The world of literature is vast, ranging from horror to comedy, fiction to biographical works. No matter your taste or reading skill level, there is always something for you to enjoy! (Warning: many of the books listed below include content that may disturb some readers.)
“Dark and Shallow Lies” by Ginny Myers Sain: (paranormal fiction) (Trigger warning: vomit, violence, self-harm, suicide ideation, domestic abuse, drowning. Ages 15+). Seventeen-year-old Grey had known that something would be different upon her return to La Cachette, a small bayou town in Louisiana and the self-proclaimed “psychic capital of the world.” Her best friend went missing during her visit six months ago and hasn’t shown up since. In this thrilling tale, Grey and her friends must decide how to come to terms with the loss of a friend, but more importantly, who to trust, for not everything is as it seems. Lies are revealed and local horror stories come to life as Grey moves closer to a dangerous truth that perhaps should have stayed buried. Diana Urban, author of All Your Twisted Secrets, describes the book as “[e]nchanting and chilling at once, you’ll instantly get sucked into this atmospheric tale of kindred spirits brimming with secrets that could tear them apart.”
“Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah: (humor, autobiography) (Trigger warning: rape, depictions of racism, violence, murder, sexism and misogynistic language, child abuse. Ages 14+). In New York Times No. 1 bestseller Born a Crime, famous comedian and writer Trevor Noah shares his life story and experiences, from burning down someone’s house with a magnifying glass to being thrown out of the window of a moving car by his mother. He sheds light on typically taboo topics and offers both amusing and profound insight into the effects of apartheid on the people of South Africa. Whether you’re looking for thoughtful, philosophical commentary or a witty, comical depiction of a person’s life, this book is for you. As noted by Newsday, “Noah has a real story to tell … A little scary, but trust me – it’s funny.”
“Good Omens” by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett: (fantasy, humor) (Trigger warning: language, violence, depictions of eating disorders. Ages 12+). You may have seen the TV series, but have you read the book? Good Omens is a humorous, irreverent tale with a colorful cast of characters, the world’s only book of entirely accurate prophecies, and an apocalypse scheduled for next Saturday, just after tea time. New York Times bestselling authors Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman follow the account of a demon and an angel who, having lived on Earth since The Beginning and gained an affinity for mortals, are not so thrilled about the coming of Armageddon… and they may have lost track of the Antichrist along the way. “What’s so funny about Armageddon? More than you’d think … Good Omens has arrived just in time,” says Detroit Free Press, and many others are raving about the book as well. Even if you’ve seen the show, this book still has much for you to discover and relish.
“Black Sun” by Rebecca Roanhorse: (high fantasy) (Trigger warning: graphic violence, suicide, mutilation, alcohol and drug use, language. Ages 14+). Serapio is a young man with a great destiny – or so his mother told him before she threw herself off a cliff to her death. When Serapio was young, his mother carved ritualistic symbols across his body and sewed his eyes shut, saying that someday he would go to the capital city and become a god. Xiala is a rabble-rousing, debt-ridden sea captain with a special connection to her craft: one she keeps hidden for her own safety. Being of the Teek people, Xiala is considered to be a mystical creature and her body parts can be sold as talismans. Naranpa was once a common girl who had the unimaginable fortune to be elevated to the land’s most powerful priesthood, a conclave of holy people known as the Watchers. She recently gained the title of Sun Priest, and as a great celestial event approaches, she feels the pressure of her position more acutely than ever. These three lives converge in the city of Tova during a solar eclipse – but to what end? The author of Black Sun has received much praise for this award winning novel, the first book in a trilogy. The New York Times claims that “Rebecca Roanhorse … [is one] of the Indigenous novelists reshaping North American [literature].”
The Crescent Crier 