My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud'homme

Title: My Life in France

Author: Julia Child and Alex Prud'homme

Genre: Autobiography

Written near the end of her life, and with the help of her grand-nephew from her husband's side, Julia tells of her time as a newlywed when she moved to France and began learning how to cook. What started as learning how to be a "proper wife" quickly turned into a passion that changed the trajectory of her life going forward. If you are a foodie, you'll love her descriptions of the science of cooking as well as the elaborate menus she created when hosting parties. And everyone will enjoy her outlook on life; sincere, realistic, and able to find the good in people and experiences. (And it's now also a limited series on HBO Max!) Bon appetit!

- Holly

Check out My Life in France by Julia Child @ the library!

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Title: Before the Coffee Gets Cold

Author: Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Genre: Fiction

I've been very into these novels from Japan that have recently been translated into English. Many of them have a running theme of simply following the characters through their daily lives, as uneventful as that can be, and finding beauty in the mundane of life. This story tells of a cafe in Tokyo that allows people to travel back in time. There are several catches however, the main being that the time traveler has to return to present time before their coffee grows cold. A book that causes you to reflect on your own life as you read along with the characters' time travel choices. If you enjoy this one, there is also a sequel!

- Jamie

Check out Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi @ the library!

True Biz by Sara Nović

Title: True Biz

Author: Sara Nović

Genre: Fiction

February has a defective cochlear implant that has impaired her ability to communicate. She starts attending a deaf school and her world is transformed. This book is an introduction to deaf culture that will make you think about how we communicate with each other and how language can divide us or bring us together. It also includes information on how to start signing even if you are hearing.

- Lisa

Check out True Biz by Sara Nović @ the library!

People From My Neighborhood by Hiromi Kawakami

Title: People From My Neighborhood

Author: Hiromi Kawakami

Genre: Fiction Short Stories

An amusing collection of stories centered on (as the title states) people from a neighborhood. The stories have threads that connect each character, so it reads a bit more like a novel, however each story also can stand on its own. There are also whimsical elements to each story, which take the reader out of the confines of our normal world. A quick read that really transports you to this small neighborhood.

- Jamie

Check out People From My Neighborhood by Hiromi Kawakami @ the library!

The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart

Title: The Bone Shard Daughter

Author: Andrea Stewart

Genre: Fantasy

It has been a while since I have read a fantasy book this good! It included many common themes found in typical fantasy novels but the story felt fresh and inspired. The chapters alternate through the point of views of at least 4 characters, providing many different perspectives revolution central to the plot. I look forward to continuing the series!

- Gina

Check out The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart @ the library!

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!