive as an ebook or audio book

Elijah of Buxton
by Christopher Paul Curtis
Elijah is the first free-born member of a Canadian settlement made up of former slaves who ran away. Curtis’ award-winning writing delivers humor, suspense and vivid historical detail as Elijah pursues a thief over the border into America. There, he sees firsthand, what his older family members had to endure in this pre-Civil War Era. The audio version is even more authentic with the dialect used.
*Available on Overdrive as an ebook or audio book.