The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

Title: The School for Good Mothers 

Author: Jessamine Chan

Genre: Dystopian

Frida had a bad day. A really bad day. On Frida's bad day she left her 1 year old home alone for over 2 hours. The police were called. Custody was given to Frida's ex-husband and his girlfriend--the woman he left Frida for. To regain custody rights, Frida must attend a reform school for 1 year where she will learn to be a better mother. Frida and the other mothers, with varying offenses, must recite, "I am a bad mother, but I am learning to be good." Each mother is paired with a lifelike child robot as they learn to be "good." Mothers are recorded, psychoanalyzed, and abused as they work to achieve a moving target that's reward is the return of their children.

A timely dystopian story that will have you both judging the mother's choices and empathizing with their plight.

- Beth

Check out The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan @ the library!

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

Title: Beartown

Author: Fredrik Backman

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Do you ever look for a book that can make you cheer? Cry? Hope? And really think about the world that you are living in? 

This book doesn't offer any simple answers. It is a vivid account of a town torn apart by the events of a single night, and of the week that followed. It is about a town that is built on dreams, and that survives by casting those dreams on the newest generations. It is a town that is united by hockey... and torn apart by hockey, just as easily. 

This story, this town, this community stole my heart and made me wish, just for a moment, that problems could come with simple solutions. I wished that there was an answer that let everyone win, and ended with everyone feeling satisfied with the consequences. But this book is set in reality, and those answers seldom exist.

However, this book, told from many perspectives embodying the story of the town itself, welcomes the reader in to see the situation from all sides, to genuinely hope for the "little guy" to find the strength to do the right thing, and to be surprised at where loyalties lie when it all falls apart.

Besides, there's a hockey season next year, too.

- Katrina

Check out Beartown by Fredrik Backman @ the library!

Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley

Title: Close Enough to Touch

Author: Colleen Oakley

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Are you someone who is still waiting for this pandemic to end to "go back to normal"? This story is about a woman who is unable to be touched by anyone, and thus stays isolated from the rest of the world. But this isn't a temporary situation, and there's no hope to "go back to normal," as she is allergic to a protein in other people's DNA that isn't present in her own. She was diagnosed as a child, and now lives by herself, mostly conducting her life online or through the occasional phone call. But the circumstances change, and she is forced to leave her own bubble and experience the outside world again. It is a difficult process, but she suddenly lives a life that is filled with much more adventure, love - and danger! - than she had ever imagined. Is it worth it?

- Katrina

Check out Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley @ the library!

Run Towards the Danger by Sarah Polley

Title: Run Towards the Danger

Author: Sarah Polley

Genre: Memoir, Essays

This terrific, beautifully written collection of essays from the actor/director focuses on challenging events in her life and how she learned to run towards the danger to heal. She addresses stage fright, a complicated pregnancy, her version of a Me Too story, a difficult movie shoot, and her recovery from a concussion. She may inspire you to adopt her philosophy! Highly recommend.

- Sarah

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An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

Title: An Absolutely Remarkable Thing

Author: Hank Green

Genre: YA/Sci-Fi

I somehow put off reading this incredible book for years, even though I knew about it before it was published. The description didn't quite hook me, and so I didn't pick it up. This delay is something I regret, because as soon as I did open it, I couldn't stop reading it! An Absolutely Remarkable Thing weaves a story consisting of conspiracy theories and social media, modern culture and those events that happen that don't quite have a clear explanation, and ends up with a story that is certainly more than the sum of its parts! Read this for a timely take on just how much a person can get swept away by the events happening all around them, and the impact a single person can still have on events playing out on an international scale. (And then, be ready to track down the sequel immediately!)

- Katrina

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Joan Is Okay by Weike Wang

Title: Joan is Okay

Author: Weike Wang

Genre: Fiction

Spend time with Joan: a human who prefers machines to people, a workaholic too busy to grieve for her father, a doctor who treats patients at the hospital during the pandemic, a Chinese-American who averts her gaze to avoid anti-Asian sentiments, a woman whose rage remains in her head. Most of the novel takes place before the 2020 lockdown, and the story follows Joan as she attempts to ignore her problems—until she no longer can. There is humor here and a heroine you'll root for. If you enjoyed Normal People or Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, give Joan a try.

- Sarah

Check out Joan Is Okay by Weike Wang @ the library!

Coming Back by Jessi Zabarsky

Title: Coming Back

Author: Jessi Zabarsky  

Genre: Graphic novel, Fantasy, Queer

This graphic novel is whimsically illustrated with a sweet story. It focuses on a young couple that must go on separate journeys to find themselves. They realize that traditions keep you connected to the past but some change can build stronger relationships and communities.

- Gina

Check out Coming Back by Jessi Zabarsky @ the library!