2024 JCPL Holiday Book Gift Guide

2024

PageAfterPage.org/giftguide

Early Readers The Curious Why by Angela DiTerlizzi Recommended by Melissa, Children’s Services Librarian, Franklin Branch This highly anticipated follow-up to the bestselling The Magical Yet shows young readers there’s always something new to discover about the world around them and encourages them to open their minds to an extraordinary world of possibilities.

Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb A sweet and silly buffalo tries to bluff and fluff his way into being bigger than he really is.

Orris and Timble: The Beginning

by Kate DiCamillo Orris the rat lives alone in an old barn surrounded by his treasures until the day his solitude is disrupted by a sudden flutter of wings and a loud screech. A small owl has gotten caught in a trap in the barn.

Can Orris “make the good and noble choice” (as the king on his prized sardine can might recommend) and rescue the owl, despite the fact that owls and rats are natural enemies?

And if he does, will he be ready for the consequences?

Rocket Ship, Solo Trip by Chiara Colombi Rocket is embarking on her first solo mission. Her goal? Place a satellite into orbit to take pictures of the beautiful unknown. With a few words of encouragement from Ground Control, Rocket sparks ignition and blasts off to discover all the beauty of outer space. But when it’s time for reentry, she wonders if she can do it alone. With Ground Control’s parting words in mind, Rocket trusts that she knows exactly what to do. She returns home at hypersonic speed and excited for her future expeditions, maybe next time, to the moon.

How Big is Love? by Emma Dodd A gentle rhyming ode to unconditional love by the creator of What Matters Most features a devoted mama duck who imparts to her ducklings how they helped her discover how big and powerful love can be.

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Hiro, Winter and Marshmallows by Marine Schneider One winter evening, a curious brown bear named Hiro slips out of her cave and finds a surprising new friend by the bonfire.

The Gingerbread House Jack’s Family Ate by Kelly DiPucchio A Christmas-themed twist on the classic rhyme The House that Jack Built.

Join Jack’s wacky family as they try to build a gingerbread house for Santa Claus... if only they can stop eating it! Gumdrops, marshmallows, and chocolate bars fly everywhere in this sweetly chaotic tale about a multi-generational family preparing excitedly for Christmas!

ABCs for a Peaceful Me: A Mindfulness Seek and Find Book by Shelly Becker A is for appreciate, B is for breathe, C is for connect and D is to discover all of the great ways little ones can bring mindfulness into their daily routines. Featuring bold, colorful art, each spread focuses on a unique word promoting a healthy body-mind connection; a hidden object relating to the letter; and an animal, such as an antelope, a bear, an elephant, a tiger, and even a unicorn. Young readers will delight in learning this unique alphabet, as well as new ways to self-soothe and express themselves.

juvenile ages 8 - 12 The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko When eleven-year-old Hank’s mother does not come home after a week, he and his toddler sister, Boo, seek out the stranger listed as their emergency contact, even though it means social workers, a new school, and having to answer questions about his mom that he has been trying to keep secret.

And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps Poverty-stricken Joseph bravely rides out all the storms life keeps throwing at him.

Olivetti by Allie Millington Witty typewriter Olivetti and twelve-year-old introvert Ernest embark on a mission to find Ernest’s missing mother that takes them across San Francisco.

The Magic Paintbrush by Kat Zhang When Amy, a Chinese American girl, picks up an ancient paintbrush, it unwittingly unleashes the power to make her art real, and sometimes dangerous.

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Bang! The Wild Wonders of Earth’s Phenomena by Jennifer N.R. Smith In this follow-up to the highly acclaimed Glow, award-winning illustrator Jennifer N. R. Smith takes us on a breathtaking tour of the planet’s most astonishing natural phenomena - from explosive volcanoes and geysers to dancing lights in the night sky. Hyper-detailed, glorious and awe-inspiring in and of itself, this book will inspire young earth scientists to see the wonder in the world around them.

When Wishes Were Horses by Cynthia Voigt When Casey, Zoe, Bill and Bug, who live in the same town but don’t know each other, are suddenly connected by magic, they dream about what they’d like to wish for--and if this is for real.

The Liars Society by Alyson Gerber Weatherby is a fish out of water. When she lands a scholarship to the prestigious Boston School, she’s excited to be in the same world as her dad, whom she’s never met, and make real friends.

But Weatherby has a secret she’ll risk everything to protect, one that could destroy her new life.

Every member of Jack’s wealthy and privileged family has made their mark at the Boston School.

Everyone, that is, except for Jack, who is entirely mediocre. He’s desperate to prove his worth to his influential father. But Jack has a secret of his own.

Shark Teeth by Sherri Winston Seventh-grader Sharkita “Kita” embarks on a tumultuous journey to keep her family together while handling the consequences of her mother’s alcoholism.

graphic novels Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol Recommended by Katie, Library Assistant, White River Branch Jane is incredibly plain. Everyone says so: her parents, the villagers, and her horrible cousin who kicks her out of her own house. Determined to get some semblance of independence, Jane prepares to propose to the princely Peter, who might just say yes to get away from his father. It’s a good plan! Or it would’ve been if he wasn’t kidnapped by a mermaid.

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The New Girl by Cassandra Calin Goodbye, old life... Lia and her family are waiting to board a flight across the Atlantic, leaving behind family, friends, and Romania -- the only home Lia has ever known. But Lia’s heartache is overshadowed by the discomfort of her first period. As if things weren’t difficult enough! Now Lia is thrust into a world where everything is different: her home, her language, and even her body. With so many changes happening at once, Lia struggles with schoolwork, has trouble communicating with classmates, and has no idea how to manage her unpleasant periods. Will she ever feel like herself again?

Viewfinder by Salwa Majoka After visiting Earth on a whim, a young space traveler finds a planet empty of people. She happens upon a strange contraption that shows her images of what the planet used to be like, and through this viewfinder, we see Earth as it was juxtaposed against Earth as it is: abandoned by people, but still full of amazing things.

Art Club by Rashad Doucet After the art programs are cut at his school, Dale Donovan recruits talented artists to create an after-school art club.

Wires Crossed by Beth Fantaskey Is this what middle school is all about? Being stuck in the middle?

Twelve-year-old Mia feels like everything and everyone is changing--and she is caught in the middle. Stuck between old friends and new friends... between feeling like a kid and growing up...

The Egg Incident by Ziggy Hanaor Make sure you double-knot your shoelaces, Humphrey. Never run. Never jump. And never ever ever sit on a wall. You remember what happened to your uncle... A graphic novel which offers a cautionary tale about caution itself.

Summer Vamp by Violet Chan Karim Maya is looking forward to a summer full of cooking and mixing in the kitchen, but when her dad’s girlfriend registers her for culinary summer camp, she soon learns she is the only human at a camp full of vampires.

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Next Stop by Debbie Fong Still grieving her brother’s death, Pia, a soft-spoken middle-schooler, embarks on a bus tour that changes her life.

The Happy Shop by Brittany Long Olsen Eleven-year-old Darcy just moved to a new country. She’s feeling lost and misses her friends back home. That’s when she stumbles upon a shop full of mysterious glowing jars labeled with things like “Picking up the last sweater on the rack and it’s on sale” and “Having the perfect weather on your wedding day.” Much to Darcy’s surprise-this store sells happy feelings. After Darcy accidentally breaks one of the irreplaceable jars, she must make it up to the shopkeepers, Frida and Flora, by doing chores around the store, and is soon tasked with collecting happy feelings.

But she learns that the magical business is anything but magical. With fewer customers than ever, Frida and Flora might have to close their doors.

Can Darcy think of an idea to save the Happy Shop? What if they sold more than just happy feelings?

young adult The Hedgewitch of Foxhall by Anna Bright Recommended by Charissa, Teen Services Librarian, Franklin Branch In need of power beyond her wildest dreams to get back what she’s lost, hedgewitch Ffion agrees to help Prince Taliesin while secretly striking a bargain with his brother Dafydd, and soon the fate of Wales depends on their quest--and so might the fate of her heart.

Call Me Iggy by Jorge Augusto Aguirre Ignacio “Iggy” Garcia is an Ohio-born Colombian American teen living his best life. After bumping into Marisol (and her coffee) at school, Iggy’s world is spun around. But Marisol has too much going on to be bothered with the likes of Iggy. She has school, work, family, and the uphill battle of getting her legal papers. As Iggy stresses over how to get Marisol to like him, his grandfather comes to the rescue. The thing is, not only is his abuelito dead, but he also gives terrible love advice. The worst. And so, with his ghost abuelito’s meddling, Iggy’s life begins to unravel as he sets off on a journey of self-discovery.

The Djinn’s Apple by Djamila Morani When Nardeen’s home is stormed by angry men frantically in search of something - or someone - she is the only one who manages to escape.

And after the rest of her family is left behind and murdered, Nardeen sets out on an unyielding mission to bring her family’s killers to justice, regardless of the cost.

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The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha Set in 16th century Korea, this queer, feminist reimagining of the Fox Maiden legend from Korean mythology follows Kai Song, who is determined to be a warrior as she must come to terms with her true identity and take control of her destiny after learning a deadly secret.

The Kill Factor by Ben Oliver A contestant on a brand-new game show offering young criminals the chance at freedom and a cash prize by winning over viewers, Emerson desperately needs the money to save her family, but little does she know that winning is her only chance at survival because losing means death.

Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams Ten years ago, Malik’s life changed forever the night his mother mysteriously vanished and, he discovered he had uncontrollable powers.

Since then, he has kept his abilities hidden, looking out for himself and his younger foster brother, Taye. Now, at 17, Malik is finally ready to start a new life for both of them, far from the trauma of his past. However, a daring act to rescue Taye reveals an unexpected connection with his long-lost grandmother: a legendary conjurer with ties to a hidden magical university that Malik’s mother attended.

These Deadly Prophecies by Andrea Tang Tabatha Zeng gets more than she bargained for as an apprentice to the famed Sorcerer Solomon. He predicts his own death, which tragically comes true. When Tabatha and Sorcerer Solomon’s son Callum become the prime murder suspects, they team up in a race against the clock to clear their names and find the true killer.

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson When her mother, who disappeared 16 years before, reappears while a true crime documentary about her case is being filmed, 18-year-old Bel, not buying her mom’s unbelievable story about what happened to her, must uncover the real reason Rachel Price is back from the dead.

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adult nonfiction There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib While Hanif Abdurraqib is an acclaimed author, a gifted poet, and one of our culture’s most insightful music critics, he is most of all, at heart, an Ohioan.

Growing up in Columbus in the ‘90s, Abdurraqib witnessed a golden era of basketball, one in which legends like LeBron were forged, and countless others weren’t. His lifelong love of the game leads Abdurraqib into a lyrical, historical, and emotionally rich exploration of what it means to make it, who we think deserves success, the tensions between excellence and expectation, and the very notion of role models, all of which he expertly weaves together with memoir.

Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out by Shannon Reed A humorous and incisive exploration of the joys of reading from a teacher, bibliophile and Thurber Prize finalist.

The Genius of Judy: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us by Rachelle Bergstein Everyone knows Judy Blume. Her books have garnered her fans of all ages for decades and sold tens of millions of copies. But why were people so drawn to them? And why are we still talking about them now in the 21st century? In The Genius of Judy, her remarkable story is revealed as never before, beginning with her as a mother of two searching for purpose outside of her home in 1960s suburban New Jersey. This is the story of how a housewife became a groundbreaking artist and how generations of empowered fans are her legacy today more than ever.

The Boys of Riverside: A Deaf Football Team and a Quest for Glory

by Thomas Fuller Revealing a portrait of high school athletics and deafness in America, this extraordinary true story of an all-deaf high school football team’s triumphant climb from underdog to undefeated looks back at their 2021 and 2022 season during which they chased history.

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The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook by Hampton Sides Part high-seas adventure, part examination of the Age of Exploration, this account of Captain James Cook’s last voyage in 1776 charts how his overt and covert missions came to a head on the island of Hawaii and left behind a complex and controversial legacy still debaed to this day.

We Are Experiencing a Slight Delay: Tips, Tales, Travels by Gary Janetti Sharing stories of his varied trips around the world, which double as personal meditations, the New York Times bestselling author, television writer and producer tackles the absurdity and glory of travel, delivering practical advice on all aspects of a traveler’s life, making this the perfect getaway companion.

I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine by Daniel J. Levitin Music is one of humanity’s oldest medicines. From the Far East to the Ottoman Empire, Europe to Africa and the pre-colonial Americas, many cultures have developed their own rich traditions for using sound and rhythm to ease suffering, promote healing, and calm the mind.

Dinosaurs at the Dinner Party: How an Eccentric Group of Victorians Discovered Prehistoric Creatures and Accidentally Upended the World

by Edward Dolnick In the early 1800s the world was a safe and cozy place. But then a twelve-year-old farm boy in Massachusetts stumbled on a row of fossilized three-toed footprints the size of dinner plates— the first dinosaur tracks ever found. Soon, in England, Victorians unearthed enormous bones— bones that reached as high as a man’s head. No one had ever seen such things, and the discoveries forced the Victorians to rethink everything they knew about the world. Storyteller and historian Edward Dolnick leads us through a compelling true adventure as the paleontologists of the first half of the 19th century puzzled their way through the fossil record to create the story of dinosaurs we know today.

Skies of Thunder: A Forgotten Epic of World War II

by Caroline Alexander The New York Times bestselling author presents this masterpiece of modern war history in which she, drawing on obscure memoirs and long-ignored records, gives us the World War II pilots’ and soldiers’ eye views of flying and combat, probing at what it takes to survive extreme circumstances.

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Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest

by Fawn Weaver Embark on a captivating journey with “Love & Whiskey.” New York Times bestselling author Fawn Weaver unveils the hidden narrative behind one of America’s most iconic whiskey brands. This book is a vibrant exploration set in the present day, delving into the life and legacy of Nearest Green, the African American distilling genius who played a pivotal role in the creation of the whiskey that bears Jack Daniel’s name.

Latinoland: A Portrait of America’s Largest and Least Understood Minority by Marie Arana Recommended by Jenelle, Adult Services Librarian, Clark Pleasant Branch This wide-ranging overview of the turbulent and little-known history of the diverse Latino experience in America is based on hundreds of interviews and research about the fastest-growing minority in America..

adult fiction How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson A screenwriter who lands his dream job writing for a long-running sitcom must deal with being near the show’s star, who destroyed his acting career and ruined his relationship when they were school friends in England Simply the Best by Susan Elizabeth Phillips When Brett, the hottest sports agent in the business, and Rory, the sister of his superstar client, meet and have a disastrous one-night stand, resulting in murder, they find things getting messy, dangerous, heartbreaking and sexy as they struggle with themselves, each other and love.

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Syndicate by Felix Francis Chester Newton has built his fortune organizing racehorse syndicates, where top horses are co-owned and managed by several parties. These joint enterprises are high risk and high reward— and for Chester, it’s almost always been reward.

The stakes only get higher as the syndicates grow larger, and every race means the pssibility of complete failure—or ecstatic success. After an anxious morning waiting for the results of the Epsom Derby, the premier flat race in the UK, Chester has an afternoon of explosive triumph— and an evening of total terror. Someone tries to take over one of his syndicates by force—and by threats of serious harm to him and his family.

One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole Years after a breakdown and a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder derailed her historical preservationist career, Kenetria Nash and her alters have been given a second chance they can’t refuse: a position as resident caretaker of a historic home. Having been dormant for years, Ken has no idea what led them to this isolated Hudson River island, but she’s determined not to ruin their opportunity. Then a surprise visit from the home’s conservation trust just as a Nor’easter bears down on the island disrupts her newfound life, leaving Ken trapped with a group of strangers—including the man who brought her life tumbling down years earlier.

Lowcountry Lost by T. I. Lowe Avalee prides herself with being able to fix just about anything. . . except her past. As the owner of Lowcountry Lost, Avalee spends her days in Carhartt overalls and a tool belt reclaiming Lowcountry properties. Making them beautiful again releases the deep sigh that soothes the hurt she holds. Avalee’s latest project takes her to a small town in South Carolina.

She ignores its ghostly folklore but can’t miss the shock of hearing the familiar Irish brogue that materializes on the job site—the voice of the man she never wanted to see again.

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The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron Rival booksellers Amos and Charlotte, as Coventry is devastated by Luftwaffe’s local blitz, must put aside their differences and fight together to help Coventry survive, in this exploration of the unbreakable bonds that unite us through love, loss and the enduring solace that can be found between the pages of a book.

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown When her favorite customer, a lonely yet charming old man, dies right in front of her, Cassie holds on to the last book he was reading, which turns out to be a rare volume that has great power and she is tasked with protecting it from those who will do evil.

Sanctuary of the Shadow by Aurora Ascher Hidden within an unusual circus run by a centuries-old Enchanter, Harrow, keeping her true identity and magical ability a secret, finds her destiny in an elemental with no recollection of who he is, forcing her to reveal the secrets from her own dark past to save this dangerous creature.

The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C. M. Waggoner A librarian with a knack for solving murders soon realizes there is something supernatural afoot in her little town in this cozy fantasy mystery.

William by Mason Coile Henry is a brilliant engineer who has achieved the breakthrough of his career—he’s created an artificially intelligent consciousness. He calls the half-formed robot William. Henry’s agoraphobia keeps him inside the house, and his fixation on his project keeps him up in the attic, away from everyone, including his pregnant wife, Lily. When Lily’s coworkers show up, wanting to finally meet Henry and see the new house, Henry decides to introduce them to William, and things go from strange to much worse. Soon Henry and Lily discover the security upgrades intended to keep danger out of the house are even better at locking it in.

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton Outside the island there is nothing: the world was destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched. On the island: it is idyllic. One hundred and twenty-two villagers and three scientists, living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they’re told by the scientists. Until one of the scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And then they learn that the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island, the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay. If the murder isn’t solved within 92 hours, the fog will smother the island—and everyone on it.

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What You Leave Behind by Wanda M. Morris After the mysterious disappearance of a local landowner and the death of his sister just months before, a lawyer uncovers a conspiracy that dates back to Reconstruction and persists in half the United States today.

Death in the Air by Ram Murali Disgraced after being forced out of a high-profile job under mysterious circumstances, lawyer Ro Krishna seeks rejuvenation at a luxurious Indian spa, only to become entangled in a series of murders among the elite guests.

Burma Sahib by Paul Theroux An Eton graduate is conscripted as a servant of the British Empire to oversee local policemen in Burma, forcing him to navigate social, racial and class politics.

The Coast Road by Alan Murrin In 1994 Ireland, when poet Colette Crowley returns home to pick up the pieces of her life, but is denied access to her children, she turns to her neighbor, Izzy, who acts as a go-between, but soon, this friendship leads to tragedy for one and freedom for the other.

The Journey South by Reavis Z. Wortham Texas cowboy Cap Whitlatch has never shied away from hard work. Whether driving cattle or busting broncos, he gets the job done right. When he hires on with a ranch, he earns his pay with blood and sweat, keeping him honest. Gil Vanderburg has known Cap since they were children. Now, he’s in jail for murder in a small Oklahoma town. To see justice served right, Cap volunteers to escort his friend to South Texas where he will stand trial for robbery.

Middle of the Night by Riley Sager Returning to his childhood home 30 years after his friend Billy’s disappearance, Ethan, plagued by strange occurrences, sets out to find out what really happened that night and, reunited with former friends and neighbors, finds his investigation leading him to a mysterious institute where clandestine research is performed.

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The Ascent by Adam Plantinga When a security system malfunction in a maximum-security prison releases a horde of prisoners, ex-cop Kurt Argento must help a small band of staff and civilians, including the governor’s daughter, make their way through six floors of the most dangerous convicts in Missouri to safety.

Murder Road by Simone St. James July 1995. April and Eddie have taken a wrong turn. They’re looking for the small resort town where they plan to spend their honeymoon. When they spot what appears to be a lone hitchhiker along the deserted road, they stop to help. But not long after the hitchhiker gets into their car, they see the blood seeping from her jacket and a truck barreling down Atticus Line after them. When the hitchhiker dies at the local hospital, April and Eddie find themselves in the crosshairs of the Coldlake Falls police.

The Guests by Margot Hunt When a Category 5 hurricane is poised to hit their coastal Florida town, the Davies family takes refuge in their waterfront manse. Marlowe, Lee, and their teenage twins invite their close friends to wait out the storm in comfort and style. Uninvited are the three strangers who dock on the family’s shore right before the storm descends. Brothers Jason and Bo—and Bo’s girlfriend, Darcy—are a charming, helpful trio in need of a safe haven that the family is only too happy to provide. But as the storm outside grows more threatening, so does the tension in the house.

Housemates by Emma Eisenberg Recommended by Davin, Clark Pleasant Branch Manager After becoming housemates in Philadelphia, two aspiring artists, Leah and Bernie, embark on a three-week road trip across America, documenting the heart of the nation through words and photographs while facing their own artistic and romantic destinies.

The Gathering by C.J. Tudor Recommended by Elyssa, Adult Services Librarian, Trafalgar Branch When a boy is found with all the blood drained from his body, Detective Barbara Atkins must determine if a member of the Colony, an ostracized community of vampyrs, is responsible, or if she’s dealing with a twisted psychopath as she uncovers secrets darker than she ever could’ve imagined.

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