Recommended Reads

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If you've ever laughed your way through Sedaris's cheerfully misanthropic stories, you might think you know what you're getting with Calypso. You'd be wrong.This is beach reading for people who detest beaches, required reading for those who loathe small talk and love a good tumor joke. Calypso is simultaneously Sedaris's darkest and warmest book yet--and it just might be his very best.

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Erin is a documentary filmmaker on the brink of a professional breakthrough, Mark a handsome investment banker with big plans. Passionately in love, they embark on a dream honeymoon to the tropical island of Bora Bora, where they enjoy the sun, the sand, and each other. Then, while scuba diving in the crystal blue sea, they find something in the water. . . .

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When a New York City of the near future is submerged by rising waters, the residents rapidly adapt the thriving metropolis until it becomes a vibrant, though permanently changed, canal region of island skyscrapers and remarkable inhabitants.

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Drawing from Leonardo da Vinci's remarkable notebooks as well as new discoveries about his life and work, this novel demonstrates how da Vinci's genius was based on the skills and qualities of everyday people, from curiosity and observation to imagination and fantasy.

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After a terrorist attack kills the President and most of Congress, the government is deposed and taken over by the Republic of Gilead. Offred, now a Handmaid serving in the household of the Commander and his wife, can remember a time before she lost even her own name. Despite the danger, Offred learns to navigate the secrets of those who control her every move, risking her life in breaking the rules in hopes of ending this oppression.

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Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semi-final match of a hockey game is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected.

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Returning to her hometown after a long absence to investigate the murders of two girls, reporter Camille Preaker is reunited with her neurotic mother and enigmatic half-sister as she works to uncover the truth about the killings.

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Li-Yan and her family, devote their lives to farming tea. The arrival of outsiders seeking the Pu’er tea brings the modern world into the isolated village. When Li-Yan finds herself pregnant, she leaves her child at an orphanage. Her daughter is adopted by a couple from California, but she is drawn to the study of tea. A sweeping historical novel that juxtaposes ancient China with its modern incarnation.

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After witnessing her friend's death at the hands of a police officer, Starr Carter's life is complicated when the police and a local drug lord try to intimidate her in an effort to learn what happened the night Kahlil died.

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Through deft and witty prose emerge these Norse gods with their fiercely competitive natures, their susceptibility to being duped and to tricking others, and their tendency to let passion ignite their actions, making these long-ago myths breathe life anew.

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In this moving collection of essays infused with wisdom and humor, Union uses fearlessness to tell personal and true stories about power, color, gender, feminism, and fame. Throughout, she compels us to be ethical and empathetic, and reminds us of the importance of confidence, self-awareness, and the power of sharing truth, laughter, and support.

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What does everyone in the modern world need to know? Renowned psychologist Jordan B. Peterson's answer to this most difficult of questions uniquely combines the hard-won truths of ancient tradition with the stunning revelations of cutting-edge scientific research.

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A new threat arises in Three Pines as a mysterious masked figure stands watch on the village green. It refuses to communicate in any way, which is just the start of another thrilling adventure in this long-running series.

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Titanic. Lusitania. Wilhelm Gustloff. All major maritime disasters, yet the last is virtually unknown.That changes with this gripping historical novel. Told through alternating narrators, this novel tells the story of four refugees attempting to escape various tragedies in 1945 Europe.

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The final chapters are missing from author Alan Conway's latest mystery manuscript. Conway’s sudden, suspicious death means that his editor Susan must piece together the ending. She soon realizes that the novel’s characters are stand-ins for real people, and that the book may be related to the author’s death.

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In this thrilling chapter in Faye Kellerman’s bestselling series, Rina Lazarus makes a shocking discovery in the woods of her upstate New York community that leads her husband, police detective Peter Decker, through a series of gruesome unsolved murders.

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The Mexican village of San Patricio is being menaced by a bizarre, cultish drug cartel infamous for its brutality. As the townspeople try to defend themselves by forming a vigilante group, the Mexican army and police have their own ways of fighting back.

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Boston Police detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles return to investigate the gruesome staged murder of a horror film producer in this edge-of-your-seat thriller.

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A suspenseful thriller told from multiple perspectives. A Seattle detective must unravel a web of secrets dating back to his high school days.

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Despite losing her job as a librarian, Nina continues her mission to put the right book into a patron’s hands by moving to rural Scotland, purchasing a van, turning it into a bookmobile, and taking to the road. A valentine to readers, librarians and book-lovers, the story revolves around the romance of the road, the romance of books and reading, and just plain old romance.

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Thirty-five-year-old Annie Hebden is stuck in a rut until her bubbly new friend, Polly Leonard, challenges her to try a new way to be happy each day for 100 days.

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In this hilarious and poignant novel, Kate Reddy finds herself in an impossible juggling act: proving herself (again) at work, dealing with teen drama, and trying to look after increasingly frail parents as the clock keeps ticking toward her 50th birthday. Then, an old flame shows up out of the blue, and Kate finds herself facing off with everyone from Russian mobsters to a literal stallion.

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Claude is five years old and loves peanut butter sandwiches. He also loves wearing a dress, and dreams of being a princess. Rosie and Penn want Claude to be whoever Claude wants to be. They're just not sure they're ready to share that with the world.

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This hilarious, feel-good novel is narrated by an oddly charming and socially challenged genetics professor on an unusual quest: Can a sixteen-page, scientifically valid survey help him find the perfect wife?

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What Joan sees as she hustles her son toward the exit gate minutes before closing time sends her sprinting back into the zoo, her child in her arms. And for the next three hours--the entire scope of the novel--she keeps on running. Fast paced and suspenseful.

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When a threat of mass violence looms over Elizabeth II’s coronation, Detective Inspector Edgar Stephens must once again team up with his friend, the magician Max Mephisto, to solve the mystery before it is too late.

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Monsieur Perdu, owner of a floating bookstore, prescribes novels for the hardships of life. Haunted by the heartbreak of a lost love, he decides to travel along the country's rivers, dispensing his wisdom and his books, showing that the literary world can take the human soul on a journey to heal itself.

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In a feat of historical suspense, Lawhon unravels the twists and turns in Anna Anderson's 50-year battle to be recognized as Anastasia Romanov. Is she the Russian Grand Duchess or the thief of another woman's legacy? The question of who Anna is and what really happened to Anastasia creates a compelling saga that spans decades and continents.

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A powerful story about the ways an entire life can change in one night: A flight attendant wakes up in the wrong hotel, in the wrong bed, with a dead man - and no idea what happened.

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Donal’s grandma suddenly needs to have surgery, so she sends Donal to stay with her bossy sister Kate. It’s not a good fit, however, and soon Donal is put on a bus to be sent back home. Kate’s husband, Herman, has decided to fly the coop and travel with him, and the two of them have rollicking misadventures along the way.

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Meet Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden, a Chicago-based P.I. who also happens to be the only person listed under ‘Wizards’ in the phone book. A noir-style urban fantasy with lots of humor, the first story in the Dresden Files finds him investigating a grisly double homicide committed by black magic.

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Paul Stuart heads to the idyllic Italian hill town of Montalcino, but he discovers his rental car is missing. With no other cars available, Paul is stuck until he is offered a bulldozer. Paul accepts the offer and this begins a series of surprising adventures in food, wine, Tuscan history and modern romance.

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An outrageously funny tale about a wealthy Chinese-American family that has it all, only to lose every last cent. Their spectacular fall from riches to rags brings the Wangs together in a way money never could.

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This book gives you the tools to make a budget, understand investments, and deal with your credit.

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From the author of the New York Times bestselling phenomenon The Power of Habit comes a fascinating book that explores the science of productivity, and why, in today’s world, managing how you think—rather than what you think—can transform your life.

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A bold new history of the rise of Christianity, showing how its radical followers ravaged vast swathes of classical culture, plunging the world into an era of dogma and intellectual darkness.

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The irresistible, ever-curious, and bestselling Mary Roach takes us down the hatch on an unforgettable tour. The alimentary canal is classic Mary Roach terrain: the questions explored in Gulp are as taboo, in their way, as the cadavers in Stiff and ever bit as surreal as the universe of zero gravity explored in Packing for Mars. And, like all of Roach's books, it is as much about human beings as it is about human bodies.

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A remarkable story of agony and triumph--from the home front to Roosevelt's White House, and Pearl Harbor to Midway and Bataan. Written with intimate, novelistic detail, it is a story of brotherly love: of three men finding their loyalty to each other tested under the tortures of war--and knowing that their success or failure to save their youngest brother will shape their family forever.

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An Air National Guard Major describes her experiences after being shot down on a Medevac mission in Afghanistan, recounting the courageous acts that saved lives before she began efforts to convince the U.S. government to allow women to serve openly on the front lines.

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The creator of the blog of the same name explains how math works in everyday life and how it can be better understood, using lighthearted cartoon illustrations, jokes and anecdotes that demystify essential concepts.

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Stephen has sinned. He knew it was wrong at the time but he did it anyway. Now he's begging for forgiveness. Based on the popular segment of The Late Show, his most shameful secrets are now revealed to all (although, he'd like you not to tell anyone). An illustrated collection of Stephen Colbert at his most brilliant and irreverent.

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Happiness Is a Choice You Make is an enduring collection of lessons that emphasizes, above all, the extraordinary influence we wield over the quality of our lives. With humility, heart, and wit, Leland has crafted a sophisticated and necessary reflection on how to "live better"--informed by those who have mastered the art.

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In 1955, white men in the Mississippi Delta lynched a fourteen-year-old from Chicago named Emmett Till. Till's lynching became the most notorious hate crime in American history.But what actually happened to Emmett Till--not the icon of injustice, but the flesh-and-blood boy?

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Documents the nearly two-decade manhunt for a serial bomber in New York, citing the contributions of police captain Howard Finney and psychiatrist James Brussel in developing investigative techniques that would shape new approaches in American law enforcement.

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Two Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists present the true story of two detectives who teamed up to discern the truth about a case involving a teen who was charged with falsely reporting a rape, an investigation that revealed the work of a serial rapist in multiple states.

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A faltering war in the middle east. A band of elite warriors determined to fight to the death to protect Christianity's holiest sites. A global financial network unaccountable to any government. A sinister plot founded on a web of lies.

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A journalist, after a chance encounter with an obscure vintage made near Jerusalem, embarks on a journey around the world to discover the multicultural roots of wine and encounters a colorful cast of characters along the way.

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Traces the author's three-year investigation into what constitutes family, describing how, after receiving an e-mail from a stranger who claimed to be a distant cousin, he embarked on an effort to build the biggest family tree in history.

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An account of the unsolved Golden State Killer case, written by the late author of the TrueCrimeDiary.com website, traces the rapes and murders of dozens of victims and the author's determined efforts to help identify the killer and bring him to justice.

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The Not-Quite States of America is an entertaining account of the territories' place in the USA, and it raises fascinating questions about the nature of empire. As Mack shows, the territories aren't mere footnotes to American history; they are a crucial part of the story.

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Over the last half a billion years, there have been five mass extinctions. Scientists around the world are currently monitoring the sixth extinction, this time around the endangered species is us.

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Across the ranchlands and cities of his home state, Rory Yates's discipline and law-enforcement skills have carried him far. He arrives in his hometown to find a crime scene and an accusation: he is named a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife, whose only controversial act was ending her marriage to a Ranger.

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The daughter of a woman who has wanted nothing more than a quiet life in her small beachside home embarks on a desperate search for answers when she discovers the explosive truth about her mother's identity.

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Based on real-life scandals, a lawyer learns about the questionable practices of an orphanage.

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A groundbreaking investigation into the medical and scientific revolution currently taking place in the field of psychedelic drugs, drawing on a range of experiences to trace the criminalization of such substances and how they may offer treatment options for difficult health challenges

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From Bourdain's first oyster in the Gironde, to his lowly position as dishwasher in a honky tonk fish restaurant in Provincetown; from the kitchen of the Rainbow Room atop Rockefeller Center, to drug dealers in the east village, from Tokyo to Paris and back to New York again, Bourdain's tales of the kitchen are as passionate as they are unpredictable.

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Willa Drake gets a second act when without fully understanding why, she flies across the country to look after a young woman she's never met, her nine-year-old daughter, and their dog. This decision will lead Willa into uncharted territory--surrounded by eccentric neighbors who treat each other like family. She finds fulfillment in unexpected places.

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An unforgettable memoir about a young girl who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University.

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Hired to deliver a mysterious box to a fogbound Georgia town, daredevil pilot Rye Mallett is targeted by saboteurs and law enforcement before teaming up with an attractive but suspicious doctor to determine the box's significance.

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In the aftermath of a boy's brutal murder, a local detective is forced to arrest a popular Little League coach. Open-and-shut evidence is called into question when the suspect's true nature and the realities of the crime come to light.

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From the bestselling author of Everything I Never Told You, a riveting novel that traces the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and the enigmatic mother and daughter who upend their lives. The story explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, and the ferocious pull of motherhood - and the danger of believing that following the rules can avert disaster.

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An account of the unsolved Golden State Killer case, written by the late author of the TrueCrimeDiary.com website, traces the rapes and murders of dozens of victims and the author's determined efforts to help identify the killer and bring him to justice.

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Factfulness is the stress-reducing habit of only carrying opinions for which you have strong supporting facts. When asked simple questions about global trends we systematically get the answers wrong. Our problem is that we don't know what we don't know, and even our guesses are informed by biases. Filled with lively anecdotes, Factfulness is an essential book that will change the way you see the world and empower you to respond to the crises and opportunities of the future.

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In a book that includes deeply human and unforgettable portraits of the families and first responders affected, the author takes readers into the epicenter of America's more than 20-year struggle with opioid addiction.

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Cork and his son, Stephen, investigate a plane crash that has killed a senator, a case that is further complicated by the baffling disappearances of several first responders.

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Deemed unrepentant by a Bolshevik tribunal in 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is sentenced to house arrest in a hotel across the street from the Kremlin, where he lives in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history unfold.

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In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Indian nation in Oklahoma.. Then, one by one, the Osage began to be killed off, dying under mysterious circumstances.

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A tale inspired by The Great Gatsby is set in the contemporary South and follows the difficulties endured by an extended black family with colliding visions of the American dream.

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Presents the story of two young lovers whose furtive affair is shaped by local unrest on the eve of a civil war that erupts in a cataclysmic bombing attack, forcing them to abandon their previous home and lives.

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Yejide and Akin have been married since they met and fell in love. But four years into their marriage Yejide is still not pregnant. She assumes she still has time--until her family arrives on her doorstep with a young woman they introduce as Akin's second wife

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Little Fires Everywhere explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, and the ferocious pull of motherhood - and the danger of believing that following the rules can avert disaster.

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Two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, are born into different villages in eighteenth-century Ghana. One thread of Homegoing follows Effia's descendants through centuries of warfare in Ghana. The other thread follows Esi and her children into America. A sweeping and emotional story with unforgettable characters.

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Set within a contemporary black community in Southern California, Brit Bennett's mesmerizing first novel is an emotionally perceptive story about community, love, and ambition. It begins with a secret.

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Anna Kerrigan, nearly twelve years old, accompanies her father to visit Dexter Styles, a man who, she gleans, is crucial to the survival of her father and her family. Egan’s historical novel follows Anna and Styles into a world populated by gangsters, sailors, divers, bankers, and union men

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In early 1900s Korea, prized daughter Sunja finds herself pregnant and alone, bringing shame on her family until a young tubercular minister offers to marry her and move with her to Japan, in the saga of one family bound together as their faith and identity are called into question.

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Flora 717 is a sanitation worker, a member of the lowest caste in her orchard hive where work and sacrifice are the highest virtues. But when Flora breaks the most sacred law of all--daring to challenge the Queen's fertility--enemies abound. Thrilling, suspenseful and spectacularly imaginative.

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Noah traces his wild coming of age during the twilight of apartheid in South Africa and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed, offering insight into the farcical aspects of the political and social systems of today's world.

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Shares the poignant story of the author's family and upbringing, describing how they moved from poverty to an upwardly mobile clan, while navigating the demands of middle-class life and the collective demons of the past.

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Two women--a female spy recruited to the real-life Alice Network in France during World War I and an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947--are brought together in a mesmerizing story of courage and redemption.

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Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills, tends to say exactly what she's thinking, and avoids social interactions. But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond and Sammy. The three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living.

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A Jesuit priest, unable to find plausible explanations for an eleven-year-old's strange behavior, begins to suspect demonic possession.

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An account of the four weeks of terror experienced by an Amityville, Long Island, family after moving into a house in which a particularly gruesome mass murder had once been committed.

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Story of two young boys who begin to encounter evil secrets when a lightning rod salesman gives them one of his contraptions covered with mystical symbols.

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A new governess has been hired by the uncle of two young orphans at a remote country estate. Her first peaceful weeks are disturbed by the apparition of the ghosts of two evil servants who once served in the house.

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Sightings of a ghostly figure in the Paris opera house lead to a discovery of a disfigured genius who secretly lives among its passageways.

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Arthur Kipps, a young solicitor, travels to the north of England to settle the estate of Alice Drablow, but unexpectedly encounters a series of sinister events.

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Jack Torrance sees his stint as winter caretaker of a Colorado hotel as a way back from failure, his wife sees it as a chance to preserve their family, and their five-year-old son sees the evil waiting just for them.

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Witchcraft and terror await Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse when they move into the ominous Bramford apartment building.

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A kind and well-respected doctor is transformed into a murderous madman by taking a secret drug of his own creation.

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Obsessed by creating life itself, Victor Frankenstein plunders graveyards for the material to fashion a new being, which he shocks into life by electricity. But his botched creature sets out to destroy his maker and all that he holds dear.

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A beautiful young man in Victorian England retains his youthful and innocent appearance over the years while his portrait reflects both his age and evil soul as he pursues a life of decadence and corruption.

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Bram Stoker's eternally terrifying classic established the genre, with its looming Transylvanian castle, creepy undead bloodsuckers, innocent maidens in danger, and unforgettable characters.

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The second Mrs. Maxim de Winter enters the home of her mysterious and enigmatic new husband and learns the story of the house's first mistress, to whom the sinister housekeeper is unnaturally devoted.

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Four seekers arrive at notoriously unfriendly Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers--and soon it will choose one of them to make its own.

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Explores the fascinating, funny, and sometimes achingly sad ways a secret at the heart of one family both breaks them and binds them together.

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Sixteen-year-old Tina and two friends leave Kenya and slip into the Congo, from where she and her mother fled years before, seeking revenge for her mother's murder but uncovering startling secrets.

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Turning to some choice allies--the handsome, prescient Lieutenant Brooks, the brilliant, enigmatic Lord Desmond, and her rapscallion cousin James--Alex will have to marshal all of her magical and mental acumen to save Queen and Country from a shadowy threat.

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Moving to a wealthy community after the lucrative sale of their website, Mr. And Mrs. Jha, formerly of East Delhi, struggle with cultural changes while their son, studying in America, pursues romance and wonders how his parents' new status will affect his life choices.

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When a new force takes hold of the world, people from different areas of life are forced to cross paths in an alternate reality that gives women and teenage girls immense physical power that can cause pain and death.

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Sherlock Holmes is an unparalleled genius. Warlock Holmes is an idiot. The only thing he has really got going for him are the might of a thousand demons and his stalwart companion. Thankfully, Dr. Watson is always there to aid him through the treacherous shoals of Victorian propriety and save him from a gruesome death every now and again.

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Follows the adventures of four men in The Banished Lands who prepare for battle after seeing signs that the Black Sun is rising and could mean the death of mankind.

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Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, a shadowy organization that collects important works of fiction from many alternative realities. She is soon caught in a puzzling web of deadly danger, conflicting clues, and sinister secret societies. And failure is not an option--because it isn't just Irene's reputation at stake, it's the nature of reality itself...

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Be transported to 1960s Manhattan. This story gives us the chance to spy on Truman Capote’s close friendship with Babe Paley and his society “swans,” and the betrayal and scandal that drove them apart.

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Enjoy the romantic twists in this tale of a career-minded young woman circling back to her roots at a winery.

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Literary researcher and Sherlock Holmes enthusiast Harold White is shocked when a scholar who discovered Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's missing diary is murdered, while in 1890s London, Conan Doyle hunts a serial killer to prove his superiority to his famous character.

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A mother. A son. His girlfriend. And the lie they’ll wish had never been told.

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When Tessa Campbell moves in to safe and quiet Newport Cove, she seems friendly enough to the other mothers. They are each busy with their own secrets and dreams. Then the neighbors notice that no one is ever invited to Tessa's house. And soon, it becomes clear that Tessa is hiding the biggest secret of all.

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A fierce competition is underway, a contest between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood to compete in "a game," in which each must use their powers of illusion to best the other. Unbeknownst to them, this game is a duel to the death, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will.

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Abortion is once again illegal in America, in-vitro fertilization is banned, and the Personhood Amendment grants rights of life, liberty, and property to every embryo. In a small Oregon fishing town, five very different women navigate these new barriers alongside age-old questions surrounding motherhood, identity, and freedom.

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A young woman in Texas awakens to a nightmarish new life: her skin has been genetically altered, turned bright red as punishment for the crime of having an abortion. Stigmatized and in a hostile and frightening world, Hannah Payne must make a perilous journey northward to safety.

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An innocent weekend get-together of women friends turns sinister when the group discovers on Monday morning that one of their number has gone missing, a disappearance that places the woman's husband under suspicion and forces two of the women to reckon with personal secrets.

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Investigating the story of a beautiful comatose patient who was the victim of a hit-and-run, chief nurse Alice Marlowe uncovers a dark secret that threatens her own career at the same time a patient on the same ward, unable to communicate because of locked-in syndrome, comes to understand that the comatose woman's life is in danger.

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A haunting gothic children’s mystery where orphaned Lewis Barnavelt is sent to live with his uncle Jonathan -- who just happens to be a warlock. The uncanny becomes sinister after Lewis summons the spirit of the house's former occupant. He fights her evil powers while searching for a clock that’s programmed to end the world. Film with Cate Blanchett and Jack Black.

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The social and class divisions in early 20th century England as seen through the intersection of three families - the wealthy Wilcoxes, the gentle and idealistic Schlegels and the lower-middle class Basts. The book has been filmed before but the new miniseries version has been praised for its pared-down interpretation of the novel, the inclusivity of its casting and the time it takes developing the characters' relationships.

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In 1896 New York, psychologist--or in period terminology, an alienist--Laszlo Kreizler joins forces with journalist John Schuyler Moore to track a vicious serial killer.

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The duo who’ve captivated millions of readers and filmgoers join forces again in this adrenaline-charged, uniquely of-the-moment thriller. He’s in search of a story and she has plans of her own as together they’re drawn into a ruthless underworld of spies, cybercriminals, and government operatives—some willing to kill to protect their secrets.

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A poignant account by a survivor of a church-supported conversion therapy facility that claimed to "cure" homosexuality describes its intense Bible study program and the daily threats of his abandonment by family, friends and God, an experienced that transformed the author's relationships and self-understandings.

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The world is going to end next Saturday, but there are a few problems--the Antichrist has been misplaced, the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse ride motorcycles, and the representatives from heaven and hell decide that they like the human race. In the tradition of Douglas Adams and Monty Python meet Stephen King – the Apocalypse has never been funnier.

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By day, the Duncans are an upstanding family who run a thriving car dealership in Queens. By night, they live a dangerous secret life.

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In a dusty post-war summer in rural Warwickshire, a doctor is called to a patient at lonely Hundreds Hall. Home to the Ayres family for over two centuries, the Georgian house, once grand and handsome, is now in decline, its masonry crumbling, its gardens choked with weeds, its owners mother, son and daughter struggling to keep pace. But are the Ayreses haunted by something more sinister than a dying way of life? Little does Dr Faraday know how closely, and how terrifyingly, their story is about to become entwined with his.

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Returning to her hometown after a long absence to investigate the murders of two girls, reporter Camille Preaker is reunited with her neurotic mother and enigmatic half-sister as she works to uncover the truth about the killings.

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Years ago, on a top-secret dive seven miles down into the Mariana Trench, Jonas Tyler encountered an ancient monster believed to be extinct. Having barely escaped with his life, he’s now a reluctant participant in a new expedition that brings him face-to-face with the Megalodon, a massive ancestor of the great white shark. He must confront his fears to save those who are trapped in a sunken submersible.

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When her notorious, hilarious, volatile, talented, troubled and agoraphobic mother goes missing, teenage Bee begins a trip that takes her to the ends of the earth to find her.

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A lush, raw, thrilling novel of the senses about a year in the life of a uniquely beguiling young woman, set in the wild, seductive world of a famous New York City restaurant.

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In a future world where the birth rate has declined, fertile women are rounded up, indoctrinated as "handmaids," and forced to bear children to prominent men.

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Sixteen-year-old Ruby breaks out of a government-run "rehabilitation camp" for teens who acquired dangerous powers after surviving a virus that wiped out most American children in the first book of this dystopian teen series. Joining another group of escapees as they try to find the one safe haven left for kids like them, they must evade their pursuers, including an organization that will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government.

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A outrageously funny debut novel about three super-rich, pedigreed Chinese families and the gossip, backbiting, and scheming that occurs when the heir to one of the most massive fortunes in Asia brings home his ABC (American-born Chinese) girlfriend to the wedding of the season.

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Feeling stuck and restless in spite of her great friends, family and career, Dr. Georgia Young confronts long-standing fears to embark on a wild journey that may or may not give her a second chance at love. Her bravery reminds us that it's never too late to become the person you want to be.

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A gathering of eight short stories is complemented by a novella in which a young woman abandoned during a romantic mini-vacation gathers the courage to embark on an independent tour of Paris. An irresistibly romantic collection filled with humor and heart.

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A comic mystery about two women who are forced to reimagine who they are. Fabulous, fun-filled, spanning decades and generations, and centered on a little-known aspect of America's twentieth-century story, this is another irresistible novel by the remarkable Fannie Flagg.

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A charming, hilarious, irresistible romp of a novel that brings together nine unrelated women, each touched by the same little black dress that weaves through their lives, bringing a little magic with it. Romance, humor, and irony spark the plot as the dress travels from one life to another.

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A fable-like tale for the readers of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and A Man Called Ove in which a boy with an uncanny ability to find lost objects embarks on a search to save his mother’s enchanted dessert shop. It explores our capacity for kindness and our ability to heal.

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Wonderfully written and full of profound observations about life, this is a beautiful and moving novel of compassion in the face of loss, of the small acts that turn friends into family, and of the possibilities to achieve happiness at any age. It’s one of those rare coming-of-age novels that is just as much about the end of life as it is about growing up.

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When her attempt at a professional culinary life away from her family's orchard ends in disappointment, Sam returns to working for the family pie shop and begins to learn about and understand the women in her life, her family's history and her passion for food as she prepares one beloved recipe at a time from the treasured recipe box.

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A moving novel about female friendship and the things that knit us together when we least expect it. The Club, started by yarn shop regulars, gathers once a week to work on their latest projects and chat. Members are as varied as the skeins of yarn in the bins but when sudden changes upset their lives they learn they've created not just a knitting club but a sisterhood.

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A heartwarming tale of hope and friendship set during World War II that traces the intersection of a British farm girl, an American pilot and a German soldier who are brought together by a border collie named Peter Woodhouse. A story of love and the power of friendship to bring sworn enemies together.

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Coffee shop manager Claire Cosi investigates the murder of a website editor after the launch of online sales for a java love potion called "Mocha Magic Coffee". Can she catch whoever’s gone loco for mocha?

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Allen’s trademark magic is woven throughout the story and can be found in the lake, the town, and the people, but at its heart, this story is about finding home. One after another, people find their way to Lost Lake, looking for something that they weren't sure they needed in the first place. Can they find it before it’s too late? Atmospheric and enchanting.

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Three very different people navigate the discovery that they share the same late father and a wealthy grandfather who would surround himself with his blended family. Masterfully explores the definition of a modern family--blended by surprise, not by choice--and how those complicated relationships can add unexpected richness to life.

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Working on a bridal quilt for a granddaughter who abruptly calls off the wedding, Ellen tells her the story of Nell, a woman who went to the New Mexico Territory in 1898 to find a husband and who avoided marriage twice before finding the love of her life. It’s a tale filled with excitement, heartbreak, disappointment, and self-discovery.

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A funny, sharp, and deeply empathetic novel of two very different worlds--of limousines and pickup trucks. Benton shares a mesmerizing Lowcountry Tale that roars with spirit, humor, and truth, and forces us to reconsider our notions of what it means to be a Have or a Have Not.

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Charming, wise, and slyly funny, this a last sweet gift from a writer whose books have bestowed untold pleasure on countless readers. Rejected by his great aunt, an eleven-year-old heads back to his grandmother’s with his uncle, meeting an ensemble of characters and having rollicking misadventures along the way.

An international bestseller filled with warmth and adventure, The Little Paris Bookshop is a love letter to books, meant for anyone who believes in the power of stories to shape people's lives. Monsieur Perdu calls himself a literary apothecary. From his floating bookstore in a barge on the Seine, he prescribes novels for the hardships of life. Using his intuitive feel for the exact book a reader needs, Perdu mends broken hearts and souls. The only person he can't seem to heal through literature is himself; he's still haunted by heartbreak after his great love disappeared. She left him with only a letter, which he has never opened. A fun, light read.

This is a graphic novel that chronicles a year in the life of its author as he navigates the political, cultural, and religious climate of the holy city of Jerusalem. Delisle contrasts the complexities of international diplomacy with daily life as an artist, husband, and father. At times funny, endearing, and poignant, he graphically brings to life what it means when a city represents so much to so many yet few can actually travel to it. – Sarah L.

While I’m not a regular Manga reader this series captured my heart. An indirect homage to teachers and teaching, the series follows a strange creature who threatens to blow up the Earth unless he's assassinated in a year’s time. In the meantime, he's going to teach a group of misfit junior high students, both their basic school materials and assassination techniques. This often hilarious, often heartwarming tale follows the students as they gain in confidence and ability all while growing to care for the teacher they are training to kill. Matsui has created a whole cast of likable characters, an entertaining premise, and a manga series well worth binging. - Cat

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We suffer from nature deficit disorder, but studies show spending mindful, intentional time around trees--what the Japanese call shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing--can promote health and happiness. Once you discover the healing power of trees, you can lose yourself in the beauty of your surroundings, leave everyday stress behind, and reach a place of greater calm and wellness. It can be as simple as standing in the shade of blooming trees in a nearby park and breathing deeply. Try it!

Michael Crichton, author of Jurassic Park, returns to the world of paleontology in this recently discovered novel--a thrilling adventure set in the Wild West during the golden age of fossil hunting. A page-turner that draws on both meticulously researched history and an exuberant imagination, Dragon Teeth is based on the rivalry between real-life paleontologists Cope and Marsh. Perfectly paced and brilliantly plotted, this enormously winning adventure is destined to become another Crichton classic. The pivotal character, Yale student William Johnson, is an inspiring hero only Crichton could have imagined.

A fun read with various celebrities telling their story of celebrating books and libraries. - Luann

This anthology paints an authentic picture of the diversity within the Latina experience in the US. I loved reading and learning about the nuances that Latinas across the nation experienced based on their family's heritage, their generations living in the US, and more! Honor Latino Heritage Month by exploring Molinary's presentation of the Latin diaspora and what it means to be a bicultural Latina in the United States. - Marlu

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This teen historical fiction continues the story of newlyweds Alexander and Eliza Hamilton as he starts his law office in New York. Eliza establishes their home with much excitement, but misses Alex terribly as he recruits clients. She’s in a new element in New York, but is determined to make her marriage work, making friends, furnishing their home, but most importantly, standing up to citizens who want to mock Alex, who’s determined to call the former 13 Colonies a country.

This is a nostalgic and comforting book of the Presidents' annual Christmas message to our nation. The tradition begins in 1927 with President Calvin Coolidge.  Being an American history buff, I thoroughly enjoyed this look back to a tradition that continues to this day.

I know what you're thinking, "Why haven’t I read more about Credit Default Swaps?" Well, I have the book for you. The Big Short explains the mismanagement that led to the housing market crash of 2008. What sounds like a dry book about Wall Street finance becomes both interesting and informative as you learn about the men who saw this fiasco coming and profited from it. It's worth the read, and if you like it there's a movie too. – Sarah L

In The Final Empire, the truth is as elusive as the mists that dominate its land. I enjoyed the slow release of information as the cast of characters work to understand their own strengths, magical or otherwise, and the strange powers that keep the tyrannical Lord Ruler in control. With a complex female protagonist and well-focused plot, the Mistborn series is becoming a favorite. - Michelle

America's Test Kitchen cumulates many years of cookie baking knowledge, breaking down key steps and recipe techniques in this comprehensive cookbook that features recipes for any cookie you can dream up--from favorite cookie jar classics to new and unique cookies, brownies, bars, and candies for any occasion.

With the same insight and clarity that made Sapiens an international hit and a New York Times bestseller, Harari maps out our future.  As the self-made gods of planet earth, what destinies will we set ourselves, and which quests will we undertake? Homo Deus explores the projects, dreams and nightmares that will shape the twenty-first century--from overcoming death to creating artificial life. It asks the fundamental questions: Where do we go from here? And how will we protect this fragile world from our own destructive powers?

Go ahead – read it!  Who knew Romance books could be this fun?  But be warned - it’s hard to put this book down once you get started! This book is beautifully written by Shakespeare professor, Eloisa James - who is one of our Authors Visiting in Des Moines (AViD) authors coming to the Central Library on March 21st!  Extensive research went into this historical romance of a strong willed redhead and an and “arrogant bastard son of an earl”.  Come hear the story from the author herself! - Sue

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Serves up 27 bite-sized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, and easy exercises. By the end, you'll understand why you are how you are, how to love what you can't change, how to change what you don't love, and how to use The Force to kick some serious ass.

This book, published in 1993, is still around and offers a quiet time of a simple read. The story demonstrates the power of a privileged, but abused, wife and her courage to make a better life for herself and her children. - Luann

This book is the first in a relatively new series by Charlaine Harris, author of the popular Sookie Stackhouse and Aurora Teagarden novels. Psychic Manfred Bernardo moves to the mysterious town of Midnight, Texas in search of a secluded place to do his work and soon discovers that there is more to the town than meets the eye. It's part mystery, part fantasy, and a little bit romance. While the plots are interesting and engaging, what I enjoyed the most was the many vibrant characters and the great world Harris creates, which is like our own, but not quite. - Carrie

Mystery, inheritance and succession, along with the circus, are combined in this book to make it a real page turner.  It's the story of two "sisters" and reflects back and forth from Depression years to the 1950s. A word of caution: this tale has some brutality and abuse among the circus performers as well as the animals that perform; and in what people actually paid to see for entertainment during the Depression era. Be prepared to burn the midnight oil on this one! - Luann

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Princess Yona lives an ideal life as the only princess of her kingdom but everything changes on her 16th birthday when she witnesses her father's murder! This shojo fantasy adventure story has lots of layers and a love triangle...or four.

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Lady Sabine is harboring a skin blemish, one, that if revealed, could cause her to be branded as a witch. Sir Bennet must marry a wealthy woman to protect his family from attack by neighboring lords who seek repayment of debts. The two forge an alliance in this historical novel of romance, intrigue, and action.

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Adam Silvera reminds us that there's no life without death and no love without loss in this devastating yet uplifting story about two people whose lives change over the course of one unforgettable day.

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When an unlikely friendship is sparked between relatively popular Kit and socially isolated David, Kit asks David for his help figuring out the how and why of her father's tragic car accident.

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This fantasy adventure follow familiar heroes in their quest to free princess Midna from the twilight realm!

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When seventeen-year-old Abby Turner is rejected from an art show because her work “has no heart” she gives herself one month to do ten things, ranging from face a fear (#3) to learn a stranger's story (#5) to fall in love (#8). Funny and romantic, this effervescent story about family, friendship, and finding yourself is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han.

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Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang are students at Beacon Academy, learning to protect the world from the fearsome Grimm.

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Oceans 11 meets The Breakfast Club in this entertaining, fast-paced novel filled with pranks and cons that will keep readers on their toes, never sure who's pulling the strings or what's coming next.

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Tossed out of car onto a remote highway with no memory of the past 24 hours, Donovan causes a fatal accident trying to flag down help and is forced to assume the victim's identity to prove he is innocent of murder.

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Lara Jean writes love letters to all the boys she has loved and then hides them in a hatbox until one day those letters are accidentally sent.

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Writing letters to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., seventeen-year-old college-bound Justyce McAllister struggles to face the reality of race relations today and how they are shaping him.

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Ellingham Academy is a famous private school for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. “A place,” he said, “where learning is a game.”

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On the Tuscarora Reservation, Carson dreams of forming a rock band, and Maggi longs to create her own artwork instead of the traditional beadwork that her family sells to tourists--but tensions are rising between the reservation and the surrounding communities. Somehow, Carson and Maggi have to make a place for themselves.

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Rufus Holt has one night to prove his half-sister, April, innocent of murdering her boyfriend at a wild party--the very night his ex-boyfriend, Sebastian, shows up wanting to talk.

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A skilled painter must stand up to the ancient power of the faerie courts--even as she falls in love with a faerie prince.

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Students, teachers, and staff from a High School in Milwaukee vanished. Light years away, 513 people find themselves in the middle of an ancient wilderness. Where are they? Why are they there? The answers will prove stranger than anyone could imagine.

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Imogen is a runaway heiress, an orphan, a cook, and a cheat. Jule is a fighter, a social chameleon, and an athlete. An intense friendship. A disappearance. A murder, or maybe two. The American dream, superheroes, spies, and villains. A girl who refuses to give people what they want from her. A girl who refuses to be the person she once was.

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Mackie Doyle is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years before, and when creatures under the hill decide that they want him back, he must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

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Four friends travel back in time to photograph some of history's most important events in this action-packed and hilarious adventure.

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Meet a cuddly kitten, a playful puppy, a furry baby donkey, and some more of the cutest baby animals around. Toddlers can touch and feel each baby animal in this touchy feely book that encourages early learning and helps develop fine motor skills.

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CatStronauts, you are needed! Alerted to a global energy crisis, the President consults with the World's Best Scientist, who suggests sending a special group of astronauts to turn the Moon into a solar power plant.

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What's the best way to learn yoga? With animals! With Yoga Bear , the second in our yoga board book series, little ones are invited to move, breathe, and play along with jungle animal friends--all while discovering just how fun yoga can be.

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Twelve year old Candice is spending the summer in her late grandmother’s house. When she finds a mysterious letter promising a fortune to the one who solves a puzzle, Candice decides to try.

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Cats of all shapes and sizes scamper, stretch and yawn across the pages of this adorable counting book. And every now and then, they find themselves in the purrfect fluffy stack!

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Think Star Wars meets Avatar: The Last Airbender! The Five Worlds are on the brink of extinction unless five ancient and mysterious beacons are lit. When war erupts, three unlikely heroes will discover there's more to themselves--and more to their worlds--than meets the eye

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When two brothers decide to prove how brave they are, everything backfires--literally.

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Tom zaps his deceased goldfish, Frankie, with a battery and brings him back to life! He's now a BIG FAT ZOMBIE GOLDFISH and he's out for revenge!

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This fun-filled early chapter book brims with personality and lively illustrations as the curmudgeonly Renata opens herself up to friendship and new experiences.

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13-year old Brian's story is survival fiction at its best and appeals to a broad age-range. After a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness he must survive with nothing but the hatchet his mother has given him as a present

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Little Louie is stuck in bed with a bad cold and whenever he calls out for his mom, his stuffed-up nose summons slobbery dog Bob instead! Read this funny picturebook while pinching your nose for the full effect.

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Blip loves being plugged into her computer. When a blackout occurs, Blip trips over her wire and tumbles outside in this adventurous reminder to explore and appreciate our world.

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At the start of 1991, eleven-year-old Ali Fadhil was consumed by his love for soccer, video games, and American television shows. Then Iraq's dictator Saddam Hussein went to war with thirty-four nations led by the United States.

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Shannon and Adrienne have been best friends ever since they were little. Now every day is like a roller coaster for Shannon. Will she and Adrienne stay friends? Can she stand up for herself? And is she in The Group--or out?

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A sweet and silly tale of unexpected friendship between a girl and the bear she finds at the end of a string.

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After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather, but the strange house proves to be dangerous. Eventually, they enlist the help of a small mechanical rabbit named Miskit. Together with Miskit, they face the most terrifying monster of all, and Em finally has the chance to save someone she loves.

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From swimming with hammerhead sharks to collecting bugs, readers Ages 10-12 experience the thrill of discovering animal science in the field.