Staff Picks: September 2023

Check out some book recommendations from our librarians! Visit the catalog to put a hold on one of these titles or visit us for even more suggestions to expand your reading list!

Melanie

House of Hollows by Krystal Sutherland

Seventeen-year-old Iris Hollow has always been strange. Something happened to her and her two older sisters when they were children, something they can’t quite remember but that left each of them with an identical half-moon scar at the base of their throats.
 
Iris has spent most of her teenage years trying to avoid the weirdness that sticks to her like tar. But when her eldest sister, Grey, goes missing under suspicious circumstances, Iris learns just how weird her life can get: horned men start shadowing her, a corpse falls out of her sister’s ceiling, and ugly, impossible memories start to twist their way to the forefront of her mind.
 
As Iris retraces Grey’s last known footsteps and follows the increasingly bizarre trail of breadcrumbs she left behind, it becomes apparent that the only way to save her sister is to decipher the mystery of what happened to them as children.
 
The closer Iris gets to the truth, the closer she comes to understanding that the answer is dark and dangerous – and that Grey has been keeping a terrible secret from her for years.
 

Rebecca

Masters of Death by Olivie Blake From Olivie Blake, the New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six comes Masters of Death, a story about vampires, ghosts, and death itself!

Viola Marek is a struggling real estate agent, and a vampire. But her biggest problem currently is that the house she needs to sell is haunted. The ghost haunting the house has been murdered, and until he can solve the mystery of how he died, he refuses to move on. Fox D’Mora is a medium, and though is also most-definitely a shameless fraud, he isn’t entirely without his uses—seeing as he’s actually the godson of Death.

When Viola seeks out Fox to help her with her ghost-infested mansion, he becomes inextricably involved in a quest that neither he nor Vi expects (or wants). But with the help of an unruly poltergeist, a demonic personal trainer, a sharp-voiced angel, a love-stricken reaper, and a few high-functioning creatures, Vi and Fox soon discover the difference between a mysterious lost love and an annoying dead body isn’t nearly as distinct as they thought.

 

 

Michelle

Final Approach by John J. Nance

A government investigator looks into the cover-up of a deadly plane crash in this aviation thriller from the New York Times –bestselling author of Lockout . In the control tower at Kansas City International Airport, all the radar displays are red. But for the experienced pilots of North America Airlines, the thunderstorms aren’t the problem: NAA has been cutting costs to stave off bankruptcy, and will do anything to keep their planes in the air.

Unfortunately, no matter what they do, one is on its way down. After the aircraft collides with another plane on the Kansas City runway, in one of the worst aviation disasters of the decade, National Transportation Safety Board investigator Joe Wallingford arrives on the scene. As he studies the wreckage and pieces together the events that led to the tragedy, he realizes there’s far more at play than pilot error or equipment malfunction. Wallingford will have to risk his career—and perhaps even his life—to solve the puzzle of the crash.  

 

 

Ashley

The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare by Kimberly Brock

The fate of the world is often driven by the curiosity of a girl. What happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke remains a mystery, but the women who descended from Eleanor Dare have long known that the truth lies in what she left behind: a message carved onto a large stone and the contents of her treasured commonplace book. Brought from England on Eleanor’s fateful voyage to the New World, her book was passed down through the fifteen generations of daughters who followed as they came of age. Thirteen-year-old Alice had been next in line to receive it, but her mother’s tragic death fractured the unbroken legacy and the Dare Stone and the shadowy history recorded in the book faded into memory. Or so Alice hoped.

In the waning days of World War II, Alice is a young widow and a mother herself when she is unexpectedly presented with her birthright: the deed to Evertell, her abandoned family home and the history she thought forgotten. Determined to sell the property and step into a future free of the past, Alice returns to Savannah with her own thirteen-year-old daughter, Penn, in tow. But when Penn’s curiosity over the lineage she never knew begins to unveil secrets from beneath every stone and bone and shell of the old house and Eleanor’s book is finally found, Alice is forced to reckon with the sacrifices made for love and the realities of their true inheritance as daughters of Eleanor Dare. In this sweeping tale from award-winning author Kimberly Brock, the answers to a real-life mystery may be found in the pages of a story that was always waiting to be written.    

 

 

 

*Updated September 2023*

Staff Picks for March

The staff at the West Bridgewater Public Library read a lot of new books in 2022, but there were some that stood out from the rest. Here are some of our favorite reads of the year. For more recommendations, talk to a librarian the next time you visit!

Melanie

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett A curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town in the far north to study faerie folklore and discovers dark fae magic, friendship, and love, in this heartwarming and enchanting fantasy. Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world’s first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party–or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people. So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily’s research, and utterly confound and frustrate her. But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones–the most elusive of all faeries–lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she’ll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all–her own heart.

Rebecca

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix Grady Hendrix takes on the haunted house in a thrilling new novel that explores the way your past—and your family—can haunt you like nothing else. When Louise finds out her parents have died, she dreads going home. She doesn’t want to leave her daughter with her ex and fly to Charleston. She doesn’t want to deal with her family home, stuffed to the rafters with the remnants of her father’s academic career and her mother’s lifelong obsession with puppets and dolls. She doesn’t want to learn how to live without the two people who knew and loved her best in the world. Most of all, she doesn’t want to deal with her brother, Mark, who never left their hometown, gets fired from one job after another, and resents her success. Unfortunately, she’ll need his help to get the house ready for sale because it’ll take more than some new paint on the walls and clearing out a lifetime of memories to get this place on the market. But some houses don’t want to be sold, and their home has other plans for both of them…  

Michelle

Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen For fans of Hustlers and How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia, the story of two Asian American women who band together to grow a counterfeit handbag scheme into a global enterprise–an incisive and glittering blend of fashion, crime, and friendship from the author of Bury What We Cannot Take and Soy Sauce for Beginners. Money can’t buy happiness… but it can buy a decent fake. Ava Wong has always played it safe. As a strait-laced, rule-abiding Chinese American lawyer with a successful surgeon as a husband, a young son, and a beautiful home–she’s built the perfect life. But beneath this façade, Ava’s world is crumbling: her marriage is falling apart, her expensive law degree hasn’t been used in years, and her toddler’s tantrums are pushing her to the breaking point. Enter Winnie Fang, Ava’s enigmatic college roommate from Mainland China, who abruptly dropped out under mysterious circumstances. Now, twenty years later, Winnie is looking to reconnect with her old friend. But the shy, awkward girl Ava once knew has been replaced with a confident woman of the world, dripping in luxury goods, including a coveted Birkin in classic orange. The secret to her success? Winnie has developed an ingenious counterfeit scheme that involves importing near-exact replicas of luxury handbags and now she needs someone with a U.S. passport to help manage her business–someone who’d never be suspected of wrongdoing, someone like Ava. But when their spectacular success is threatened and Winnie vanishes once again, Ava is left to face the consequences. Swift, surprising, and sharply comic, Counterfeit is a stylish and feminist caper with a strong point of view and an axe to grind. Peering behind the curtain of the upscale designer storefronts and the Chinese factories where luxury goods are produced, Kirstin Chen interrogates the myth of the model minority through two unforgettable women determined to demand more from life.

Kaitlyn

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black A runaway queen. A reluctant prince. And a quest that may destroy them both. Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge. Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and the one person with power over her mother, fled to the human world. There, she lives feral in the woods. Lonely, and still haunted by the merciless torments she endured in the Court of Teeth, she bides her time by releasing mortals from foolish bargains. She believes herself forgotten until the storm hag, Bogdana chases her through the night streets. Suren is saved by none other than Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame, to whom she was once promised in marriage and who she has resented for years. Now seventeen, Oak is charming, beautiful, and manipulative. He’s on a mission that will lead him into the north, and he wants Suren’s help. But if she agrees, it will mean guarding her heart against the boy she once knew and a prince she cannot trust, as well as confronting all the horrors she thought she left behind.  

Ashley

The Strange Inheritance of Leah Fern by Rita Zoey Chin

A luminous coming of age story about a fiercely lonely young woman’s quest to uncover the truth behind her mother’s disappearance. Born in a carnival trailer, Leah Fern begins her life as the “The Youngest and Very Best Fortuneteller in the World,” taking strangers’ hands and feeling the depths of their emotions. Her mother Jeannie Starr is a captivating magician, but not always an attentive mother, and when Leah is six, Jeannie upends their carnival life with an unexpected exit. With little fanfare and no explanation, she leaves her daughter at the home of Edward Murphy, a kindly older man with whom Leah shares one fierce wish: that Jeannie Starr will return to them. After fifteen years as a small-town outcast, Leah decides to end her life on the occasion of her twenty-first birthday. But the intricate death ritual she has devised is interrupted by a surprise knock on her door. Her mysterious neighbor, the curmudgeonly and reclusive art photographer Essie East, has died and left Leah a very strange inheritance. Through a series of letters, Essie will posthumously lead Leah on a journey to nine points on the map, spanning from South Carolina to Canada to the Arctic Circle—a journey that, the first note promises, will reveal the story of Leah’s mother. Driven by a ferocious resurgence of hope, Leah embarks on this bizarre treasure hunt, Essie’s ashes in a jeweled urn in the passenger seat of her truck. Along her way, she visits islands, libraries, diners, and defunct ice cream parlors, meeting a charming cast of eccentric characters and immersing herself in wonders of the natural world. An enchanting novel about the transcendent powers of the imagination, the magic of the threshold between past and present, and the courage it takes to love, The Strange Inheritance of Leah Fern explores the unlikely, at times adversarial, and ultimately redemptive relationship between a young woman who has forgotten how to live and a dead woman who summons her to remember.

    *Updated March 2022*

A Court of Thorns and Roses book review

A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)A Court of Thorns and Roses
by Sarah J. Maas
YAF/Novel/Fantasy Fiction/High Fantasy

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas is an enemies-to-lovers story which follows the main protagonist, Feyre Archeron. As Feyre is human, and when she goes into the magical land of Prythian, she is suddenly surrounded by lethal predators: fairies (fae in the story’s terms). As we see things through the eyes of Feyre, we too learn of the complex history and issues that living in Prithian entails. 

A Court of Thorns and Roses is the first of the series of five. In my opinion, the books only get better, and that is saying something because the first book is fun and captivating to read. However, my only caveat is that if you have a problem reading long books, I would suggest finding a different book series. On the other hand, if you are interested in a lover’s story, a world of powers and fantasy, and overcoming great evil at the hands of a dictator, then this book is for you.

-Eric Ames

Be More Chill book review

Be More Chill by [Ned Vizzini]Be More Chill
by Ned Vizzini
YAF/Science Fiction 

The novel Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini is about Jeremy Heere, a typical teenage boy who faces the ups and downs of high school like a normal kid would. Unfortunately for Jeremy, popularity and the social scene always works against him, but as the story evolves, Jeremy finds a “squip”- a piece of technology that speaks in his head- which helps him transform into a “cooler” person. While the squip may seem like a positive force at first, Jeremy soon realizes that it is completely changing him and discovers that the best version of himself is who he truly is. 

I found this book enjoyable. The concept of this book is unlike anything I have encountered. I think the moral of the story – being your authentic self – as cliché as it is, is important, especially for younger kids and adolescents who are in search of who they are, as obstacles such as social media and high school set a stage of competition among everyone. With this knowledge in mind, I give this book a thumbs up.

– Eric Ames

Reading Goals and Challenges

Starting a new year is always a good time to refresh or set new goals. If you are a reader and hope to read more, now is your chance. Below are a few practical goal ideas for you to apply. 

Reading more:

The best way to read more is by setting a numerical goal- within reason. For example, let’s say you read 15 books this year, then maybe you want to read 20 books next year. It’s essential not to give yourself a huge gap in books read from the year before to the next; otherwise, you may be biting off more than you can chew. Having a vision gives yourself direction. If you don’t have a clear destination, how do you know if you will ever get there?

Diversify genres:

Reading a lot of books is important; along the way, reading diverse genres will make the process more enjoyable and, more importantly, broaden your horizon. While it is fun to stick to what you know and like, how would you know if you like a new genres if you never try them? 

Spend more time reading:

Most people aim to read more books, but it doesn’t always matter how many books you read, so long as you simply dedicate time to reading. Wanting to read more books is a good way to spend more time reading, some people read quickly. However, there is nothing wrong with those who read slower, as it lets you immerse yourself more fully into the author’s work and gives you more time to contemplate the ideas the author is presenting. 

This year, set your reading goals. READ. READ. READ. Don’t stop reading if only for a new book. Good Luck!

– Eric Ames, Reporter

Thankful for Reading

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to emphasize being thankful. So today, I would like to do something unique; I want to step away from the joy reading gives me and focus on a few objective benefits reading provides – specifically, the benefits I see in my everyday life.

Your vocabulary expands

When I read, I always pick up on new words- some of which I can guess based on the context and some words need to be defined. Regardless, seeing new words used in contexts can help you understand those words. A benefit from having a robust vocabulary can improve understanding in all forms of conversation – listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Who doesn’t want that?  

Stress reducer 

Reading makes me feel calm. It is important to step away from our present situations, to take a breath of fresh air. By taking my mind to a world beyond my own, I feel as though reading keeps me grounded. Having a chance to step away from my fast-paced life, made complex through stressors and problems, shows me that outlets are not just important but essential – and that’s exactly what reading grants you.

Improves ability to empathize 

It is no surprise that spending time in the mind of the characters we read about heightens our ability to sense and understand the emotions of the people around us. This ability is termed “Theory of Mind,” which helps us navigate and build our social relations. 

These are just a few benefits reading can yield, and for that, I am thankful. So, this Thanksgiving, treat yourself and go to the West Bridgewater Public Library, for there is much to be thankful for when you read. 

-Eric Ames, Reporter

 

Reading Can Play a Significant Role in Your LIfe

Reading can play a significant role in your life. It offers stability, imagination, and an outlet. For these reasons, I want to share a list of a few books that I have read in the past year for which I am thankful. 

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson- Four strangers meet at a haunted house under the guidance of Dr. Montague who is there to inspect whether the rumors of the house being haunted are true or not. Though, the ending has a twist. This book is a classic. Reading this book puts you inside the character, Eleanor’s mind. When the story finished, I got chills. I could appreciate the unpredictable plot of this book. 

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson- Merricat, Constance, and their Uncle Julian are isolated from society due to a family tragedy that happened six years prior. Their cousin Charles comes to their house, bent on stealing the family fortune. Because The Haunting of Hill House was a great read, I decided to pick up another book by Shearly Jackson- so I settled on this one. This book is clever in the way that it chooses its language. I found this book had language that graced upon the prospect of fantasy- cleverly portraying the out-of-touch psychological status of the protagonist, Marricat. Overall, I liked this book for its imagination, however, The Haunting of Hill House takes the cake in terms of terror. 

Scythe (Trilogy) by Neal Shusterman-  TheScythe books are of a utopian future, where the population has conquered death. Though, the earth cannot sustain such a large population, therefore, scythes, as the book called them, would go around and glean people. With great power comes great responsibility, and some scythes abuse that responsibility… I enjoyed the Scythe trilogy- especially the first book. I would say, if you wanted to stop reading at the end of book 1, you could do so as the plot wraps up quite well. I did not enjoy the 2nd and 3rd books as much as the first. These books were deep as they brought to mind philosophical questions. Great reads!  

You can find these books and many others at the WBPL, so come on down!

-Eric Ames, Reporter

The library is a resource for students

The Library is a Great Resource for Students

As pandemic restrictions dissipate and as summer comes to a close, this can only mean one thing: kids are going back to school.

Of course, to do well in school, you need to have the resources: a computer, a printer, material to study, etc etc. There is no need to fear because the West Bridgewater Public Library is here! Need a device to type your essays? The library has computers. Need a place to print them? The library has printers. In fact, the Library has much more than these basics necessities. For instance, if you need a pointer in English class, there is material you can check out to help you excel. Even the daunting, annual summer reading can be solved by going to the library and checking out the book. During all this time utilizing the resources here, when you stop and take a rejuvenating breath of fresh air and focus on your surroundings, you will notice the serene, quiet environment.

So please, students of all ages, know the library is here for you.

Eric Ames, reporter

30th Anniversary of present library building

The Library’s 30th Anniversary

On Saturday September 18th, the West Bridgewater Public Library celebrated its 30th anniversary. The current director, Ellen Snoeyenbos, talked about how the past years of being the library director have felt special to her. When reflecting on her time in office, Ellen and the library staff made the library a talking point for the community- and more, the face of town unity. Towards the end of her speech, after reflecting on her tenure as director, she mentioned her date of retirement and passing the torch to Laura Williams on November 6th as the new library director for our town.

Last but not least, the previous Director of the WBPL, Beth Roll Smith, spoke briefly discussing the library’s history. In her speech, the central theme was about what the library stood for: education, information, entertainment, and community involvement. The library has successfully implemented each of these cornerstones making them the very foundation for the library and for members of our town to reflect upon and enjoy for many generations to come.

Eric Ames, reporter

The library serves in many ways

 

Have you ever wondered what makes something extraordinary? Well, look no further, today I will be discussing just that. Only, I won’t be giving any definition; instead, I will describe my observations of what makes the West Bridgewater Public Library the crown of libraries. 

About a year ago, I entered the Library intending to get a book for my summer reading, I succeeded. Along the way, however,  I found board games! After checking out my book, I walk back for a closer look. My eyes saw games ranging from chutes and ladders to card games and checkers. In fact, the designated children’s section of our library has so much more including storytime and occasional baby chicks, and even bunnies to enjoy! So what else does the library offer? Why should you come here?

The WBPL has a few more tricks up their sleeve.  We have a passport service where you can fill out a form to get your passport, we have ancestry.com, the library also has organized events, such as an outdoor stargazing which turnout out to be so cool that everyone’s night was filled with oooh’s, and ahhh’s! There are many more wonderful ongoing events at the library. To top it all off, you will meet a compassionate team working behind the curtain to make your trip, in your definition, extraordinary.

Eric Ames