Tuesday, August 11, 2020 Reviewed by Alex

In all the Coronavirus chaos over the past few months, staying up-to-date on new books has understandably not made many people's to-do list. And while it's likely you still heard about new releases by heavy-hitters like Patterson, Baldacci, and Coulter, it's much harder to keep track of debut authors and less publicized titles without being able to browse the Library's "New" shelf.

So, here's a round-up of some great books that have come out since March that you may have missed—ready and waiting for you to check them out and enjoy.

The Daughters of Erietown by Connie Schultz

Set in 1950s Ohio, this novel tells the story of a working class family: Brick, Ellie, and their daughter Samantha.  Ellie and Brick fell in love as teenagers. Brick is a basketball star, with the chance to escape his abusive father and become the first of his family to attend college. But when Ellie learns that she is pregnant, they get married, forcing Ellie to give up her dream of nursing school and Brick to carry on the legacy of his blue-collar family. Rife with hidden desires and long-held secrets, this novel explores what people really know about each other and pretend not to.

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The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

A heart-wrenching drama, social criticism, and suspenseful mystery all rolled into one. From the title and first line of this book we know that Vivek Oji is dead—the question is how and why? While unraveling the mystery of Vivek's death, this novel also asks the question, “What does it mean for a family to lose a child they never really knew?” Exploring the complex relationships between friends and family and the struggle Vivek faces with his identity, this vivid novel is full of heart and a compulsive read.

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The Lion's Den by Katherine St. John

When Belle’s best friend, Summer, invites her on a glamorous getaway to the Mediterranean aboard her billionaire boyfriend's yacht, Belle jumps at the chance to take a much-needed break from her dwindling acting career. But once on board the luxurious Lion's Den, it soon becomes clear this is not the dream vacation she imagined.

Trapped on board with a handful of other girls Summer invited, things quickly take a turn for the worst with NDAs, restricted diets, and technology embargos. Turns out Summer’s boyfriend isn’t just rich, he’s also controlling. And he’s not the only person on The Lion’s Den who isn’t what they seem. Summer begins to show her true colors as a vicious gold digger who will stop at nothing to get what she wants. This is Chick Lit with teeth—a perfect poolside read.

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The Year of Witching by Alexis Henderson

In the rigid, puritanical lands of Bethel, Immanuelle Moore’s very existence is considered blasphemy--her mother’s union with an outsider of a different race casting her family into disgrace. As a means to atone for her very existence, Immanuelle devotes herself to following “Holy Protocol” and does her best to lead a life of submission like all women in the settlement.

But after a mishap, Immanuelle finds herself in the forbidden Darkwood where the first prophet killed four powerful witches. Their spirits, still lingering there, bestow a gift on Immanuelle: the journal of her dead mother and the secrets and grim truths about the Church therein.

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Cloven by Garth Stein

Conceived in a privately financed, top-secret laboratory on Washington state's Vashon Island, James Tucker is a a genetically modified cross between a human and a goat—a Cloven. Known to his friends as “Tuck,” all he wants is to live a normal life as a university student and find a true home. Everything is going fine—until he shows a girl his hooves. Fast-paced and funny, this is Book 1 of the dynamic graphic novel series by the author of The Art of Racing in the Rain.

Other new Graphic Novels you may have missed:

See No Stranger by Valarie Kaur

In a book that is part memoir and part manifesto, renowned Sikh activist, filmmaker, and civil rights lawyer Valarie Kaur takes readers through her own riveting journey—her childhood as person of color in California’s farmland; as a young adult galvanized by the murders of Sikhs after 9/11 attacks; as a law student fighting injustice in American prisons and Guantánamo Bay; as an activist working with communities recovering from xenophobic attacks; and as a woman trying to heal from her own experiences with police violence and sexual assault. Drawing from the wisdom of sages, scientists, and activists, Kaur reclaims love as an active, public, and revolutionary force that creates new possibilities for ourselves, our communities, and our world.

Other new Nonfiction you may have missed:

 

 

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