Trust me, I have avoided any angst-ridden teen books since the pandemic began. But when I read a review of Agnes at the End of the World and the reviewer said they were pretty much doing the same thing but had picked up this book about a pandemic – during a pandemic – and loved it, I made an exception. And I'm glad I did. Fascinating audiobook. Well read. I was pulled right in. It's set in a religious community dominated by men, focusing primarily on Agnes, who used to feel God everywhere (until she had it beaten out of her) and otherwise is unquestioningly devoted to her family and her faith and faith community ... oh, except for that thing about having contact with the outside world so she can get her little brother medication for his diabetes condition. Both are forbidden. Which leads to learning about the plague that has not yet touched her community but soon will. Got to say I loved a plague that was undeniably happening – infected people and animals turned scaly and red within moments of being infected. But I loved Agnes and her sister and brother even more. And a couple of those outsiders, too. 
 

Jamie Mayo , Youth & Family Engagement 

The latest in a series set in Quebec, featuring many quirky characters. The current book moves to Paris with some of the characters, and the plot has many twists and turns!
 

Judy K., Central Reference, Central Library

I wasn’t initially sold by the book jacket summary of Teddy Wayne’s Apartment, but I decided to take a chance and was well rewarded. The unnamed narrator of Wayne’s story is a graduate student in a prestigious writing program at Columbia University in the mid-1990s. The eponymous apartment is granted to him by a family member at nearly no cost. While easing his student life, the apartment serves as a mark of class and privilege that causes discomfort among the rough-and-tumble world of wannabe writers just scraping by that he inhabits. To gain companionship – and ease his own guilt – the narrator invites a gifted student from the program to take his extra room at no charge. Things go well at first, but the relationship causes new tensions arising from the duo’s divergent class backgrounds, jealousy, masculinity, sexuality, and just how difficult it is for men to form lasting friendships with these specters always looming in the background.
 

Michael Wells, Missouri Valley Special Collections

First, I must mention the cover; that is what originally sold me on this book. It's so simple, yet breathtaking. The color contrast ... OMG! It just interprets the book so well. From the very beginning to the end, I was captivated. Rebecca Roanhorse does an amazing job of transporting readers to the pre-Columbian Americas era. The representation in this book is so necessary. A cast containing people of color who identify as gay, nonbinary, and everything in between? Yes, please! A sea captain who has such a deep connection with the sea that her crew admire/fear her? Sign me up! I am now a forever fan of Rebecca Roanhorse. The Between Earth and Sky trilogy will definitely have a place on my bookshelf. Can’t wait for the sequel!
 

Jasmine S., Plaza Branch

Brilliant research into pre-Columbia Mesoamerica combines with magic, prophecy, and dirty politics to create one of the most engaging reads of the year. Complete with a spectrum of LGBTQIA representation, this Own Voices fantasy tells a story at once familiar in premise and totally new.
 

Matthew Scrivner, Waldo Branch

A gritty, tense, cinematic crime thriller set in a sleepy Southern town. This debut is *anything* but somnambulistic. Beauregard is determined to turn his life around, but to complete the 180 he'll need one last score as the brains behind a jewelry heist. Your heart will race as fast as the souped-up engine in Bug's getaway car.
 

Kaite Stover, Readers' Services

A fizzy LGBT rom-com with heart and wit that makes the most out of the "fake relationship/opposites attract" plot device. British tabloids' favorite bad-boy fodder, Luc, needs to be reformed in a hurry. Uptight barrister Oliver fills that role. Snappy dialogue and steamy encounters ensue.
 

Kaite Stover, Readers' Services

Jemisin's voice and worldbuilding are always a joy. This is the first book in a new trilogy that I cannot wait to get lost in. She personifies New York City as the five shattered boroughs in a universe where cities are sentient and there is something dark on the edge of existence that is trying to make its way inside.
 

Ryan Reed, Central Library, OneNorth Technology Center

This novella documents a 30-something convenience store worker’s obsession with her part-time job. She finds purpose in this role and a filter for understanding those around her, a comfort she relinquishes to pursue a job and a relationship that conform to Japanese social norms. I enjoyed the unsettling narration and fully relate to the grounding effects of a daily rhythm.
 

Andrea G., OneNorth Technology Center

Having read the first Darius book last year, I was excited to return to this gentle, vulnerable teen’s nuanced perspective of ordinary events. His loved ones are supportive of his growing pains, but even good relationships have day-to-day difficulties that can seem larger than life.
 

Ryan Reed, Central Library, OneNorth Technology Center

This is a dark, disturbing, psychological thriller. Sick and twisted, and perfect in every way.
 

Diana Ash, North-East Branch

I really enjoy Ottessa Moshfegh’s novels, and her newest work Death in Her Hands did not disappoint. Her characters are typically distant and detached introverts most comfortable-ish in their own heads, and Vesta, an elderly widow relocated to rural Montana from the East Coast, is perhaps Moshfegh’s most distant creation. Her isolation is not only mirrored by Vesta’s living situation – a cabin at the edge of the wilderness she shares with her dog – it comes through in Moshfegh’s story structure. Long, uninterrupted chapters are comprised of one dull task bleeding into another as Vesta humorously interprets the day-to-day monotony. Her routine is upset when she finds a mysterious note while hiking in the woods. Shifting into full Agatha Christie mode, she intends to get to the bottom of things. As she investigates, lines between the case and the consequences of her own life begin to blur, and the clues seem to reveal more about Vesta’s past than the sinister-seeming note.
 

Michael Wells, Missouri Valley Special Collections

The period of 1792 in European politics has always been fascinating, and this novel sets the struggles for independence from monarchy and slavery against a backdrop of a Europe savaged by a medieval war against vampires and dark magic. As these threats seem to recur, events and people around the world converge in their historically attested patterns, but with new and fascinating magical drives.   
 

Matthew Scrivner, Waldo Branch

I love any read that encourages self-care and loving yourself. The art in this graphic novel is also amazing, and I love supporting women illustrators and authors.
 

Karla, Central Library, OneNorth Technology Center

This was such a timely book with the focus on social justice. The characters are well-drawn, and I found myself riveted by their narratives.
 

Deborah G., North-East Branch

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Watch video from Gabriel Bump’s virtual Library presentation on August 5, 2020. Event Details | Event Video

I love spoopy books and my cousin lives in L.A., so this graphic novel series was meant for me. I really enjoyed the recommendations to businesses at the end of each comic. I actually send bakery recommendations to my cousin in Cali so she can try them, and she has already been to a few! All of the Ghosted books are available thru hoopla.
 

Karla, Central Library, OneNorth Technology Center

I cannot stop talking about Mandel. She creates characters and stories that tear at our hearts to make them grow stronger. Her characters are troubled and alone, but they are powerful. Every book I read from Mandel makes me want to try harder to make something beautiful.
 

Ryan Reed, Central Library, OneNorth Technology Center

This former Kansas City Public Library staff member's new book celebrates Black boys - "I am good to the core, like the center of a cinnamon roll. Yeah, that good." The words beg to be read aloud. The vibrancy of Gordon James’ illustrations bring even more life to this amazing book. Already named a recipient of the Kirkus Prize, this picture book is not to be missed.
 

Crystal Faris, Youth & Family Engagement

I am a huge fan of all of Susan Verde’s works, so I snatched this picture book up the moment it was released. From Reynolds' gorgeous and diverse watercolor illustrations to Verde’s inspiring prose, it shows young readers that no person or action is too small to make a difference.
 

Alli Bernskoetter, Central Youth Services

Sometimes, reading brings escape and comfort as well as some deeper truths. Travel to England in this story of Kate, whose life falls apart on her 40th birthday. She finds herself volunteering at the Home for Exceptional Ladies, where she meets the rude yet fascinating, 97-year-old Cecily, who shares a special cookbook with her. Almost made me want to cook.
 

Crystal Faris, Youth & Family Engagement

Lou's plans for the summer did not include being sent from her home in Canada to the Tasmanian rainforest to stay with an uncle she does not know. And yet, she finds her place working to save a Tasmanian tiger she glimpses one evening. Fascinating ecological story of a unique place, featuring great characters in an absorbing tale.
 

Crystal Faris, Youth & Family Engagement

Creepy and unexpected! You’re intrigued from the first page, and will wonder how much trouble the new young psychiatrist is going to find himself in.
 

Angie H., Trails West Branch / Trail Blazers Book Group

This debut novel from Amy K. Green kept me turning pages! It wove the stories of two sisters, one who had been murdered and the other trying to find out who really did it. I love that it kept you guessing, and in the end, it was hard to believe the truth.  
 

Angie H., Trails West Branch / Trail Blazers Book Group

This audiobook was a delight. Narrator Leslie Manville captures the characters beautifully. I love the idea of old folks in a senior living community solving crimes despite being blown off by the constables -- or at least the authorities tried to blow them off after realizing they were being played. But they just couldn't quite get a handle on how or what to do about it. Besides, the old folks were actually getting some interesting information pulled to light and were quite willing to share for the small price of admission to the game. I highly recommend giving yourself the gift of some time with the residents of Coopers Chase Retirement Village -- Elizabeth, Ibrahim, Joyce, and Ron -- as they jump from reviewing cold cases in the jigsaw room on Thursdays into the heat of solving a couple of current murders connected to Coopers Chase itself.
 

Jamie Mayo, Youth & Family Engagement

Vivian's writing is always full of great characters and relationship twists. We Are The Wildcats is her best work yet, spinning a tale of the sisterhood of athletes and the strength of young women. This story is amazingly told across a single night with enough recollection to make you feel very close to these ladies as the book comes to an end. Just a blast to read.
 

Ryan Reed, Central Library, OneNorth Technology Center

The writing in this novel is beautifully done in third person and captures all three siblings amazingly. It even shows the multiple dynamics of families and the impact that can have on children growing up. Erin Entrada Kelly is a wonderful storyteller, and this book shows it.
 

Alisha H., Central Library, OneNorth Technology Center

Jenny Offill’s third novel Weather focuses on a librarian named Lizzie weighed down by a host of problems, both personal and professional – not to mention our shared existential dread heightened by the 24-hour news cycle. Not to worry; her protagonist manages these burdens with wry humor and sarcasm. Offill’s unconventional structure may throw off some readers, her pages crammed with isolated shortish paragraphs, each capturing a momentary thought or interaction that Lizzie experiences throughout her day. However, once accustomed, adventurous readers begin to piece together the bigger picture of her life. The herky-jerky prose also mirrors the way many experience the world today – constantly Googling this or that, hopping from one task to another on multiple monitors, and of course, succumbing to the lure of doomscrolling.
 

Michael Wells, Missouri Valley Special Collections

This anthology shares voices representing the heart and soul of Indian Country and should be on every bookshelf in America. The collection of poems was selected by current U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo and other noteworthy editors. No matter where you are on your journey, there are words to offer you strength from over 160 authors including Pulitzer Prize winner N. Scott Momaday.
 

Cindy Hohl, Library Services

This beautifully and vibrantly illustrated picture book celebrates the development of each child’s unique character and the unconditional love of their parents. A Black mother asks her young son if he will be kind like his daddy, curious like his uncle, or adventurous like his auntie. Each question is easily transferable to young children reading the book, making them ask themselves “who will I be?” with the confidence that, whatever the answer, they will be loved.
 

Alli Bernskoetter, Central Youth Services

During shutdown, I got a chance to read a gift from years ago. The insanity of time, space, and reality in this fiction book mirrored many of the same feelings I was/am having about our intended current reality. If you lean toward schadenfreude instead of escapism, this could be a timely read for you!
 

Elaine Bilyeu, TechAccess

It is a compelling look at the rise of the U.S. (from roughly 1800 to 1860) through the eyes of a family and small community in Ohio. Not only does it present a compelling presentation of life in that place and time, it is a reminder of how much big issues, though they may be determinative in one's life, are often ignored or barely thought about in the day-to-day life of a local community.
 

Bernard N., Bluford Branch

A woman delivers books in rural Kentucky to people longing to read. Despite poverty and hard times, the written word prevails. As an interesting note, the reader learns about the Blue People who lived in eastern Kentucky.
 

Judy K., Central Reference, Central Library

I read this for Barista's Book Group and think it resonated because not only is it beautifully written, it also is as far from the world of 2020 as it is possible to be,while still touching on issues close to my heart. The audiobook is unbelievable!
 

Diana Platt, Collection Development

This is the second book in The Expanse series, a contemporary cyber-punk thriller that is big on action, adrenaline, and attitude. The creative storytelling has lots of fresh elements for the casual sci-fi reader or space stories fanatic. Politics are there for readers who enjoy futuristic ideas about interstellar political theater. Corey also offers unique characters and a convincing level of plot detail. Book 2 carries the torch from Book 1, and it is not disappointing. Fun fact: The "juice" is a special kind of intravenous adrenaline injection for space travelers. Spaceships have these injectors built into the "crash couch" (aka the pilot's cockpit, ship battle stations, and flight chairs). The characters often use the juice when engaged in high-G battle maneuvers or high-speed chase sequences. It's kind of like a space traveler's medical necessity because it keeps the human body's vital organs alive and amped up on adrenaline as the characters are traveling at high velocity, whipping around the galaxy, fighting the good fight, and pushing the human body to extreme survival limits. Awesome with a capital "A."   
 

Buddy Hanson, Waldo Branch

As the Devil's general says at the end, hell's librarian Clare Hadley leaves a trail of destruction through three realms in her search for a fragment of the Devil's Bible. But not alone: she has the help of a demon, ravens, damsels, a banished muse, and heroes who have escaped their unwritten books. Antagonists include hell hounds and angels. A bit more erudite than the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde, both amusing and poignant with a literal duel of words in Valhalla, hell hounds who can't quite get through the door, and lost loves found again. As Clare says, you get the afterlife you think you deserve.
 

Beth P., Plaza Branch

If you read any review about this book, it is going to tell you that you won't be able to put it down. Can confirm! Just imagine if you could find your soulmate based on a DNA match ... and then you're matched with a serial killer?! Or someone of the same sex when you have always identified as hetero? Or someone who is NOT your spouse? Cancel your plans, you'll be reading all night.
 

Kim Gile, Community Reference

I love Alice Hoffman's characters! Even though this is not a 2020 publication, a trip into the magically real world of her Owens family is a fun escape from current realities. This trilogy is wonderful, and The Rules of Magic is the fascinating second book. You will meet Suzanna Owens' children Frannie, Jet, and Vincent, all equally talented and unique in their ability to stand out as original and unforgettable. As hard as their mother tries to impress upon them the need to hide their talents, they cannot deny who and what they are in fulfilling their destinies.
 

Deborah G., North-East Branch

This prequel to The Black Witch Chronicles series is a remarkably imaginative YA fantasy, Wandfasted is the story of Mage Tessla Harrow, the mother of Elloren Gardner, the heroine of the series. Tessla's experiences in trying to evacuate her family from Keltania in the midst of a war provide insight into the ethnic, religious and gender oppression at the heart of the main series. This love story, however, provides a respite from most of that. I really enjoy the way elemental magic defines the characters and figures into their relationships. The book is available by itself or as one of two books in The Rebel Mages.
 

Beth P., Plaza Branch