Our Favorite Reads, 2023 by Geauga County Public Library

Our Fav rite Reads 2023

Staff share their favorite book titles from the past year.

Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes

Recommended by Bainbridge & Geauga West branch staff – Nisha Cantor is the longstanding second wife of wealthy American businessman, Carl, a master of murky wheeler-dealing. In London as part of their privileged, globe-trotting life, Nisha is caught entirely off-guard when, at the gym of all places, she learns Carl plans to divorce her. Nisha is glamorous, fearless, and determined to hang onto the life she has created for herself. But soon, she must scramble to adjust to an entirely new landscape as she tries to work out how to get back at Carl, and the woman who is now ensconced with him in the penthouse of the Bentley Hotel, taking Nisha's rightful place (and her wardrobe).

Ana Takes Manhattan by Lissette Decos

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff – Ana Karina loves her job, though she isn't quite where she thought she'd be by now. As a reality TV producer, she orchestrates extravagant marriage proposals that always (mostly) go as planned. If they don't, she's not afraid to cut and paste scenes to perfection afterward. Even if her arrogant film editor isn't a fan. But what does he know about romance anyway? If only Ana's love life was as simple as fixing botched engagements.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa (Author), Eric Ozawa (Translator)

Recommended by Geauga West branch staff – Twenty-five-year-old Takako has enjoyed a relatively easy existence, until the day her boyfriend Hideaki, the man she expected to wed, casually announces he's been cheating on her and is marrying the other woman. Suddenly, Takako's life is in freefall. She loses her job, her friends, and her acquaintances, and spirals into a deep depression. In the depths of her despair, she receives a call from her distant uncle Satoru.

Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421 by

T. J. Newman

Recommended by Middlefield branch staff – Six minutes after takeoff, Flight 1421 crashes into the Pacific Ocean. During the evacuation, an engine explodes and the plane is flooded. Those still alive are forced to close the doors -but its too late. The plane sinks to the bottom with twelve passengers trapped inside.

Yellowface By R. F Kuang

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff –

"It's laugh out loud funny at times, while dealing with serious subject matter. You'll hate the main character, but you will not be able to stop reading!" When a woman inherits her estranged mother’s bookstore in London’s Primrose Hill, she finds herself thrust into the pages of a new story — hers — filled with long-held family secrets, the possibility of new love, and, perhaps, the single greatest challenge of her life.

Everyone Here Is Lying by

Shari Lapena

Recommended by Geauga

West branch staff – "The author is a really good writer; I have recommended all of her books to our patrons. They do not have to be read in order and each story is different." William Wooler is a family man, on the surface. But he's been having an affair, an affair that ended horribly this afternoon at a motel up the road. So when he returns to his house, devastated and angry, to find his difficult nine-year-old daughter, Avery, unexpectedly home from school, William loses his temper. Hours later, Avery's family declares her missing. Who took Avery Wooler?

The Audrey Hepburn Estate by Brenda Janowitz

Recommended Geauga West branch staff – "This has a bit of mystery, a bit of history, a bit of romance and a good story about 3 childhood friends and one notorious house." When Emma Jansen discovers that the grand Long Island estate where she grew up is set to be demolished, she can't help but return for one last visit. After all, it was a place filled with firsts: learning to ride a bike, sneaking a glass of champagne, falling in love. But once Emma arrives at the storied mansion, she can't ignore the more complicated memories. Because that's not exactly where Emma grew up.

The Seaside Library by Brenda Novak

Recommended by Geauga West branch staff –

"I enjoyed it because it has the beach atmosphere with a library. It proves what friends will do to support each other."

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff –A big-hearted and life-affirming debut about a death doula who, in caring for others at the end of their life, has forgotten how to live her own, for readers of The Midnight Library. What's the point of giving someone a beautiful death if you can't give yourself a beautiful life?

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

Recommended by Geauga West branch staff –"James McBride's books always have a bit of humor, but mixed in with serious topics like racial injustice and family trauma. You'll love the main characters and want to see them come out on top." In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff –Twenty-one-year-old Tanner Quimby needs a place to live. Preferably one where she can continue sitting around in sweatpants and playing video games nineteen hours a day. Since she has no credit or money to speak of, her options are limited, so when an opportunity to work as a live-in caregiver for an elderly woman falls into her lap, she takes it.

A Girl Called Samson:

A Novel by Amy

Harmon

Recommended by Chardon branch staff – In 1760, Deborah Samson is born to Puritan parents in Plympton, Massachusetts. When her father abandons the family and her mother is unable to support them, Deborah is bound out as an indentured servant. From that moment on, she yearns for a life of liberation and adventure. Twenty years later, as the American colonies begin to buckle in their battle for independence, Deborah, impassioned by the cause, disguises herself as a soldier and enlists in the Continental army.

Crow Mary: A Novel by Kathleen Grissom

Recommended by Middlefield branch staff – In 1872, sixteenyear-old Goes First, a Crow Native woman, marries Abe Farwell, a white fur trader. He gives her the name Mary, and they set off on the long trip to his trading post in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan, Canada. Along the way, she finds a fast friend in a Métis named Jeannie; makes a lifelong enemy in a wolfer named Stiller; and despite learning a dark secret of Farwell's past, falls in love with her husband.

Gone to the Wolves by John Wray

Recommended by Chardon branch staff – "With many twists and turns, this book kept me interested and reading when I should have been doing other things."

Kip, Leslie, and Kira are outliers–even in the metal scene they love. In arch-conservative Gulf Coast Florida in the late 1980s, just listening to metal can get you arrested, but for the three of them the risk is well worth it, because metal is what leads them to one another.

The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly

Recommended by Chardon branch staff –

"I loved it!" The year is 1952. It's been over a decade since American Sofie Anderson and Frechwoman Arlette LaRue were imprisoned at the Ravensbrück concentration camp. As a pair of spies known as the Golden Doves, the two were arrested for working with the Resistance and were bound forever when they lost everything.

When your favorite book is a movie

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson

Recommended by Middlefield branch staff – "This novel is truly inspiring and historically accurate." 1950s Philadelphia: fifteen-yearold Ruby Pearsall is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college. But a taboo love affair threatens to pull her back down into the poverty and desperation that has been passed on to her like a birthright.

The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline

Martin

Recommended by Administration Center staff – "This is a gripping historical fiction tale of two best friends, one Polish and one a Polish Jew, who end up incarcerated in the Jewish ghetto of Warsaw." All her life, Zofia has found comfort in two things during times of hardship: books and her best friend, Janina. But no one could have imagined the horrors of the Nazi occupation in Warsaw. As the bombs rain down and Hitler's forces loot and destroy the city, Zofia finds that now books are also in need of saving.

The Librarian of Burned Books by Brianna Labuskes

Recommended by Thompson branch staff –Berlin 1933 - Following the success of her debut novel, American writer Althea James receives an invitation from Joseph Goebbels himself to participate in a culture exchange program in Germany. For a girl from a small town in Maine, Berlin seems to be sparklingly cosmopolitan, blossoming in the midst of a great change with the charismatic new chancellor at the helm. Then Althea meets a beautiful woman who promises to show her the real Berlin, and soon she's drawn into a group of resisters who make her question everything she knows about her hosts - and herself.

mystery/ thriller

A

Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn

Recommended by Geauga West branch staff – "Another fun adventure with the plucky Veronica Speedwell and her naturalhistorian beau, Stoker. Set in Victorian England, these books are well written and fun to read."

Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff – "This book was unpredictable in the best way possible!"

Seven Girls Gone by Allison

Brennan

Recommended by Geauga West branch staff – "It was very suspenseful and dealing with corrupt people in the novel's town and law enforcement."

Between Two Strangers by Kate White

Recommended by Geauga West branch staff – "It was a thriller that I couldn't put down. You didn't know who to believe and it had a couple surprising twists."

Final Fury by Annabel Chase

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff – "I love the series, it's the last book that just came out!"

cont.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff – "Just a fun read - not too heavy, not too mushy. I enjoyed the chain of events."

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Recommended by Administration Center staff –"The main character is a stubborn Asian "auntie" who decides she's going to solve a murder on her own when a dead body is found in her tea shop. She is both exasperating and endearing but had me rooting for her the whole way through!"

All He Has Left by Chad Zunker

Recommended by Geauga

West branch staff – "It's a quick read with lots of action and suspense. I especially liked the integrity of the father and his loyalty to his daughter."

Mrs. Plansky's Revenge by Spencer Quinn

Recommended by Administration Center staff –"This is a fun and fast-paced mystery with a memorable protagonist. Mrs. Plansky, a recently widowed 70 year-old falls victim to a banking scam, losing all of her money. She seeks justice by traveling the world to find the cyber criminals, becoming equal parts detective and vigilante."

Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum

Recommended by Middlefield branch staff – "The cast of characters in this mystery/thriller are revealed one-by-one to be spoiled, self-serving gossips, and cheaters. Once you start it, it is hard to put it down!"

The Longmire Defense by Craig Johnson

Recommended by Geauga

West branch staff – "Another great installment in the Longmire Mysteries series; this books lets you learn more about Walt's past relationships while he struggles with his current relationships."

Zero Days by Ruth Ware

The Last Word by Taylor Adams

Recommended by Middlefield branch staff – "It kept me on my toes and second guessing what would happen next."

Recommended by Chardon branch staff – "In classic Ruth Ware fashion, this kept me hooked right until the end. Even though I had no experience with the protagonist's unique career, I was captivated and could picture each scene. I felt emotionally connected to the characters as well as surprised by the twists, and it kept me wanting to read more."

The Wake-Up Call by Beth O'Leary

Recommended by Administration Center branch staff

– Two hotel receptionists - and arch-rivals - find a collection of old wedding rings and compete to return them to their owners, discovering their own love story along the way. It’s the busiest season of the year, and Forest Manor Hotel is quite literally falling apart. So when Izzy and Lucas are given the same shift on the hotel’s front desk, they have no choice but to put their differences aside and see it through.

Mermaid Beach (A

Moonlight Harbor Novel, Book 7) by Sheila Roberts

Recommended

Bainbridge branch staff

– "It is a feel good romance book. It's a delight for summer reading." The Mermaids are the house band at The Drunken Sailor, and that's enough fame for Bonnie. But when her daughter/bandmate, Avril, plans a move to Nashville, Bonnie feels her life drifting away.

The Seven Year Slip

by Ashley Poston

Recommended by Administration Center staff

– Sometimes, the worst day of your life happens, and you have to figure out how to live after it. So Clementine forms a plan to keep her heart safe: work hard, find someone decent to love, and try to remember to chase the moon. The last one is silly and obviously metaphorical, but her aunt always told her that you needed at least one big dream to keep going. And for the last year, that plan has gone off without a hitch.

Hello Stranger

by Katherine Center

Recommended by Geauga West branch staff – Choosing between two men isn't brain surgery, but for Sadie Montgomery, it is. One moment Sadie is celebrating the biggest achievement of her life - placing as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition - the next, she finds herself struggling with face blindness. She can see, but every face she looks at is now a jumbled puzzle of disconnected features. And she'll need brain surgery to (hopefully) reverse it. But that's not all.

Forget Me Not by Julie Soto

Recommended by Administration Center branch staff – Ama Torres is an optimistic wedding planner who doesn't believe in marriage. But weddings? They're amazing. Elliot Bloom is a brooding florist who hates owning a flower shop... until a certain bright-eyed, donut-loving workaholic shows up at his door.

listen to the book

fantasy

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff – "Winter is coming! This is the perfect cozy winter read."

The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten

Recommended by Thompson branch staff – "This book was very well done, the characters were great and the world building was so cool!"

memoirs/ biography

Edison's Ghosts: The Untold Weirdness of History’s Greatest Geniuses by Katie Spalding

Recommended by Geauga West branch staff – "It was an interesting and informative read. She shares stories of geniuses throughout history and some of their weird and/or not wise actions."

Spare by Prince Harry

Recommended by Geauga

West branch staff – It was one of the most searing images of the 20th century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother's coffin as the world watched in sorrow - and horror. As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling - and how their lives would play out from that point on. For Harry, this is that story at last.

Plant-Based on a Budget Quick & Easy: 100 Fast, Healthy, Meal-Prep, FreezerFriendly, & One-Pot Vegan Recipes by Toni Okamoto

Recommended by Geauga

West branch staff – "It's a user-friendly and budget-friendly cookbook with plant-based and vegan recipes, many of which use ingredients you already have on hand or are easily found in a typical grocery store."

Recipes for Murder: 66

Dishes That Celebrate the Mysteries of Agatha Christie by Karen Pierce

Recommended by Middlefield branch staff –"Pierce goes through each Agatha Christie title (short stories and novels) and creates a recipe for some dish or drink mentioned in the text, with a short informative section beforehand full of history and trivia."

Tasting History: Explore the Past through 4,000 Years of Recipes by Max Miller & Ann Volkwein

Recommended by Middlefield branch staff

– "This book gives an inside look from primary sources about what people of yester-year filled their bellies with - and a chance to taste it yourself if you desire."

Random Acts of Medicine: The Hidden Forces That Sway Doctors, Impact Patients, & Shape Our Health

by Anupam B. Jena & Christopher Worsham

Recommended by Thompson branch staff – "In an era of challenging the medical establishment, this book asks truly relevant questions and leaves readers with a better understanding of the forces that affect both the healthcare industry and their own personal health."

The Girls Who Fought Crime: The Untold True Story of the Country's First Female

Investigator & Her Crime-Fighting Squads by Mari Eder

The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel

Recommended by Chardon branch staff – "The thief stole during the day when the museums were open to the public. How he stole the artwork was amazing and why he stole it was interesting."

Recommended by Administration Center staff – "This is a fascinating account of Mae Foley, one of the first women to be sworn in to the New York police force. It describes the struggles she and other women faced breaking through and proving themselves in an occupation believed to be only for men; the dangers they encountered (mobsters, bootleggers, rapists, murderers, wartime espionage, and Nazis); and blazing the trail for future generations of women to become policewomen, investigators, detectives, and police chiefs."

The Parrot & the Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial by David Lipsky

What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World's Most Enigmatic Birds by Jennifer Ackerman

Recommended by Middlefield branch staff – "It was so interesting and it is a book about owls! Whoo does not like owls?"

Recommended by Thompson branch staff – "Climate change is often misunderstood and this title provides both an overview of its history in public perception and a layperson's understanding of its impacts. It's an alarming subject and the author approaches it with a dry wit and an often dramatic reverence."

The Cat's Meow: How Cats

Evolved from the Savanna to Your Sofa by Jonathan B. Losos

Recommended by Middlefield branch staff – "Losos combines his deep and abiding love for all cats with a background in biology to explain our feline friends, from the distant past to today, showing where their behaviors come from. He even touches on the cat of the future. It's an engrossing read if you are a feline fanatic."

Log in to NoveList Plus from your library’s site. Need help finding NoveList Plus? Ask your librarian. Find the “Recommended Reads Lists” located on the left side of the home page. Choose from any of the hundreds of great books organized by genre and age level. Whether you’re

Young Adult

Adult – Our Top Picks

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz

Recommended by Middlefield branch staff

– "It's funny, cute, and sweet. Plus, everyone is named after cheese!"

Mirrorverse: Pure of Heart by Delilah Dawson

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff – "It's a fun spin on the Disney classic Snow White."

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff

–

"I am recommending this title because this book is a truly beautiful gothic historical fantasy. The writing is lyrical and evocative, creating a fantasy world that was very atmospheric and managed to feel very real. At the same time the book also handles several realworld problems and the struggles that its protagonist, Effy, goes through with grace. The plot itself may seem simple but that is not the part of this book that shines, rather it is the world that Reid creates - a place where magic and reality blend to create something haunting and beautiful - and the careful way she handles delicate subjects that is to be respected. Overall, this is the perfect book to read while imagining yourself enjoying the changing of the leaves near a small town next to the sea."

The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst

Recommended by Geauga West branch staff – Fans of Yellowjackets and spinechilling thrillers will be on the edge of their seats in this story of three girls who find a dead body in the woods and their camp burned to the ground.

Phoebe's Diary by Phoebe Wahl

Recommended by Middlefield branch staff–"Phoebe Wahl is a wonderful picture book author and phenomenal illustrator - from her picture books to her mini-comics to her adorable prints and merch she sells on her website. This is essentially her 2006-2007 teenage diary: if you're a teen, read it because it's honest, relatable, funny and reassuring... and illustrated in her signature style! If you're an adult who was also a teen/new adult during the same years, read it for the indie rock nostalgia and be comforted by the fact that you and this author/ illustrator you love so much would have totally been friends."

juvenile juvenile fiction

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

graphic novels

The Dog Knight (The Dog Knight, Book 1) by Jeremy Whitley (Author), Bre Indigo (Illustrator)

Grades 4-8

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff – "I would be surprised if I'm the only one recommending this title because it's getting a lot of Newbery buzz. This book is heart-wrenching and hilarious as it tackles youth trauma, PTSD, and anxiety while being really clever and funny. Each character, major and minor, is endearing and real. I highly recommend the audiobook by Will Collyer as they do an amazing job."

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan

Recommended by Chardon branch staff – "The Percy Jackson series has been a favorite of mine since childhood and I'm thrilled that he is continuing to write more of the series and its spinoffs."

Dogtown (A Dogtown Book, 1) by Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko (Authors), Wallace West (Illustrator)

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff – " Adventure stories, animals, and books about friendship"

Grades 3-5

Recommended by Middlefield branch staff –"Frankie's challenge of finding themself and facing fears is relatable… and the dogs are cute!"

early readers

Grades 3-4

Grades K-2

I Like This Color: A Silly Story About Listening by Liz Goulet Dubois

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff –"This is a great read with short chapters that help keep the reader interested."

Makeda Makes a Birthday Treat by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and Lydia Mba

Recommended by Middlefield branch staff –"A story for kids who love when birthday treats are shared in class, but what happens when the treat is something different than you're used to?"

Uni and the 100 Treasures by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff –"As kids approach the 100th day of school, they will feel very proud to be able to read this fun book. The bright illustrations help with more difficult words."

Grades 5-8

Ages 5-8

Grades K-1

Ages 4-6

Maxie Wiz and the Magic Charms by Michelle Meadows and Sawyer Cloud

Recommended by

Bainbridge branch staff –"New readers who like all things magical will delight in this fun and whimsical story of a girl wizard and her trusty dragon."

Ages 2-5

Stuff Kids Should Know by Josh Clark, Chuck Bryant with Nils Parker

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff

– "This book is filled with fun facts about a variety of topics such as, the history of Mr. Potato Head, what the different types of mustaches are called, and what is the fascination with demolition derbies. A great book as conversation starter."

Grades 4-6

Be Happy: A Little Book of Mindfulness by Maddy Bard and Emma Dodd

Recommended by Geauga West branch staff – "A great book to teach little ones the tools to living happy and healthy."

Wombats Are Pretty Weird: A (Not So) Serious Guide by Abi Cushman

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff

– "Kids who love science and jokes collide will love this field guide on an interesting animal!"

Ages 5-8

The Totally Awesome Ultimate Kids Cookbook: Simple Recipes & Fun Skills to Cook Fabulous Meals for Your Family by Tiffany Dahle

Recommended by Geauga West branch staff – "This is a children's cookbook that's great for adults too. Each recipe has a beautiful color photo and extra ideas on how to adjust it such as with different spices."

Look & Cook

Snacks: A First Book of Recipes in Pictures by Valorie Fisher

Recommended by Geauga West branch staff – "They're fun recipes with detailed step-by-step color pictures of how to make them."

Under the Blanket Sky by Tim Fischer

picture books

Ages 3-7

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff – "This book of friendship is filled with gorgeous illustrations. It's a wonderful story of love and companionship between a boy and an owl."

Ages 4-8

Don't Worry, Wuddles by Lita Judge

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff –"This is a great picture book to share with little ones and practice animals noises along with some laughter."

A Stone is a Story by Leslie Booth

Recommended by Administration Center staff – "Where do rocks come from?"

The answer may be more incredible than you think!

Ages 4-8

After all, a stone is not just a stone: a stone is a story. Embark on a journey across time to see how one stone can change and transform, from magma under Earth's crust to the sand swept up by a rushing river to the very heart of the tallest mountain.

Bitsy Bat, School Star by Kaz Windness

Recommended by Geauga West branch staff – "This is a wonderful story. The main character has a supportive family who helps her figure out how to adapt her day to make it through school successfully. There is a special message from the author about what it means to be autistic."

Grades Pre-K-1

Mr. S: A First Day of School Book by Monica Arnaldo

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff – "Mr. S is a great read-aloud book for those just starting school or will be starting school soon - all of my PreK and K outreach classes I have read it to so far have loved it. It is clever and funny with great illustrations that are great for discussing with your group as you read."

Stickler Loves the World by Lane Smith

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff – "This is a beautiful story of the importance of looking at the simple things in our world and seeing the beauty in it."

Ages 4-8

Grades K-2

I Will Read to You: A Story About Books, Bedtime, & Monsters by Gideon Sterer (Author), Charles Santoso (Illustrator)

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff

– "This cute Halloween bedtime story has charming illustrations that harken to classic reads such as Where the Wild Things Are while using its rhyming script to tell a story about empathy as one little boy wonders who - if anyone - is there to read bedtime stories to monsters? This book emphasizes the importance of coming together to read a good story and how you shouldn't judge anyone for seeming different or scary."

My Baba's Garden by Jordan Scott (Author), Sydney Smith (Illustrator)

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff – "This is a touching picture book about the bond between a grandmother and grandson, the traditions, routines and habits they share in their daily time together. This is the second collaboration between Jordan Scott and Sydney Smith - their first book, I Talk Like a River, is an equally moving and beautiful!"

Not A Monster by Claudia Guadalupe Martínez (Author), Laura Gonzalez (Illustrator)

Recommended by Administration Center staff – "This fun and educational picture book is designed to introduce readers to the life cycle, traits, and mythic origins of the beloved amphibian known as the axolotl. In addition, the book also works in Spanish vocabulary in a way that serves as an opening to introduce children to other languages."

The No-Dig Children's Gardening Book by Charles Dowding

Recommended by Middlefield branch staff – "This book presents many gardening topics such as no-dig sensory gardens and compost instruction."

We are Starlings: Inside the Mesmerizing Magic of a Murmuration by Robert Furrow (Author) Marc Martin (Illustrator)

Recommended by Bainbridge branch staff – "A stunning picture book for young nature lovers about starlings and the fascinating phenomenon of murmurations."

Ages 4-8

Grades Pre K-2

Grades Pre K - 2

Grades Pre K-2

Grades 2-5

Reading has been associated as an early indicator of academic success. Parents and caregivers are the first education providers during a child's critical development years (0-5 y/o). Our partnership with the Geauga County Library Foundation is vital to the academic success of Geauga County's early readers.

Participating children will receive a 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten T-Shirt upon enrolling in the program. From that point on, they will earn a sticker badge for every 100 books read.

Once they reach the goal of 1,000 books read, their picture will be taken with a photo prop and posted on the Geauga County Public Library's website and social media pages (with permission), and they will be presented with a certificate celebrating their success.

reader'shappy hour

Most read books by Geauga County Patrons in Reader's Happy Hour

Top 5!

Wednesdays on Facebook @ 6 p.m.

Spare by Prince Harry

It was one of the most searing images of the 20th century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother's coffin as the world watched in sorrow - and horror. As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling - and how their lives would play out from that point on. For Harry, this is that story at last.

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father's good looks and coppercolored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses.

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

People don't just disappear without a trace...

Shelby Tebow is the first to go missing. Not long after, Meredith Dickey and her sixyear-old daughter, Delilah, vanish just blocks away from where Shelby was last seen, striking fear into their oncepeaceful community. Are these incidents connected? After an elusive search that yields more questions than answers, the case eventually goes cold.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult

Olivia McAfee knows what it feels like to start over. Her pictureperfect life--living in Boston, married to a brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon, raising their beautiful son, Asher-was upended when her husband revealed a darker side. She never imagined that she would end up back in her sleepy New Hampshire hometown, living in the house she grew up in and taking over her father's beekeeping business.

The Bucket List by Rachael Hanna

I NEVER wanted to be a daredevil. Even as the 49-year old adult that I am, I still don't want to ride a roller coaster or jump out of a perfectly good airplane. And I don't understand people who want to do those things - even my lifelong best friend. And yet, here I am, holding a list of daredevil-ish things in my hand at my best friend's will reading.

D iscussion G roups

Discussion Groups

B ainBridGe B ranch

B ain B rid G e B ranch

Mondays, 10 a.m. & 2 p.m.

*subject to change

t hompson B ranch

(also offered virtually)

Jan. 8: The Children’s Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin

Sept. 11: The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

Fireside Chats Book Group: Saturdays, 2 p.m.

Jan. 20: The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

Sept. 16: Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

Sept. 11: The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

Oct. 16: We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Jan. 8: The Children’s Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin

Feb. 12: Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes

Oct. 16: We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Mar. 11: The Latecomer by Jean Korelitz

Feb. 12: Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes

Nov. 13: How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

Mar. 11: The Latecomer by Jean Korelitz

Dec. 11: A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg

Apr. 15: He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly

Nov. 13: How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

Apr. 15: He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly

Dec. 11: A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg

Tuesdays, 7 p.m.

Jan. 16: Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts

(also offered virtually)

Feb. 20: The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks

Jan. 16: Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts

Feb. 20: The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks

Mar. 19: Rust by Eliese Colette Goldbach

Apr. 16: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

c hardon B ranch

Fantasy Book Discussion: Saturdays, 2 p.m.

Jan. 13: The Fellowship of the Ring & The Two Towers by Tolkien

Feb. 10: The Two Towers & The Return of the King by Tolkien

Jan. 13: The Fellowship of the Ring & The Two Towers by Tolkien

Mar. 9: Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan

Feb. 10: The Two Towers & The Return of the King by Tolkien

Apr. 13: The Gunslinger by Stephen King

Mar. 9: Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan

Apr. 13: The Gunslinger by Stephen King

Wednesdays, 7 p.m.

Jan. 17: Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

Feb. 21: The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

Mar. 20: Little Eve by Catriona Ward

Apr. 17: The Speckled Beauty by Rick Bragg

G eauGa W est B ranch

G eau G a W est B ranch

Wednesdays, 7 p.m.

Jan. 3: Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes

Feb. 7: Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Mar. 6: House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Apr. 3: Galileo’s Daughter by Dava Sobel

Film Discussion Club: Thursdays, 2 p.m.

Jan. 4: The Big Chill (1983)

Feb. 1: Dead Poet’s Society (1989)

Jan. 4: The Big Chill (1983)

Mar. 7: Double Indemnity (1944)

Feb. 1: Dead Poet’s Society (1989)

Apr. 4: Gilda (1946)

Mar. 7: Double Indemnity (1944)

Apr. 4: Gilda (1946)

No Homework Book Club: Thursdays, 2 p.m.

Dates: Jan 18, Feb. 15, Mar. 21, & Apr. 18

No homework or required reading! Bring yourself and your thoughts for a chat about the books we love.

m iddlefield B ranch

Thursday Book Discussion: Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.

Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.

Book Discussion:

Thursday Book Discussion: Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 14: Hanna Who Fell from the Sky by Christopher Meades

Jan. 11: The Lindbergh Nanny by Mariah Fredericks

Oct. 21: Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland

Jan. 20: The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

Sept. 16: Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

Feb. 17: The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

Mar. 16: Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach

Nov. 18: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Feb. 17: The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

Oct. 21: Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland

Apr. 20: Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay

Dec. 16: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

Mar. 16: Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach

Nov. 18: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Dec. 16: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

Apr. 20: Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay

V irtual d iscussions

Thursday Book Discussion: Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.

Left of Center Book Discussion: Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday Book Discussion: Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday

Left of Center Book Discussion: Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday Book Discussion: Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 14: Hanna Who Fell from the Sky by Christopher Meades

Jan. 18: Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk

Sept. 14: Hanna Who Fell from the Sky by Christopher Meades

Oct. 12: The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict

Feb. 15: The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence

Jan. 18: Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk

Sept. 14: Hanna Who Fell from the Sky by Christopher Meades

Feb. 15: The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence

Oct. 12: The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict

Nov. 9: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Mar. 21: To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

Oct. 12: The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict

Nov. 9: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Apr. 18: Shark Heart: A Love Story by Emily Habeck

Mar. 21: To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

Nov. 9: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Dec. 14: The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

Nov. 9: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Dec. 14: The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

Apr. 18: Shark Heart: A Love Story by Emily Habeck

Dec. 14: The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

Thursdays, 7 p.m.

Page Turners: Tuesdays, 7 p.m.

Thursdays, 7 p.m.

Jan. 25: Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

Feb. 22: The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

Mar. 28: Little Eve by Catriona Ward

Apr. 25: The Speckled Beauty by Rick Bragg

Apr 25: The Speckled Beauty by Rick Bragg

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Sept. 14: Hanna Who Fell from the Sky by Christopher Meades

Oct. 12: The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict

Feb. 8: The First Ladies by M. Benedict & Victoria by C. Murray

Jan. 11: The Lindbergh Nanny by Mariah Fredericks

Sept. 14: Hanna Who Fell from the Sky by Christopher Meades

Oct. 12: The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict

Feb. 8: The First Ladies by M. Benedict & Victoria by C. Murray

Nov. 9: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Mar. 14: The Paris Deception by Bryn Turnbull

Oct. 12: The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict

Apr. 11: The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes

Mar. 14: The Paris Deception by Bryn Turnbull

Nov. 9: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Dec. 14: The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

Nov. 9: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Dec. 14: The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

Apr. 11: The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes

Dec. 14: The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

Page Turners: Tuesdays, 7 p.m.

Jan. 30: Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes

Feb. 27: In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

Jan. 30: Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes

Feb. 27: In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

Mar. 26: Necessary Trouble by Drew Gilpin Faust

Get reading with friends by picking up a book discussion kit today. All you need is a library card!

Mar. 26: Necessary Trouble by Drew Gilpin Faust

Apr. 30: Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

Fun Library Facts more than books

Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie was a one-man library-funding machine. The wealthy industrialist donated $55 million—or about $1.6 billion in today’s dollars—between 1886 and 1919 to open an astonishing 2509 libraries worldwide, including 1679 in the United States.

Many early libraries were built with apartments on the top floor. Carnegie funded several New York City libraries, and those buildings were often constructed with apartments on the top floor. The idea was that the library’s custodians would have living quarters so that they could keep shoveling coal into furnaces at all hours of the day and night.

Librarians had to adopt a particular style of handwriting known as “librarian hand.” The practice was prevalent in the late 1800s, when library pioneer Melvil Dewey—of the Dewey Decimal System—and other curators of early collections believed that legible handwriting was a must for card catalogs. The practice faded as typewriters grew in popularity.