A Paradise of Small Houses by Max Podemski

Title: A Paradise of Small Houses: The Evolution, Devolution, and Potential Rebirth of Urban Housing
Author: Max Podemski
Genre: Non-fiction

Do you love small houses, urbanism, walkable communities, history, or architecture? All of the above? Then this is the book for you!! Podemski looks at different cities in the United States and the ways that urban housing evolved in these cities, what it teaches us about mixed use neighborhoods and urban development, and why it was able to build such strong and vibrant communities. It also points to a future of smaller, more dense housing as a real possibility and bright spot in development and as a possible answer to some of our most pressing problems. I love my small, urban house, and I loved reading this book about other small urban homes!

- Meagan

Check out A Paradise of Small Houses by Max Podemski @ the library!

Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova

Title: Kiss the Girl
Author: Zoraida Córdova
Genre: Romance

Ariel del Mar is ready to step away from the limelight and take a break after her last concert as one of the Siren Seven. With the promise of a year off, Ariel walks off the stage, and into another opportunity presented by her father, a solo career. Seeking any kind of normal life, Ariel sneaks out with her sisters to a concert by an up and coming band, and runs into dreamy lead singer Eric Reyes. 

Eric Reyes’ band is about to hit big, and when he runs into the girl of his dreams. He only knows her as Melody, and offers her a job on his tour. His band is everything, and he promises the rest of the crew that he won’t “Eric Reyes” it up, and break this girl’s heart. 

A modern musical retelling of the Little Mermaid, this book will have romance readers cheering Ariel/ Melody to find her voice, and for Eric to realize what is in front of him.

- Katie

Check out Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova @ the library!

Maame by Jessica George

Title: Maame
Author: Jessica George 
Genre: Fiction

Set in London, Maddie, a young woman struggles to find her identity in her professional life as well as her home life. Having received the name "Maame" which means "woman" in Twi, Maddie is trying her best to live up to the expectations of this title by caring for her ill father, their home, her mother's demands for Maddie to find a husband and also figuring out the type of woman she wants to become. Once faced with a life changing event, Maddie is then forced into decisiveness that brings her closer to her true identity. This book has a great balance of wit, sadness, and revelation for those going through transitional periods in their lives or a quarter life crisis.

- Bianca

Check out Maame by Jessica George @ the library!

Everest, Inc. by Will Cockrell

Title: Everest, Inc.: The Renegades and Rogues Who Built an Industry at the Top of the World
Author: Will Cockrell
Genre: Non-fiction

Everest has become known as a mountain that is "easy" to climb if you have enough money to hire a guide and pay a company to support you. This book examines how that guiding industry grew, the hiccups along the way, and how it is changing in the wake of various tragedies, climate change, and other cultural shifts in Nepal. It's a pretty fascinating look at a place that has captured the imaginations of so many. If you read "Into Thin Air" at an impressionable age like I did, you'll love this look at the guiding industry and how it has changed since 1996.

- Meagan

Check out Everest, Inc. by Will Cockrell @ the library!