Staff Picks: What We Loved in 2026Like this list

34 items

• A Psalm for the Wild-built

  Chambers, Becky

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  What better way to soak in the vibes of summer than reading about a tea-making monk having a mid-life crisis, fleeing into the wilderness, and meeting a friendly robot? This is basically a book about two oddballs going camping together (very…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion. Volumes 1 & 2

  Brower, Beth

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  Set in the backdrop of St Crispian's area of London in 1883, Emma M Lion is a dynamic character who seems to get herself in all sorts of chaotic situations with a sparkling hilarity that makes you never want to stop reading of her adventures. The…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Summer Hikaru Died. 1

  Mokumokuren (Manga writer)

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  If you're looking for a read that will both evoke the sometimes oppressive heat of summer and the chill of a good fall horror story, check out The Summer Hikaru Died. In this queer horror manga, teen Yoshiki realizes that his best friend Hikaru went…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Travelers Along the Way

  a Robin Hood Remix

  Safi, Aminah Mae

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  Set during the time of the third Crusade to Jerusalem, the story follows Rahma and her sister Zeena, who were fighting in the war despite being female. They were fighting to defend their land against the invading Crusaders. When the war is lost…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Somewhere, a Boy and a Bear

  A.A. Milne and the Creation of "Winnie-the-Pooh"

  Brandreth, Gyles Daubeney, 1948-

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  This biography of AA Milne (creator of Winne the Pooh) and by default, his son Christopher Robin Milne is both heartwarming, and sad at the same time. For someone who created such a happy, whimsical legacy of Winnie the Pooh and his friends, it is…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Thriving Beyond Fifty

  111 Natural Strategies to Restore Your Mobility, Avoid Surgery and Stay Off Pain Pills for Good

  Harlow, Will

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  Written in plain language and with great visuals. Strongly recommend! (Submitted by G.X)

• Strange Houses

  Uketsu

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  Strange Houses is an interesting and refreshingly unique mystery novel. What begins with a strange floor plan in an otherwise ordinary house gradually spirals into an unsettling, mysterious, and occasionally absurd plot. I found it to be a highly…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Correspondent

  a Novel

  Evans, Virginia, 1986-

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  I am loving The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. It is warm, funny, moving. A great read! (Submitted by Monica)

• Our Wives Under the Sea

  Armfield, Julia

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  Leah is not the person she was. As a marine biologist, she has been on countless deep sea explorations, but this time her submarine malfunctioned and sank to the bottom of the sea. She returns... wrong. Miri, her wife, must contend with unnerving…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Shady Hollow

  Black, Juneau

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  Shady Hollow appears to be a lovely sleepy little community set in the woods near a large pond and river where the Mill is set. The inhabitants are animals of various sorts. Joe is a moose and runs the local coffee and pastry shop, Vera is a fox who…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Kamogawa Food Detectives

  Kashiwai, Hisashi, 1952-

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  A slice of life, medium paced, reflective cozy Japanese fiction series. All three books follow the exact same format where a retired detective with amazing culinary skills and his daughter run a low-key diner in Kyoto, and offer peculiar detective…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Yesteryear

  a Novel

  Burke, Caro Claire

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  Attention grabbing. Not a feel-good book. Worthy read (Submitted by Sheri)

• Next Stop

  Fong, Debbie

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  This graphic novel follows a middle schooler named Pia who embarks on a zany bus tour with the end destination of a magical underground lake. The author does an amazing job of using the medium to evoke emotion, balancing very serious and heavy…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Mother Tongue

  a Memoir

  Nović, Sara, 1987-

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  This informative memoir is collection of the author's life experiences and reflections on a variety of topics including deaf culture, adoption, motherhood, disability advocacy, education systems, and language access. Sara writes passionately and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Sun Does Shine

  How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row

  Hinton, Anthony Ray

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  If you think you've got problems, after this book, you may view them in a different light altogether. A very well written book on a heavy subject with a great sense of humour, authenticity, faith, and optimism. Warning: some descriptions are very…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Is This a Cry for Help?

  Austin, Emily (Emily R.)

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  Darcy is a public librarian just returning to work after being away for mental health reasons. Her return to work is complicated by challenges brought against the library by close-minded folk. The twining narratives of Darcy's personal and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Death of Sitting Bear

  New and Selected Poems

  Momaday, N. Scott, 1934-

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  Beautiful, lyrical, emotional, imaginative, and intelligent, these poems were a delight to read. I don’t normally read poetry and thought I would find it challenging, but these poems opened my mind. I enjoyed the creative way he placed his words…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Legends & Lattes

  Baldree, Travis, 1977-

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  It's a cozy fantasy that just feels like a warm hug. The main character, Viv, is a battle hardened orc warrior. She carries a greatsword and is a part of an adventuring group. But, she decides to retire. Seemingly out of the blue after the groups…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Wolf, Moon, Dog

  a Novel

  Wharton, Thomas, 1963-

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  A moving book that will stir all the feels for anyone that loves dogs. Even those that aren't fans of dogs will have their cold hearts warmed after reading this touching book. It feels more like a collection of short stories, told often from the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Nightingale

  Hannah, Kristin

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  I really enjoyed reading about women in WWII: their struggles, friendships, and newfound strength (Submitted by Rajinder)