The Chuckanut Reader - Summer 2026

Dear Reader,

As we welcome the summer season, we find ourselves on the brink of a fresh start with Paper Dreams. Many of you have asked about the progress of the much-needed renovation and we're so glad we'll be able to share that space with you soon! (See page 11 for details.) We wouldn't have dreamed of undertaking such an endeavor without your steadfast support these past 46 years. Which we'll be celebrating on Independence Day Weekend... or, as we're calling it,

INDEPENDENT'S DAY! Though summers in Bellingham are the best time of the year to stay put, if your vacations take you elsewhere, recognize that wherever you go, it's the individual and local flavors that make your destinations special. And when you return, treasure what we have here for the same reasons. So continue to connect with your neighbors, shop local first, and nurture your connections. We're glad to be here for you, Dear Reader, and happy reading.

The Chuckanut Reader Summer 2026

Publisher: Village Books and Paper Dreams

Production & Design: Kelly Carbert

Contributors: Kiana Allen,

Kelly Carbert, Caitriona Cassel, Erin Chervenock, Milo Chervenock-Johnson, Stephanie Dethlefs, Sydney Durst, Kelly Evert, Paul Hanson, Chloe Hovind, Sarah Hutton, Ethan Jackson, Kat Kayser, Sean

– Sarah, Kelly,

Paul, and the Entire Village Books and Paper Dreams Family

Chicken Festival

Saturday, July 18, noon-4pm

The delightfully quirky Chicken Fest is back! Head to the Fairhaven Village Green for a whimsical family-friendly afternoon of lighthearted fun.

Expect a playful carnival atmosphere packed with chicken-themed games, prizes, live music, local artisans, vendors, face painting, rooster calling & costume contests, and wonderfully silly activities for all ages. Keep an eye out for the larger-than-life chicken mascot, ready for photos, high-fives, and general poultry mischief. You'll have an egg-cellent time!

Don't Miss Out!

Village Books at the Bellingham Bells!

Joe Martin Field, Bellingham, WA

Wednesday, July 22, 6:35pm

Join us in cheering on the 2025 West Coast League Champion Bellingham Bells as they take on the Kelowna Falcons at Joe Martin Field. Stop by the Village Books table—we'll have a wheel to spin for prizes! In celebration of the annual Find Waldo Local Hunt in both Fairhaven and Lynden during July (see page 59) our very own Waldo will be in attendance—throwing the first pitch and running the field with the kids. Do you think you can find him?

Game tickets available at bellstickets.com

Storytime with Dinger! Tuesday, July 21, 11am

Bring the kids to a super special story time at Village Books in Fairhaven–see page 58.

Meanwhile, local baseball fans should stop by the store and grab their own copy of Bays to Bells: The Story of Baseball in Whatcom County by Kent Holsather and Wes Gannaway.

Fairhaven Annual Sidewalk Sale

Saturday, September 5, 2026

Head to the historic Fairhaven district and enjoy browsing for deals on this annual day of discounts. Village Books and Paper Dreams will have our usual books, gift items, seasonal decor, and more out in front of our stores—all at low low prices. Stop by and see what treasures you score!

Art by Scott Ward

R UND IT P

Fostering Racial Unity Within Our Community

Emerging from a moment of profound challenge and awakening, Racial Unity Now (RUN) was founded in 2020 following a local march against racism that faced armed opposition and threats. In response, local Christian leaders united, recognizing the urgent need to overcome deep racism within our community.

RUN’s strategy is simple yet transformative: to create racial unity by fostering empathy through relationships, understanding through education, and transformation through civic engagement here in Whatcom County.

Through programs like Peace Camp, Flavors of Community, Be the Bridge book groups, migrant support kits, and partnerships with local task forces, RUN creates pathways for honest dialogue, relational trust, and hands-on justice work—believing that community transformation begins with personal transformation.

Round It Up, our amazingly simple giving program, was designed to support local non-profits.

Join Village Books and Paper Dreams customers who are supporting our community by rounding up your next purchase to the nearest dollar.

build racial unity

through education, dialogue, and community-building initiatives.

Explore. Play. Win.

How is your favorite locally-owned independent bookstore connected to the 2026 World Cup?

By being a stop on SEA&WIN— the official mobile game of the Seattle FIFA World Cup 26, that's how! Designed to bring the excitement of the world’s largest sporting event to the fans, you can download the app then EXPLORE various locations, PLAY interactive soccer games, and WIN prizes. The SEA&WIN app is available to play now through the end of the World Cup. Scan here to get started:

In case that made no sense to you, let's take a peek at the bigger picture. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup Tournament—which takes place every four years—will feature the world's top 48 men's football teams (soccer for Americans) playing 104 matches across 16 cities in Mexico, Canada, and the United States between June 11 and July 19, 2026. With Bellingham conveniently nestled between two of these host cities—Seattle and Vancouver, BC—our community has been selected as a Fan Zone. A Fan Zone is a hot spot where fans can gather to watch matches or enjoy other all-ages soccer-related activities at vibrant community locations including many of your favorite breweries, the Sportsplex, Whatcom Museum, at a Downtown block party, and more!

The SEA&WIN mobile game is just another opportunity for you to enjoy and be part of the activities.

4th Friday

See bellingham.org/fan-zone-events

Please note: The next FIFA Women's World Cup will be held in Brazil in 2027.

Fairhaven Art Walks

Thursday, November 5, 2026

Ahhh... there's nothing quite like a leisurely evening stroll through Fairhaven Village. Grab a drink, a bite, and enjoy displays of art at participating businesses, restaurants, and galleries.

Annual Literacy Breakfast with NANCY PEARL

Four Points Sheraton, Bellingham, WA

Mark your calendars and save the date for the always popular annual breakfast with librarian and author Nancy Pearl. All proceeds benefit the Whatcom Literacy Council free adult literacy programs. Registration opens on whatcomliteracy.org after Labor Day.

VILLAGE BOOKS Literary Citizenship AWARD

Village Books is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Literary Citizenship Award.

Recipients of this award are of diverse backgrounds and professions, but each have demonstrated a commitment to engaging with the literary community with the intent of giving as much, if not more so, than they receive. This can take many different forms such as giving back to the literary community in a meaningful way, making yourself available to other writers to provide your knowledge and expertise, championing other people's successes, and involving yourself in the local literary landscape of independent bookstores, libraries, schools, and writing organizations.

On Friday, June 26, Paul Hanson, Kelly Evert, and Sarah Hutton, co-owners and stewards of Village Books and Paper Dreams, will present this year’s award to Laura Kalpakian, Shannon P. Laws, and Molly McNulty.

LAURA KALPAKIAN Author, Mentor, Educator

Laura Kalpakian has been a prominent literary figure in the Whatcom County writing community for many years. In addition to being a celebrated novelist, she has guided many emerging writers, first as an instructor at WWU, then in her memoir class through the extension. She gives her time and expertise as a critique group leader, mentor, and co-founder of Red Wheelbarrow Writers—an open community for writers to support, encourage, and sustain one another.

SHANNON P. LAWS Poet, Producer, Community Builder

Shannon Laws is an award-winning poet, performer, and advocate for the arts. She has been recognized with two Mayor’s Arts Awards and the Dr. Asha Bhargava Memorial Award — Community Champion. Her work has been featured in numerous journals and anthologies, and she has captivated audiences at esteemed literary events. Beyond her writing and performances, Shannon actively fosters literary and artistic communities in and around Bellingham.

Continued on page 10

MOLLY MCNULTY Educator, Artist, Community Builder

Molly Beth McNulty is a retired middle school language arts teacher from Skagit County. For more than three decades, she sprinkled her classroom with stories, laughter, and the occasional pun, sharing her love of words with students who sometimes groaned—then grinned. She joined the Skagit River Poetry Foundation’s board in 2003 and became Executive Director in 2007. A visual artist, angler, and bird dog enthusiast, she shares her life with husband Richard and their clever, occasionally mischievous German Wirehaired Pointer, Dusty, on a small lake in Skagit County.

Friday, June 26, 7pm in the Crystal Ballroom of The Hotel Leo, Downtown Bellingham Join us as we celebrate the 2026 Award Recipients

Presentation of the 2026 Village Books Literary Citizenship Awards

We invite any and all who have been touched by these fine literary citizens to join us in celebrate of their contributions to our writing community! The award ceremony will take place as part of a 2026 Chuckanut Writer’s Conference Faculty Reading. Open to the public, we encourage you to join us for this celebratory evening of literature.

Tickets $10 available now - villagebooks.com

Village Books celebrates and thanks these three talented and dedicated community builders, mentors, writers, artists, and educators. They have each demonstrated, in their own unique way, the virtues that embody a good literary citizen. For this, we award $1000 to each of them and hereby induct them into the Village Books Literary Citizen Hall of Fame which is on permanent display in Village Books and Paper Dreams, Fairhaven.

Paul Hanson, Kelly Evert, and Sarah Hutton Co-owners and Stewards, Village Books and Paper Dreams

Seán Dwyer, David Beaumier, Linda Quinby Lambert

2023

Rena Priest, Joan Airoldi, Laurel Leigh Erdoiza

What's Going On With

Paper Dreams?

If you've visited our Fairhaven location since mid-April, you likely noticed that Paper Dreams—where the majority of our gift merchandise is located—has been closed for renovations. You have questions. And I have answers!

Why are you remodeling Paper Dreams?

Thank you for asking! We are remodeling because the same cabinets, paint, lighting, and floor have been here for a very long time and were beginning to fall apart—especially the cabinets. Drawers were not opening or closing or just falling on the floor when we tried to use them. It was time.

Why did you take everything out?

The carpet was pulling up in many areas and we needed to pull it ALL out. To be able to do that, we had to remove everything from the space. While much of the product was placed in the bookstore, we had to rent a few short term storage units to hold the furniture. It was a huge undertaking that the VBPD team did together.

Are you still going to make fudge?

Yes! Our delicious buttercream fudge will be made in-house as it always has been. The only difference is that it will now be displayed in a beautiful new candy counter.

How old is the building?

The building was built in 1891. To honor her, we are installing a new tile entrance showcasing that year. Every time you walk through those old doors and see the date, you can reflect on how fortunate we are to be part of such a wonderful piece of history.

When will Paper Dreams re-open?

We are planning to re-open on Saturday, June 20th. Please come by and celebrate with us!

We wish to thank everyone that has worked on this project: Alderwood Builders, Benson Service Electric, Inc. Samish Cabinetry, Cascade Drywall Inc., Great Floors, Prism Painting Co., and Raedhaus Design. Thanks to our staff members who have had to pivot everyday to keep up with the changes. And of course to our customers, thank you for your patience and continued support! Saturday, June 20

Kelly Evert, Owner of an Independent Business Building Community Since 1980

Celebrate Local PRIDE

with Village Books

Village Books is PROUD to be the Title Sponsor of Pride IN Bellingham 2026—a collection of celebratory events spread throughout the weekend of July 10-12, 2026. Be sure to join in the festivities during this annual celebration of inclusiveness and support.

Friday, July 10

• Queer Happy Hour – 6pm-7:30pm at Next Chapter Cafe Located on the mezzanine level of Village Books in Fairhaven Mix and mingle with fellow queer folk! play some trivia, Share book recommendations, meet new friends—don't miss out! Next Chapter Cafe

Saturday, July 11

• Pride Family Picnic – 12pm-4pm on the Fairhaven Village Green

• All Ages PRIDE Dance – 4pm-7pm at -HUTAnnual Dance PARTY with live DJ's and drag artists! Hosted in Bellingham's newest event space -HUT- (alley entrance next to former Boundary Bay Beer Garden).

Sunday, July 12

• Pride IN Bellingham Parade – 11am-1pm New Route! From Bellingham High School down Cornwall to Maple St. through downtown to the Depot Market Square. Give us a wave and grab a bookmark as we march by!

• Pride IN Bellingham Festival – 12pm-4pm

Depot Market Square & Railroad Ave between Chestnut & Maple Stop by the Village Books booth!

• Rumors Cocktail Garden & After Party – 12pm-4pm

Depot Market Square & Railroad Ave between Chestnut & Maple.

At Village Books, we believe in acceptance, inclusion, and respect for the diversity of human life. We strive to promote and advocate for equal rights. In honor of National Pride Month, you'll find throughout our store displays and shelftalkers highlighting books that explore themes of gender, sexuality, queerness, and communities.

You'll also find "Read with Pride" next to several titles throughout this issue of the Chuckanut Reader. With these titles, our hope is to help expand visions of love, family, and selfhood in order to cultivate a safe and healthy space for LGBTQ+ community members to live, work, and thrive. Join us as we embrace and celebrate pride throughout our community.

New Fiction

Land

by Maggie O’Farrell

available in June, hardcover, Knopf

The bestselling author of Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait returns with a soaring historical novel set in Ireland in the years before and after the Great Hunger. “A breathtaking hymn to the sanctity of natural spaces, operating on timescales both intimate and geological. I finished Land moved not only by the vivid lives of its human characters, but the thrumming, gorgeous presence of its mosses, waters, winds, and skies.” —Daniel Mason, author of North Woods.

Whistler

by Ann Patchett

available in June, hardcover, Harper

This is a beautiful story of relationships lost and found again, or perhaps forgotten and remembered. I was deeply moved by the depths of this stepfather/stepdaughter relationship, rendered in the gorgeous prose Ann Patchett is known for. Invest in Daphne and Eddie...you'll be glad you did.  –Stephanie

The Things We Never Say

by

Elizabeth Strout

available now, hardcover, Random House

Elizabeth Strout, as we have come to expect, delivers a moving exploration of the human condition—one that brims with compassion for each and every one of her indelible characters. With exquisite prose and profound insight, The Things We Never Say takes one man’s fears and loneliness and makes them universal, and in the same breath, captures the abiding love that sustains and holds us all.

Country People

by Daniel Mason

available in July, hardcover, Random House

Take one family out of California and put them in a small town in Vermont that seems to have a special secret and see what happens. A rollicking good time, this book had me laughing, and had me looking up Russian folk tales, Blake and Milton, and had me wanting to watch Best in Show again. How can one book do all that? Do enjoy this fantastical read. –Kelly E.

Daughters of the Sun and Moon

by

Lisa See

available in June, hardcover, Scribner Book Company

Three unique women find themselves in the same difficult circumstances coming to Los Angeles in 1870. One is sold into servitude by her father, the other married off to a much older man, and the third is a disabled wife of a doctor. As is usual with See's novels, a history lesson is told from the voices of those the country has tried to erase and silence.

Matcha on Monday

by Michiko Aoyama

translated by E. Madison Shimoda

available in July, hardcover, Hanover Square Press

Across a bridge in a quiet neighborhood in Tokyo, a popular coffeeshop called the Marble Cafe closes on Mondays, and in its place, the Matcha Cafe opens to its customers. On one day of the week, people from all walks of life frequent this cozy haven and experience the joys of human connection. This heart-warming story spans Tokyo and Kyoto over 12 months, bringing together a dozen eclectic, unique characters and their stories.

The Midnight Train

by Matt Haig

available now, hardcover, Penguin

This is such a wonderful new addition to the fascinating afterlife explored in The Midnight Library. Matt Haig creates nuanced characters that you will fall in love with and a profound story that asks the question, "If you could see your life stretched out before you, would you risk eternal life to change it?" –Kellen

Cool Machine

by Colson Whitehead

available in July, hardcover, Doubleday

With his usual pitch-perfect prose, Whitehead paints a portrait of a city in transition, where shimmering skyscrapers rise to the heavens as displaced people huddle in abandoned tunnels below. In a dazzling display of protean imagination, Cool Machine roves all over the city, from Windows on the World to the Meadowlands, to show that in New York, and in the lives of Whitehead’s vivid characters, it’s what’s below the surface that reveals the truth.

–Kiana

New Fiction

Porcupines

by Fran Fabriczki

available now, hardcover,

Summit Books

Porcupines is a splendidly endearing tale of a mother and daughter figuring out their place in the world; along with their place in each-other's hearts. An immigrant girl from Budapest following in her sister's trail, Sonia finds herself in the heart of L.A with a scarily bright daughter intent on figuring out who her father is. As the two travel to Chicago with entirely different motives, a bond of understanding forms between them, stronger than any they had known before. –Ethan

The Typing Lady:

And Other Fictions

by Ruth Ozeki available in June, hardcover, Viking

In this spirited and emotionally resonant collection, award-winning novelist Ruth Ozeki turns her singular gaze to the short story, exploring childhood ambition, youthful desire, midlife reinvention, and the unsparing clarity of old age. With her distinctive blend of wit, warmth, and deep humanity, she brings us eleven richly imagined stories of characters standing at life’s thresholds.

Games: A Love Story

by Anna Maria Volkova

available in June, hardcover, William Morrow & Company

A romance between an economics grad student and an older prominent Wall Street banker sounds polarizing…and it was. However, Lili and Aleksander’s push and pull that highlights the complex nuance of how the personal shapes your economic politics is what drew me in. Games: A Love Story is perfect for the fans of Normal People, who wished that it had a happier ending. –Sydney

Beginning Middle End

by Valeria Luiselli

available in July, hardcover, Knopf

From the beloved, award-winning author of the culture-changing hits Lost Children Archive and Tell Me How It Ends comes her most powerful and page-turning novel yet: the tale of a mother and daughter traveling together after the collapse of a marriage and the dissolution of their traditional family structure.

Palaces of the Crow

by Ray Nayler

available now, hardcover, MCD

From the author of Mountain in the Sea comes another speculative foray into the alternatively intelligent animal kingdom. Set in a forest in the last winter of WWII where four teens of very different backgrounds are trapped between the Nazis and the Red Army. Their survival depends upon the beneficence of the crows whose home they share. Naylor achieves gripping historical fiction, societal commentary, and a revelatory exploration into our kinship with the natural world. –Paul

I See You’ve Called in Dead

by

John

Kenney available in June, paperback, Zibby Publishing Obituary writer Bud Stanley isn’t really living his best life. He’s fallen into a funk after a divorce. (She left him for another man, who, in fairness, was far more interesting.) He’s not doing his job well. He’s given up on dating. And he’s about to be fired for accidentally publishing his own obituary one mildly drunken night (though technically the company can’t legally fire a dead person). As Bud awaits his fate at work, he does the only logical thing: He goes to the wakes and funerals of total strangers to learn how to live again.

Hunger & Thirst

by Claire Fuller

available in June, hardcover, Tin House

An eerie and psychologically gripping story about the all-consuming desire to belong and Ursula, a girl who finds herself haunted after a terrible accident. Fuller excels at using richly immersive imagery and complicated characters to create palpable, nearly oppressive, tension. I was clutching the book to the very last page.  –Lillian

New Fiction

A Perfect Hand

by Ayelet Waldman

available now, hardcover,

Knopf Doubleday

I am a massive fan of Waldman, who may not write as prolifically as I would like, but writes real, raw life and relationships like a master. In this latest work, we meet Alice, a lady's maid with a voracious love of reading and learning. The broad strokes are those of a typical love story of its time, complete with the romantic language reminiscent of Jane Austen. Alice meets a simple man of her own class, falls in love, and imagines a future where they could remain together. The scheming thus begins. But, what plays initially as a simple love story quickly unfolds as Alice's quest to find herself, and becomes the reader's lesson in Britain's suffrage movement. Alice's story is worth a read. –Erin

We Live Here Now

by Sarah Pinborough

available in July, paperback, Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar

After an accident that nearly kills her, Emily and her husband, Freddie, move from London to a beautiful Dartmoor country house. The house is gorgeous, striking—and to Emily, something about it feels deeply wrong. Old boards creak at night, fires go out, and books fall from the shelves, and all of it stems from the terrible presence she feels in the third-floor room. But these things happen only when Emily’s alone, so are they happening at all? She’s still medically fragile; her postsepsis condition can cause hallucinatory side effects, which means she can’t fully trust her own senses. Freddie doesn’t notice anything odd and is happy with their chance at a fresh start.

Animal Room

by Lauren Acampora available in June, hardcover, Grove Press

I confess that I’m a fan of interlinked short stories with an overarching theme. Though I’m predisposed, this book takes it to new heights. These explorations into the intersections of humans and the natural world are insightful, funny, disturbing, haunting, and surprising. What truly surprised me, though, was when I learned from her that the elements I thought were magical realism turned out to have actually happened. Masterful storytelling. –Paul

Confessions of a Pagan Nun

by Kate Horsley

available in June, paperback, Shambhala

The compelling historical novel of a young Irishwoman who struggles between the old Druid ways and the rising tide of Christianity. "As a slant of sunlight illuminates jewels long buried, Kate Horsley's novel brings words to an ancient silence and a living, vivid presence to people who lived in that time of great changes and estrangements we call the Dark Ages."

–Ursula K. Le Guin

Dead but Dreaming of Electric Sheep

by Paul Tremblay

available in June, hardcover, William Morrow

We can always count on Paul Tremblay for a crazy ride, and this one feels like one of the crazier. A gamer is hired to remote control a mostly dead man across the US for a tech company for dubious reasons. Tremblay switches the narrator back and forth, creating a mind-twisting labyrinth for the reader to adventure through. I love multiple voices that twist together into one story as the pages turn, and this one did not disappoint. –Erin

Before I Knew I Loved You

by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

available now, hardcover, Hanover Square Press Kawaguchi takes us back to the warm heart of the mysterious Funiculi Funicula Cafe, with another four guests whose luminous stories of love lost and won again will reaffirm your belief in its eternal potential. Yet the same rules always apply, you must return before the coffee gets cold. And while it does, memories are revisited, people are changed forever, and the enduring power of love transcends the boundaries of time.

Canon

by Paige Lewis

available now, hardcover, Viking Press

Do you enjoy the hero's journey but crave something entirely fresh and entertaining? Because this epic with a truly unlikely (and begrudging) hero and a talking whale is absolutely exactly that. This is a book unlike any you've ever read and I'm not just saying that—John Green is also saying that. Full of heart and humor, this is a book you need to experience. –Caitriona

The Calamity Club

by Kathryn Stockett

available now, hardcover, Spiegel & Grau

The Calamity Club is the new novel by the author of The Help. This book is every bit as fun yet heart-wrenching at the same time. This is set in Oxford, Mississippi in 1933 at the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum. That alone can make a reader cringe. But the character Meg is just the best and you root for this little girl so hard. This is a tome of a book and every page brings us closer to the lives inside.

The Foursome

by Christina Baker Kline

available now, hardcover,

Mariner Books

A boldly original reimagining of the astonishing true story of two sisters in 19th-century North Carolina, Kline’s own distant relatives, who married world-famous conjoined twins from Siam. Spanning five decades and unfolding against the backdrop of a fractured nation hurtling toward war, The Foursome is both intimate and epic: a story of love and constraint, identity and reinvention. With piercing insight and emotional precision, Kline brings to life a forgotten chapter of American history and the complex, boundary-defying marriages at its center.

New Fiction

Tangled Roots

by Maria Turtschaninoff

available in June, paperback, Pushkin Press

The epic 400-year story of a family and a farm, deep in the magical Finnish forest—perfect for fans of North Woods and Tove Jansson's The Summer Book . Prize-winning author Maria Turtschaninoff delivers a mesmeric tale of nature, history and hope. Filled with fantasy, magic and a deep love of human connection, Tangled Roots is an epic, passionate story of survival.

A Fortune of Sand

by Ruta Sepetys

available now,

hardcover, Ballantine Books

A Fortune of Sand beautifully demonstrates the strength of women who faced biased and discriminatory behavior in Detroit back in 1927, using real incidents researched by Sepetys herself! It subverts stereotypical expectations and makes for a great reading experience. If you liked any of Ruta Sepetys' other books, you would 100% love this! Highly recommend! –Milo, Guest Reviewer

–Kelly E.

The New People

by Andrea Uptmor

available in July, hardcover, Little, Brown

New Fiction

Months after the housing bubble bursts, newlywed Chicagoans Emma and Rachel move into a charming little house in a conservative college town. Their lives are diverging. Then, strange occurrences make her question whether she and her wife are truly alone. They aren’t. Charlotte and Dirk, the former homeowners, are secretly living in the attic above the attached garage. Dispossessed by the recession and anxious about her husband’s declining health, Charlotte listens to the interlopers below, and her resentment steadily grows. What starts as small acts of defiance—missing food, flipped breakers in the fuse box, subtle scratches in the furniture—soon becomes sabotage.

Some People

by Parini Shroff

available in July, hardcover, Random House

Alternating between laugh-out loud funny and very tender, this story of a man on the brink of divorce having to care for his mother-in-law over the course of a week is a lovely story about family, forgiveness, and what good-ol' forced proximity can do for people. –Stephanie

Bookstore Girls

by Kei Aono, translated by Hayden Trowell available now, hardcover, Pegasus Books

Riko is assistant manager of the flagship Pegasus bookstore in Kichijoji. After working her way up from a part-time position, she is now a respected figure in the Japanese publishing industry. But she has a nemesis. Aki has waltzed in as a full-time employee thanks to her family connections. A free spirit with a rebellious streak and a silver spoon in her mouth, she's anything but a team player. The two are always clashing—both at work and over their personal lives. But when Riko is given notice that the store will be closing in six months' time, they face a stark choice. Can they put their petty enmities aside to boost sales and save their livelihoods or will they go down fighting?

Let Us Shop For You!

The Wild Beneath by

Kelly Anderson

available in August, hardcover, Park Row Books

A sweeping story glistening with ocean imagery and the unstoppable current of the turmoil of coming of age when everything is going wrong. If you're looking for a beach read with depth, this one is for you. A love song for the sea and those who feel inexplicably called to it. Hope lies in the wild beneath! –Kiana

Save the Date!

Thursday, October 15

JODI PICOULT is coming back to Bellingham! Details coming soon.

Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult

available in September, hardcover, Ballantine Books

From this #1 New York Times bestselling author comes a riveting new novel about the risks we take to protect the ones we love in a world where crisis is always just around the corner.

Tata by Valérie Perrin, translated by Hildegarde Serle available in June, hardcover, Europa Editions I just really adore Valérie Perrin's books. She has this amazing ability to add characters to a story that are so unique. This book is somewhat of a mystery as Agnes has heard that her Aunt has just died but she had died years ago. So what happened? Was the funeral years ago really her aunt? And from there it is a roller coaster of events. If you enjoyed the movie Amelie or have read Perrin's other books like Fresh Water for Flowers you know you are going to have a great summer read with this novel. –Kelly E.

These thoughtful packages are the perfect surprise for all ages and any occasion. Just go to VILLAGEBOOKS.COM, answer a few questions about the recipient, and our personal shoppers will take care of all the rest!

Great Tales

The Pillagers' Guide to Arctic Pianos

by Kendra Langford Shaw

available now, hardcover, Pantheon

This debut novel is just a perfect summer read. It's the story of the Spahr family that lives in the Arctic. On top of wild animals and people there is an abundance of pianos—that need to be hunted and pulled out of the water. (Side note—pianos were encouraged during pioneer days as it brought culture but also if a family worked that hard to bring a piano, begs to reason they will work hard on the land as well). Absolutely fun (and educational I might add)—this is a true delight to read. –Kelly E.

We

Burned So Bright

by TJ Klune available now, hardcover, Tor Books

We Burned So Bright will warm your heart like the sun does on a summer afternoon. At the same time, it will tear your heart to pieces like the ever-encroaching black hole that threatens not just life on earth, but the entire solar system. An amazing cast of characters brought together in the most down-to-earth portrayal of people trying their very best to enjoy and make peace with the last few weeks together. –Ethan

The Story Keeper

Wisdom Corner by David Heska Wanbli Weiden available in July, hardcover, Ecco Virgil Wounded Horse is desperately trying to escape his past as a hired vigilante on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. But when a legendary figure from the reservation is murdered, Virgil is forced to return to the job. With a heated tribal council election looming, as well as new revelations regarding past injustices at the local Native boarding school, the stakes grow even higher. Will Virgil find the justice he’s seeking before it’s too late?

by John Green available in September, hardcover, Dutton Books

Partita by Barbara Kingsolver available in October, hardcover, Harper

by Kelly Rimmer available in July, paperback, Mira I consumed this story in less than three days! With each chapter, I loved digesting the tender mystery and how it connected to a complex mother/daughter relationship. What better way to read a book inside of a book, especially when it's written through narrative immersion where the reader gets clues to unraveling the puzzle as the character does. I highly recommend this fast-paced, empathetic, and suspenseful novel to anyone! –Courtney

The French Illusion by John Grisham

available in September, hardcover, Doubleday Books

Taipei Story by R. F. Kuang

available in September, hardcover, William Morrow & Co.

Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel

available in September, hardcover, Knopf Peck & Peck by Bonnie Garmus

available in October, hardcover, Scribner

Romance

Hans by S.J. Tilly

available now, paperback, Entangled: Amara Navassa Allen’s Lights Out meets Layla Frost’s Little Dove in this dark romance between a hit man and the terrible baker who lives across the street from him. I found myself laughing at some of the ridiculous things this pair would do to get the others attention and read through this book in two short days. Hans features characters from Tilly’s Alliance series but can be read and enjoyed all on its own! –Sydney

Leave and Come Back

by Lavanya Lakshmi available in June, hardcover, Pamela Dorman Books “Leave and Come Back i s a phenomenal debut. Prepare to fall in love with the entire cast of characters while Lakshmi expertly weaves humor, heart, and tenderness onto every page.” —Hannah Bonam-Young, New York Times bestselling author of People Watching

The Night Bus

by Tessa Bickers

available now, hardcover, MIRA Books

Love and Gravity

by Samantha Sotto Yambao available in July, paperback, Dell

Andrea Louviere is seven years old the first time a young Isaac Newton appears to her in a crack in time. Over the years, summoning the boy becomes an obsession for Andrea. On her 17th birthday, she receives a 300-yearold love letter from Newton. Andrea knows that Isaac will change the world with his groundbreaking discoveries; the letter tells Andrea that she will change him.

Great Big Beautiful Life

by Emily Henry

available now, paperback, Berkley Books

Great Big Beautiful Life is not just a sunshine and grumpy romance, but the driving force of the story is the unraveling of a private celebrity's dramatic life of loss and love throughout a series of interviews. For any fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid's Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo  or Abby Jimenez's Say You'll Remember Me, you'll fall in love with the two writers. –Carolina

Every day at 4 a.m. Daisy takes the N73 night bus to her job in the newsroom of Entertainment Now in Marylebone. And every day for the past six months she’s seen the same man sitting in the same seat, obsessively turning the pages of the same novel. Does he really just love Woolf’s Orlando ? Or is there some deeper reason for his furrowed brow and furious page turning? When their bus terminates unexpectedly one night and a group of drunken men start harassing Daisy, Tom steps in to defend her using the only weapon he has at hand, his precious book. Daisy and Tom finish their journey on foot, talking through the night, and Daisy finally learns why Tom has been reading the same novel over and over.

Romantasy

This Immortal Heart: A Novel of Aphrodite

by Jennifer Saint

available in June, hardcover, Ballantine Books

Jennifer Saint is a masterful re-teller of myths, and her tale about Aphrodite is no exception. Lyrically written, this epic romance is equally a story of love and desire for freedom. While the scale is godly, this is a book that feels oh-so-utterly human and will make you view Aphrodite and Ares in a whole new light. –Caitriona

The Iron Hex

by Victoria S. Walsh available in August, hardcover, MIRA Books

Eira loves her life as a quiet potions witch, practicing the only legal magic that the Iron Empire allows with her beloved rabbit Pennyroyal. When a handsome stranger walks in, with the royal army chasing his tail, and claims that her lost memory holds the key to both his quest and to revealing the evils of the kingdom, she is thrust into facing her forgotten past and coming to terms with her very real, and very illegal, magic. This new romantasy will sweep you off your feet! –Chloe H.

Sarah J. Maas

MIDNIGHT

Save the Dates!

R ELEASE PARTIES

The next two books in the beloved A Court of Thorns and Roses series by the international bestselling Sarah J. Maas are on their way! To celebrate, we will be throwing midnight release parties for BOTH titles! A team of fellow

ACOTAR fans are planning two fun-filled evenings—details coming soon!

•October 26 - A Court of Thorns and Roses 6 Release is at midnight October 27.

• January 11 - A Court of Thorns and Roses 7 Releases at midnight Tuesday, January 12, 2027

so the party will begin the evening of January 11.

Fantasy

The Unicorn Hunters

by Katherine Arden

available in June, hardcover, Del Rey

In a desperate gamble to save her throne, a young monarch arranges a secret marriage, conceals it in the shadows of an enchanted forest, and unknowingly alters the fate of her world—in this dazzling novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale.

Pre-order Your Copy Today!

The stunning conclusion to Sarah Hawley's darkly enchanting Shards of Magic series is coming in December.

Pre-order your copy from Village Books to receive a SIGNED COPY & EXCLUSIVE ARTWORK—while supplies last!

These Immortal Truths

by Rachelle Raeta

available in June, hardcover, Tor Books

Anna is used to hunger and hardship. Ever since the pale shadows on her skin were mistaken for leprosy, she has lived alone in exile, each day focused only on survival. Then a single act of kindness towards a beautiful stranger changes her life forever. Suddenly, neither time nor harm can touch her, and Anna strives to embrace a life with boundless potential, one that isn’t only about survival. But as decades and centuries pass, she is continually forced to abandon each new life before it has the chance to feel like home. This is the first book in the Peaches & Honey duology. Look for Book Two in July!

Sea of Charms

(#3 in the “Spellshop”

Series)

by Sarah Beth Durst available in July, hardcover, Bramble

Betrayed by love, Marin lives and works as a supply runner, sailing from island to island, delivering an array of goods with Perri the sea serpent and Ree the sailor shrub as her crew. On one of her routine trips to the capital, Alyssium, Marin finds a revolution underway—and a friend in the line of fire. What starts as a rescue evolves into a deal: Marin will keep Dax on as a member of her crew if he pretends to be her boyfriend at the Endof-Harvest Festival back home. Each in this series are stand-alones!

Henry Tudor Must Die

by Jillian Laine available in July, hardcover, Berkley Anne Boleyn is going to die, and neither her cleverness nor her witchery can save her. So when her late rival, Catalina de Aragón, miraculously appears at her cell in the Tower of London on the eve of her execution, very much alive and offering a daring escape plan, no one is more surprised than Anne. "Sharp, emotional, and deeply relevant, Jillian Laine's debut tells the story of queens reclaiming their power. Read this book if you love stories about sisterhood, magic, and a witty 'what if?'" –Jodi Meadows, New York Times bestselling coauthor of My Lady Jane.

The Knight and the Moth

by Rachel Gillig  available now, paperback, Orbit

The Knight and the Moth is hands down the best book I've read this year. The gothic and fantastical imagery, the refreshing magic system, the morally gray and broody love interest, and the laugh-out-loud funny side characters, creates such a fun and dynamic story that anyone would love!  –Carolina

The Subtle Art of Folding Space

by John Chu

available now, hardcover, Tor Publishing Group

Science Fiction

In a world in which interdimensional travel is possible and the universe is maintained via a team of physicists in the "skunkworks", Ellie, a maintainer, is tasked with unraveling a malicious exploitation in the universe's mechanics. Unfortunately, doing so will force her to face the death of her mother in a way she'd really rather not. Familial dysfunction held together by delicious Chinese food meets quantum mechanics in this expertly written novel. –Chloe H.

Sublimation

by Isabel J. Kim

available in June, hardcover, Tor Books

Imagine our world but with a key difference: When you immigrate, you leave a copy of yourself behind. One person enters their new country, the other stays trapped at home. But what happens when one version lures the other back? A provocative debut for fans of Severance that asks what you'd sacrifice for a different life.

The Tapestry of Fate: An Amina al-Sirafi Adventure, Book Two

by Shannon Chakraborty available now, hardcover, Harper Voyager

Amina al-Sirafi thinks she’s struck gold. Tasked with hunting down arcane artifacts for the council of immortal peris, she can savor the occasional rollicking adventure on the high seas while still returning home to raise her beloved daughter, Marjana. But when Raksh, the spirit of discord with whom she is reluctantly wed, provokes the council’s wrath, Amina is charged with a seemingly impossible quest: steal a spindle capable of rewriting fate from a mysterious sorceress on an island no one can escape.

Green City Wars

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

available in June, hardcover, Tor

Books

The Martian - Deluxe Edition

by Andy Weir

available now, hardcover, Ballantine Books

In 2014, Andy Weir took readers on an incredible journey of human ingenuity and perseverance, hailed by the Wall Street Journal as “the purest example of sci-fi.” This hardcover edition celebrates the book that set our sights on Mars and inspired the major motion picture, with special features including: Intricately designed sprayed edges, new cover art on a deluxe jacket, full-color illustrated endpapers, and a gorgeous custom-stamped case.

Lucky Day

by Chuck Tingle

available in June, paperback, Tor Nightfire

Four years ago, an unthinkable disaster occurred. In what was later known as the Low-Probability Event, eight million people were killed in a single day, each of them dying in improbable, bizarre ways. A day of freak accidents that proved anything is possible, no matter the odds. Luck is real now, and it's not always good. Vera, a former statistics and probability professor, lost everything that day, and she still struggles to make sense of the unbelievable catastrophe. To her, the LPE proved that the God of Order is dead and nothing matters anymore. Then she investigates a suspiciously—and statistically impossibly—lucky casino.

The Salt King

by Natasha Pulley

available in August, hardcover, Bloomsbury Publishing Natasha Pulley's latest kept me turning the pages long into the night. Part thriller, part dystopian fiction, part mythology, part dreamscape/nightmarescape, the novel is filled with some characters that felt so real you could touch them, and others that felt straight out of a fable. And some characters so complex, they felt both real and impossible. Mixed in is a very sweet, slow burn love story that brings overall warmth to the story. I *think* I want to live in the magic of Hreodwater, but I'm not sure I'd survive it. –Erin

In a future where small and medium-sized animals have been genetically engineered to be a lot more intelligent and useful (they all have opposable thumbs now!) in order to do the dirty jobs humans would prefer not to, Skotch the raccoon has quit his job to go freelance as a private investigator. It's thrilling and absorbing but also brings up a lot of fascinating themes like what separates humans from animals, who does the dirty work in a society, enslavement and power dynamics, and what a life is literally worth. A fun but meaty read.

Thrills & Suspense!

Murder at the Hotel Orient

by Alessandra Ranelli available now, hardcover, Gallery

In modern Vienna, American ex-pat Sterling Lockwood is the loyal concierge at the infamously secretive Hotel Orient, where cameras are banned, aliases are required, and every guest has something to hide. After the double murder of two guests, including a tech mogul building an Austrian surveillance state, Sterling must turn detective. As enemies close in from all around, she risks everything to solve a case haunted by the past, in a city with a fetish for nostalgia.

It Could Have Been Her

by Lisa Jewell

available in June, hardcover, Atria Books

This is one of those rare thrillers that doesn't rely on a big twist, but is instead composed of puzzle pieces falling into place to reveal an increasingly dark and twisted story. With the loveliest protagonist and the most toxic family maybe ever, Lisa Jewell balances the importance of loving and looking after family with a mystery that delves into the exact opposite of a loving family. I couldn't put it down.

Main Characters

by Bobby Palmer available in June, hardcover, Little, Brown

–Caitriona

When Clara and Seb first cross paths in a London square, it’s the start of something exciting. Clara itches to pick up a camera. Seb struggles to find purpose in his work. Yet as random chance brings the two back together, time and time again, neither could predict that their magnetic connection is set to change their lives. But everyone else does. Set over the course of two decades, Clara and Seb’s love story is bigger than just themselves.

The Daffodil Days

by Helen Bain

available now, hardcover, Scribner

The Daffodil Days depicts a pivotal year in the marriage of 20th-century literature’s most infamous couple, Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes. It is a kaleidoscopic portrait, refracted through the rich inner lives of a rural community caught, if only for a moment, in Plath’s light. Here, Sylvia is capable and charismatic, vulnerable but strong, full of spirit.

Night Objects

by Eli Raphael

available now, hardcover, Grand Central Lenny Winter is fifteen when she moves with her parents to an aging houseboat off the rugged coast of Washington. She imagines a quiet life spent charting constellations but instead, a sudden tragedy shatters her world and catapults her to Blanchard, a renowned boarding school for the Pacific Northwest's elite. At its heart lurks a secret society known to shape the school's greatest and most notorious students, and whose influence stretches far beyond campus walls. As privilege collides with grief and loyalty warps into obsession, Lenny’s choices will lead to an unforgettable reckoning—and a murder investigation that will test every story she tells herself about guilt, power, hope, and who she is becoming.

The Tuxedo Society

by Paul Rudnick

available now, hardcover, Atria

When Andrew Birnbaum, a struggling actor making ends meet by working in a candle shop, gets invited to have dinner with the exclusive Tuxedo Society by his best friend, Brock, his life takes an unexpected turn. What seems like a group of wealthy socialites gathering for gossip and cocktails quickly spirals into a world of espionage, danger, and hilarity. If Guy Ritchie directed a James Bond caper starring a queer 007, it might look something like this.

Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt

by Ben Reeves

available in July, hardcover, Avid Reader Press

Travis is Death in the modern world. His job is to offer people comfort in their final hours of life. He’s stoic, gentle, and a little naive, despite everything he knows. Each death he witnesses is meaningful to him; he listens, never judges, and never tries to change anyone’s fate. Then he meets Dalia, a midwife, and her boisterous eight-year-old daughter Layla, who live across the hall. As Dalia and Layla come to embrace Travis, it becomes more difficult to maintain the detachment that’s allowed him to function for so long.

Plant Lady

by Minyoung Kang, translated by Shanna Tan available in August, hardcover, Berkley "Somehow gentle yet full of quiet rage, Plant Lady is sparse, haunting and timely, but above all, it's compulsively readable. I tore through it, cheering for Yoohee the entire way."—Parini Shroff, bestselling author of The Bandit Queens.

The murder of elderly Professor Bullfinch has all of Cromwell University reeling. His ornery approach to campus politics ruffled more than a few feathers over the years, and present tensions within his department mean there are more suspects than mourners in the wake of his death. And the murder weapon?

A bronze bust of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Enter Dell Chandler, the failed English professor turned self-taught private detective whom the Dean calls in to investigate the crime. If she solves the case before the cops do, the university could keep the whole thing quiet. But to do so, she’ll have to dodge her own demons from her past life as a disgraced academic.

A Murder Most Camp: A Mystery

by Nicolas DiDomizio

available now, paperback, Sourcebooks

Heather

Mystery

A delightfully campy murder mystery that feels like it plucks David Rose straight from Schitt's Creek and plops him down into the most important summer camp job of his life...OR HIS DEATH? Sprinkle in a team up with a Gen Z Scooby Gang (unfortunately no dog) of 12-year-old campers and you've got the sweetest and most endearing murder mystery I've read this year. –Kellen Blunt Instrument by Amy Bloom available now, hardcover, The Mysterious Press

Horror

Bone of My Bone

-Deluxe Edition

by

Johanna Van Veen available now, paperback, Sourcebooks

I am a lesbian and a horror fan, so I knew I would like this book—I ended up LOVING it. This is a sapphic horror story that blends religion and 1600s Bavarian folklore, and the result is a simultaneously grim and hopeful fairytale. I don't want to say too much, but if you enjoy dark horror, religious imagery, or stories with interesting historical contexts, then I recommend Bone of My Bone for you. –Lillian

Marion

by Leah Rowan available in June, hardcover, St Martin’s Press

Marion offers an alternate history of the most famous dead blonde to ever grace the silver screen. In this twist on Hitchcock’s Psycho —the leading lady doesn't die, but instead turns the knife on Norm, kicking off a crime spree that turns the silver screen victim into a heroine for our times.

by Caitlin Mullen available in June, hardcover, Celadon Books 1994. In the myth-riddled woods of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, sixteen-year-old Annabelle Riley's twin sister, Sabrina, has been having an affair with a mysterious older man, and Annabelle is determined to uncover what's going on. Then, inexplicably, both sisters disappear. In this same town years later, newly instated police chief Callie Hauser makes an arrest that unexpectedly resurrects details from a heartbreaking cold case. As she digs deeper, the past and the present collide, challenging everything Callie believes about right and wrong, who she is, and the town she's always called home.

Slasher Summer

by E. L. Chen available in June, paperback, Crown In this campy love letter to the slasher films of the 1980s, seven friends reunite for a weekend of fun—only to be hunted down by a coldblooded killer. But the real horror is not being able to escape who you were in high school... This stunning paperback features vibrantly designed stenciled edges!

Make Me Better

by Sarah Gailey

available now, hardcover, Tor Publishing Group

If you have been looking for an original book reminiscent of Midsommar, then look no further. This eerie community offering healing and life improvement to visitors gradually reveals more and more red flags until you take the final dive and learn the whole truth of this uniquely unsettling island. Full of unreliable narrators and the promise of belonging, this novel is sure to consume you.

VB WRITES...

WRITING GROUPS

Open To Newcomers!

Are you a writer in search of a writing group?

Come meet other writers who can help you get organized, give feedback, and help you with your writing goals. These groups are free and open to newcomers and drop-ins. With the exception of the Lynden group, these groups meet at Village Books in Fairhaven in either the Writers Corner or Readings Gallery.

NOTE: Individual group schedules may change — check villagebooks.com for updates.

QUEER POETS SOCIETY

Meets 3rd Sundays from 10:30am-Noon at Village Books in Fairhaven - in the Readings Gallery

FICTION

Meets 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 6-8pm in the Writers Corner on the mezzanine

FICTION & MEMOIR

Meets 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 6-8pm in the Writers Corner on the mezzanine

WRITING FROM PROMPTS

Meets 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 10:30am-noon in the Readings Gallery

SPECULATIVE FICTION I

Meets 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 6pm-8pm in the Writers Corner on the mezzanine

SPECULATIVE FICTION II

Read full descriptions and expectations for each group at villagebooks.com. Please note that scheduling changes do occur. Watch the events calendar at villagebooks.com for updates.

Meets 2nd & 4th Sundays, 3:30pm-5:30pm in the Writers Corner on the mezzanine

LYNDEN WRITING GROUP

Meets 2nd Wednesdays, 7-9pm in the Waples Room of the Inn at Lynden - adjacent to Village Books & Paper Dreams, Lynden. Read more on page 35.

SPECULATIVE FICTION: PLOT and DEVELOPMENT

Meets 1st & 3rd Sundays, 3:30pm-5:30pm Meets in the Writers Corner on the mezzanine

MORNING POETRY GROUP

Meets 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 10:30am-noon in the Readings Gallery

EVENING POETRY GROUP

Meets 1st & 3rd Thursdays, 5:30pm-7pm in the Writers Corner on the mezzanine

NONFICTION & MEMOIR

2nd & 4th Tuesdays from 9:30am-11am in the Readings Gallery

SIT DOWN AND WRITE

Every Friday 9:15am-11:00am Meets in the Writers Corner on the mezzanine A place to work in quiet, but in tacit silent support, with other writers.

CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK CRITIQUE GROUP

Meets 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 6pm-7:30pm in the Writers Corner on the mezzanine

Sign up for our Just Write! eNewsletter, a monthly publication highlighting current classes, tips and tricks, writing book reviews and the like! Questions? Contact writing@villagebooks.com

Chuckanut Writers

Classes for Your Writing Life

Village Books and WCC Community & Continuing Education offer a writing instruction collaboration called Chuckanut Writers. These programs are designed to inspire and encourage writers at all stages of their writing journey. Check out these upcoming classes and see whatcomcommunityed.com for details, prices, and registration:

WhaMemWriMo

Write Your Memoir in September

Since 2014, September has been declared Whatcom Memoir Writing Month (WhaMemWriMo)! Throughout the month, you are encouraged to write 1,666 words every day, resulting in 50,000 words of your memoir—a book—by the end of September.

Led by experienced memoir writers and teachers, Village Books and Whatcom Community College offer a variety of workshops and classes to support you along the way. Pre-registration is required. See whatcomcommunityed.com for details and registration information.

Wednesday, September 2, 5:30pm-7:30pm

From Images to Memoir Writing with Shoshana Kerewsky

Village Books Readings Gallery, Fairhaven $39

Saturday, September 5, 10am-noon

Writing Your Memoir: A Primer with Nancy Lou Canyon

Village Books Readings Gallery, Fairhaven $39

Monday, September 7, 5:30pm-7:30pm How to Make Characters Out of People You Know with Melissa Johnson

Village Books Readings Gallery, Fairhaven $39

Watch for additional Fall Chuckanut Writers Classes —coming soon!

Thursday, September 10, 9am-12pm

The Heart & Soul of Memoir Writing with Jennifer Wilhoit Virtual Classroom - on Zoom $59

Sunday, September 20, 1pm-3pm

Building Your Memoir with Visual Aids with Lisa Spicer

Village Books Readings Gallery, Fairhaven $39

Tuesday, September 22, 5:30pm-7:30pm Cross-Pollination: Integrating Poetry into Memoir with Jessica Gigot

Village Books Readings Gallery, Fairhaven $39

The Chuckanut Writers Conference is more than just a weekend of workshops. It’s an opportunity to engage your passion for writing, connect with fellow storytellers, and nurture your craft in the inspiring Pacific Northwest environment.

Whether you’re just starting your writing journey or you’re an experienced author, the Chuckanut Writers Conference offers a welcoming space for every voice.

We’re excited to come together once again to study the craft and business of writing and publishing, but most importantly, we'll network and encourage one another on the journey. Attendees will have the opportunity to attend workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as keynote addresses, author panels, an open mic, two faculty readings, and breakout sessions that combine lecture, discussion, and generative writing sessions. Faculty includes accomplished writers, poets, local publishers, and literary agents.

Join us for a weekend of learning, laughter, and creativity that will leave you feeling motivated and ready to bring your words to life.

is composed of accomplished writers, poets, publishing professionals, and literarty agents including:

•Kelli Russell Agodon

•Sarah Hawley

•Glen Hirshberg

•Maya Jewell Zeller

•Sonora Jha

•Scott Lambridis

•Sasha taqwšəblu LaPointe

•Donald Maass

•Laura Mazer

•Elise McHugh

•Brenda Miller

•Peter Mountford

•A. Muia

•Sati Mookherjee

•Emily Nemens

•Brendan O’Meara

•José Orduňa

•Katie Reed

•Anastacia-Reneé

•Derek Sheffield

•Lucy Tan

In the KITCHEN

Spain My Way: Eat, Drink, and Cook Like a Spaniard

by José Andrés

available now, hardcover, Ecco

Although renowned chef José Andrés has made the United States his home, his roots in Spain run deep: It’s where he grew up and now spends summers with family and friends. It’s also where some of the best ingredients and most fascinating culinary techniques are celebrated every day. This vibrant, exciting collection of recipes bears his unique mark and proudly represents a culture where life is centered around the table.

Let’s Make Cocktails!

A Comic Book Cocktail Book by Sarah Becan available now, paperback, Ten Speed Press

Sarah Becan invites readers to wet their whistles in Let's Make Cocktails ! Featuring her colorful, engaging illustrations that have become a series favorite, the book opens with insight on the proper tools, glassware, and staple ingredients such as juices, sodas, homemade syrups, and garnishes to always have in stock. With vivid, easy-to-follow graphics, Becan guides readers through basic techniques such as shaking, stirring, muddling, and more.

Aloha Veggies: Veg-Forward Recipes Celebrating the Flavors of Hawai’i

by Alana Kysar available now, hardcover, Ten Speed Press When Hawai‘i-born Alana Kysar returned home as an adult, Maui’s flourishing farmers’ markets and community crop shares inspired her to create veggie-centric spins on beloved local dishes. Hawai‘i's most iconic foods came to life with vibrant freshness and satisfying new textures. Aloha Veggies brings this evolution of local Hawai‘i food to your kitchen, offering simple, irresistible, and nutritious recipes for everyday meals.

Cake From Lucie: Recipes

and Techniques From the French Countryside to New York City by Lucie Franc de Ferriere

available now, hardcover, Clarkson Potter

Born and raised in Southern France, de Ferriere grew up baking cakes with her mother at the family's farm and bed-andbreakfast in their 165-year-old chateau.

After moving to New York City, she became homesick and began baking for a taste of home. Now, she invites home bakers to join her in creating gorgeously imperfect treats in her signature style, from easy everyday recipes to more intricate showstoppers.

Classes & Socials Next Chapter Café

Inside Village Books in Fairhaven

Located on the mezzanine level of Village Books in Fairhaven, the Next Chapter Café provides a delicious selection of handcrafted pastries, Filipino cuisine, artisan sandwiches, and local organic coffee.

and workshops

Meanwhile, check out the regularly scheduled Silent Book Club reading nights 1st and 3rd Mondays. See page 44 for details.

WHAT'S HOT? We Now Carry Funky's Hot Sauce –That's What's Hot!

Funky's Hot Sauce began with a backyard experiment and a batch of homegrown peppers.

Founder Matthew Mini started making hot sauce in 2006, blending peppers with the guidance of friends in the fermentation community of Santa Rosa, California. What started as a fun hobby soon grew into something more; by 2019, Matt had taken his passion to Bellingham, Washington, and officially opened Funky’s Hot Sauce Factory.

In 2022, after years of refining recipes and testing sauces, Funky’s went from local favorite to national acclaim when they won the “Screaming MiMi 2022 Grand World Champion” award at the NYC Hot Sauce Expo.

Grill Time!

Funky's Hot Sauce remains true to their roots, sourcing ingredients locally whenever possible from farms across the Pacific Northwest. Southern Exposure Family Farm, Boldly Grown Farm, and Broomstick Farm all contribute fresh, non-GMO ingredients to their recipes, while local talent like Tony Walters of Fat Lizard Designs and AMS Printing bring their vibrant label art to life.

With 15+ unique sauces ranging from the mild Wild Child to the scorching Seeing Stars, Funky’s has a flavor for everyone. Each bottle is 100% Non-GMO and mostly organic, with many options that are vegan and gluten-free, "because we believe quality matters as much as flavor." Thank you, Matt!

Award Winning, Forward Flavored Hot Sauces

Why You Should Be Grilling for Better, Healthier, Easier, and More Delicious Meals

by Noah Galuten available now, hardcover, Knopf

Level up your grilling game with Grill Time! This new go-to grilling guide, perfect for newbies and grill masters alike, comes from the James Beard Award–winning writer and chef and author of The Don’t Panic Pantry Cookbook. “Grill Time! is Noah Galuten’s love letter to the magic of live fire—how it makes weeknight cooking easier, weekend cooking more fun, and family meals more joyful. With clear techniques and bold, flexible recipes, this is grilling built for real life.” —J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, author of The Food Lab

Check out Village Books and Paper Dreams in Lynden! Peruse our collection of unique gifts including jewelry, toys, games, and cards while browsing for new & used books. Visit neighboring shops, enjoy a meal and a drink, even treat yourself to an overnight stay at the lovely Inn at Lynden—all without leaving the building!

LY: 10am-5pm Saturday, July 4 Sunday, July 5

Village Books and Paper Dreams in both Lynden AND Bellingham!

Lots to Do in Lynden

Saturdays 10am-2pm, June-September

All of the products at the Lynden Farmers Market are made or grown in Whatcom County—making it easy to shop local, eat in season, and support your community! Check it out at Centennial Park in downtown Lynden (Corner of 4th and Grover Street) and see lyndenfarmersmarket.com for more.

Lynden Farmers Market

Find Waldo Downtown Lynden

July 1-31 • Downtown Lynden

Spot the famous fellow in the striped shirt and black-rimmed specs by visiting businesses in downtown Lynden through the month of July. Grab your passport at Village Books and Paper Dreams and get started.

Friday, July 31, 2pm - Find Waldo in Lynden Celebration We’ll play games, give out prizes to those who participated in the multi-store search, eat treats, and find Waldo hiding in our store! Come in your red stripes and glasses, and ready to have a good time!

July 17-18 • Downtown Lynden

Celebrating North America’s largest raspberry harvest, the Northwest Raspberry Festival includes activities throughout the town including the Curt Maberry 3-on-3 basketball tournament, a classic car show, community salmon barbecue, live music and entertainment, beer garden, wine tasting, and food and crafts vendors. Don’t miss the famous raspberry sundaes and be sure to pop into Village Books and Paper Dreams to check out our collection of raspberry themed gifts! Watch lynden.org for a festival event schedule.

Northwest Raspberry Festival

August 13-22 • Lynden Fair Grounds

Did someone say moo-wich? Poffertjes? Head to Lynden and enjoy ten full days of carnival rides, grandstand entertainment, a variety of farm animals, exhibits, shopping, delicious food, and so much more. Make great memories with your friends and family. See nwwafair.com for a schedule and details.

September 12 • Downtown Lynden

Tastings, music, vendors and more! Ticket purchases support the Lynden Music Festival. See lyndenwhiskeyevent.com for details!

Lynden

LIVE! EVENTS

Saturday, June 20, 6pm

BRUCE SCHOLTEN

Village Books EVENTS IN LYNDEN

Unless otherwise noted, Lynden LitLive author events take place at the Inn at Lynden in the conference room—adjacent to Village Books and Paper Dreams. Seating is limited. Register to attend at villagebooks.com. $5 event fees are returned in the form of a store voucher.

Thanks for Your Support of Literature Live!

–Dairy Farming in the 21st Century: Global Ethics, Environment and Politics

How do we achieve food security for a global population now over 7 billion people and trending towards 10 billion by 2050? This study of the global dairy industry examines how to balance our needs with those of animals and the environment. No book to date offers such a comprehensive overview, linking ethics, environment, health and policy-making with in-depth coverage of the major dairy farming regions of the world. Author Bruce A. Scholten is an expert in agricultural geography, international development, and environmental politics. Raised on a dairy farm near Lynden, his work bridges agricultural traditions with modern global policy.

Saturday, June 27, 11am

JEREMY LOTT

Free to Attend

–Growlilocks and the Three Humans & –The Three Feral Pigs and the Vegan Wolf

Lynden author Jeremy Lott will join us for a very special story time and shares his most recent books, Growlilocks and the Three Humans AND The Three Feral Pigs and the Vegan Wolf. He will also preview an unpublished story about misbeheving monkeys and share the inspiration behind his stories. Lott is a long-time resident of Whatcom County. He lives in Lynden with his wife Angela, his two young children Sparrow and Auggie, and a great number of fish.

Lynden Writing Group

2nd Wednesdays at 7pm

Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5 20% OFF STOREWIDE SALE!

Celebrate your indie-pendence! Two days only—in Lynden AND Farihaven.

Friday, July 31, 2pm

Find Waldo Local Celebration!

Put on your stipes and glasses and celebrate with us in Lynden & Fairhaven.

June 10 • July 8 • August 12 September 9

What we are: A safe space to read your work out loud for feedback; an opportunity to gain insight and ideas for furthering your writing project. This group is about nurturing the writer, reflecting on their work and offering ideas or suggestions, or simply listening and encouraging.

What we are not: A class or critic's circle.

Facilitated by Mary Roy, we meet every 2nd Wednesday of the month from 7pm-9pm.

Location: adjacent to Village Books in the Inn at Lynden Waples Room–enter through the Inn side entrance.

Village Books & Paper Dreams

st rytimes Lynden KIDS

Saturdays at 11am

First Saturdays of each Month

Dino Stories with Jagger

VB's own Troy Luginbill and his puppet pal Jagger will entertain the little ones with a half hour of dinosaur-themed stories and fun! Bring your own stuffed dino to snuggle!

June 6 • July 4 (Sale!) • August 1 • September 5

Second Saturdays

Princess Poppie Story Time

Join the one and only Village Books Princess Poppie as she shares her favorite fantastic fairy tales!

Third Saturday Story Times

Read to a Dog

Village Books in Lynden is excited to offer this fuzzy friendly story time where THE KIDS do all the reading... TO OUR WONDERFUL GUEST DOGS!

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Story Time with a FIRE FIGHTER

Special Saturdays

Stories & Songs with Gaye

Saturdays June 13 • July 11 August 8 • September 12

Saturdays June 20 • July 18 August 15 • September 19

Saturdays, July 25 & September 26

Join a member of the Lynden Fire Department as they sit down with the kiddos for a very special story time. Don’t miss out!

You and your young book and music lovers can join Gaye for a half hour of stories and songs at these special MUSICAL Saturday story times. Saturdays, August 22 & August 29 at 11am

Saturday, June 27, 11am

Author Jeremy Lott

Local children's book author Jeremy Lott will share his latest stories, Growlilocks and the Three Humans and The Three Feral Pigs and the Vegan Wolf at this very special story time. Free to attend!

Book Group Lynden FRONT

"Variety is the spice of life!"

Join Gaye from Village Books Lynden and the Front Streeters book group as they discuss titles from a variety of genres. They meet in person in the Waples Room of the Inn at Lynden (adjacent to Village Books) at 7pm the third Wednesday of each month.

June 17, 7pm

The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende

July 15, 7pm

One Long River of Song by Brian Doyle

August 19, 7pm

The Ferryman and His Wife by Frode Grytten

September 16, 7pm Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Attendees are eligible for a 15% discount on group selections

Village Books donates a portion of proceeds from sales of I Cheerfully Refuse to Whatcom READS through March 2027

Allied Arts Gallery, 1213 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham, WA

by Leif Enger I Cheerfully Refuse

Whatcom READS is Northwest Washington’s premier annual literary event. This countywide program celebrates reading, readers, and strong communities through the shared experience of one book.

The 2027 selection is the timely and engaging novel I Cheerfully Refuse by bestselling, award-winning author Leif Enger, whose other novels include Peace Like a River and Virgil Wander.

Read the book then join us for a series of varied related events taking place throughout the county, including a visit by the author in March, 2027.

Visit the Whatcom READS website, WHATCOMREADS.ORG, and social media pages for updates and to find out how to get involved. Pick up your copy of I Cheerfully Refuse and get started today!

ART CHALLENGE and Exhibit

Presented in collaboration with Allied Arts of Whatcom County, the Art Challenge offered artists of all ages and experience levels an opportunity to explore themes related to this year’s Whatcom READS title and to present their work for public display. Watch alliedarts.org for updates.

Whatcom READS is presented by all the public and academic libraries in Bellingham and Whatcom County – Bellingham Public Library, Bellingham Technical College, Northwest Indian College, Western Washington University, Whatcom Community College and Whatcom County Library System. Village Books is Whatcom READS’ community partner.

Local writers of all ages will explore the theme Light in the Dark inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King’s Strength to Love, in which he writes, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Top entries will be selected for publication in the 2027 Whatcom WRITES anthology. Copies of Anthologies from previous years are avaiable now at Village Books!

Light in the Dark

Spirituality

The Five Seasons Method : A Gentle Path toward Emotional and Spiritual Balance by Leda Elliott available in August, hardcover, Scribner

Self Care

Leda Elliott grew up in Japan and has long been a student of the dialogue between East and West, between body and spirit. Drawing from decades of experience in holistic practices, she has developed a unique method for embracing the lessons we can learn from each season—late summer brings grounding, fall brings release, winter brings stillness, spring brings vision, and summer brings joy. Incorporating rituals, meditations, and exercises attuned to each season’s energy can help us feel more aligned.

Psychology Trust Your Mind : Embracing Nuance in a World of Self-Silencing by Jenara Nerenberg available in August, paperback, HarperOne hardcover available in May In this timely book, Jenara Nerenberg analyzes this phenomenon of “self-silencing,” asking potent questions about how harmful groupthink has become accepted. Applying her expertise in journalism, psychology, and public health, she digs deep into urgent problems that are worsening under a culture of self-censorship, including loneliness, isolation, and polarization. But there is hope. Nerenberg offers insights for how to identify and escape groupthink and transform fear into empathy.

Tibetan Book of Success: A Guide to Relationships, Leadership, Communication, and Happiness translated by Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche available now, hardcover, Shambhala Publications Dive into ancient Tibetan wisdom with Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche and unlock your path to success and happiness! Drawn from a long tradition of secular Tibetan teachings on how to live a good life, The Tibetan Book of Success presents newly translated texts from renowned Tibetan masters, offering clear and succinct guidance for creating happiness, success, harmonious relationships, and strong communities. Chowang is a meditation master in the Dzogchen lineage and founder of Pristine Mind Foundation.

Tuesday, June 23, 6pm ORGYEN CHOWANG RINPOCHE at Village Books in Fairhaven Join

to save your seat at villagebooks.com

Poetry

The Sun Has Shifted as Have I: Poems by Jonathan T. Bailey available now, paperback, Torrey House Press

Filled with playful language and rich descriptions of the natural world, as well as the authors own queerness and religious upbringing, these are poems filled with hope and beauty. The words dance off the page to build sparking vistas and delicate blooms. Almost every single poem makes me think I like these words in a way few things can . –Caitriona

January 22–February 7, 2027

POTUS:

March 26–April 11, 2027 Alice by Heart

June 11–27, 2027

Books A’Sail

A Book Group at Sea

Lyanda Lynn Haupt

Come aboard our annual Schooner Zodiac Book Club “Books A’Sail” three-day adventure in the beautiful San Juan Islands! Village Books owners Paul Hanson and Kelly Evert will guide the literary journey. Amazing guest authors will join us!*

September 15-17, 2026 Standard

*Reading list and additional details coming soon!

• 3-days sailing and exploring the San Juan Islands

Go To

• Navigational & Sail training aboard a classic tall ship

• Delicious and hearty meals and snacks served from the ship’s galley

• Visit amazing islands and explore by hiking or kayaking

• Plenty of wildlife sightings including bald eagles,

seals, and whales

A Resistance History of the United States

by Tad Stoermer

available in June, paperback, Steerforth

In A Resistance History of the United States , public historian Tad Stoermer shows how, from the very beginning, tension between the ideals of resistance and the realities of power has defined America more than the Enlightenment ideals enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

The Lost Empire

of

Emanuel Nobel : Romanovs, Revolutionaries, and the Forgotten Titan Who Fueled the World by Douglas Brunt

available now, hardcover, Atria

Over three generations, Emanuel Nobel and his family grew the Russian petroleum industry into a behemoth that surpassed even John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil. Working in the oil fields of southern Russia at the same time as Emanuel was a troubled young man from a peasant family in Georgia. Though educated to be a priest, he took a different path when he discovered the revolutionary ideas of Karl Marx. In and out of prison in Siberia, charismatic and committed, always at the center of a fight, this young man would become known to the world as Joseph Stalin, a leader of the Bolshevik Revolution and eventually one of the most brutal dictators in history. Directly in Stalin’s crosshairs was Emanuel Nobel, who represented everything Stalin despised about capitalism. As the world turned upside down, Emanuel began to plan a life-or-death escape from Russia.

The Memory Palace:

True Short Stories of the Past by Nate DiMeo  available now, paperback, Random House

I've always loved learning about history, but I can feel intimidated by the big dense books, and I'm never sure where to start! This book is full of bite-sized stories about a wide range of historical events and people. I highly recommend this book to all, but especially anyone who wants to dip their toes in the history pool! DiMeo's enthusiasm for his work jumps off the page. –Kiana

America, U.S.A.:

How Race Shadows the Nation’s Anniversaries by Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. available now, hardcover, Crown

Celebrated public intellectual Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. presents a groundbreaking analysis of the vicious cycles of American history and the country’s enduring refusal to face its true nature—especially at the moments when national anniversaries steer us back toward the mythology meant to disguise the truth.

Obstinate Daughters:

The Rebels, Writers, and Renegade Women Who Ignited the American Revolution by Denise Kiernan available in June, hardcover, Dutton

Spanning from early colonial resistance through the founding of the United States, Obstinate Daughters widens the lens through which we've observed the American Revolution by recognizing the women who played a vital part in the fight for our independence. Without these heroic individuals, armies would not have been funded, bullets not forged, and declarations not signed. Without the stories of these brave humans, history is simply incomplete.

The Armchair Historians Book Group meets third Mondays of each month at 6pm. See page 78 for upcoming reading selections.

Lightning Beneath the Sea :

The Race to Wire the World and the Dawn of the Information Age by James M. Tabor available now, hardcover, W.W. Norton

In 1854, the American entrepreneur Cyrus Field set out to lay a 2,000-mile telegraph cable across the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Nothing like it had ever been attempted. Field knew nothing about telegraphy, electricity, ships, or oceans, and science itself still lacked a universal theory of electricity. But he believed that wiring the world for near-instantaneous communication would bring about peace on Earth. In 1866, after enduring over a decade of global scorn, catastrophic failures, staggering losses, and brushes with death, he would finally lay his great cable, ushering in the global information age.

Current Events

The Lesbian Bar Chronicles: The Living History and Hopeful Future of America's Dyke Dives and Sapphic Spaces

by Rachel Karp

available now, hardcover,

Beacon Press

This is a love letter to lesbians and queer spaces, and I want to shout my excitement from the rooftop. Each chapter tells the story of a different bar and, more importantly, the stories of the founders and patrons who give the spaces meaning. I occasionally had to pause reading just so I could hug the book. Celebrate lesbian history! –Lillian

The Truth About Immigration: Why Successful Societies Welcome Newcomers

by Zeke Hernandez available in June, paperback, St. Martin's Griffin Hernandez draws from nearly 20 years of research to answer all the big questions about immigration. He combines moving personal stories with rigorous research to offer an accessible, apolitical, and evidence-based look at how newcomers affect our local communities and our nation. You’ll learn about the overlooked impact of immigrants on investment and job creation; realize how much we take for granted the novel technologies, products, and businesses newcomers create; get the facts straight about perennial concerns like jobs, crime, and undocumented immigrants; and gain new perspectives on misunderstood issues such as the border, taxes, and assimilation.

Aging Out: An Exploration of Caregiving, Community, and How Americans Grow Old

by Lucy Schiller

available in July, hardcover, Flatiron Books

Following the loss of her grandmother, Schiller embarked on an investigative journey to understand why the prospect of aging is so frightening and how being “old” in America intersects with class, race, disability, and public policy. From profit-driven networks of care facilities to systemic failures in economic support, the future of older Americans looks increasingly uncertain. In Aging Out, Schiller reports this crisis, sharing the human toll of inadequate housing, health care, and community, while simultaneously excavating her own complicated relationship with aging.

SOCIAL STUDIES

All We Say: The Battle for American IdentityA History in 15 Speeches

by Ben Rhodes

available now, hardcover, Random House

What does it mean to be American? Who gets to decide? This sweeping history of the United States told through 15 speeches relives the battle over American identity, from a New York Times bestselling author and one of President Barack Obama’s former speechwriters.

On Witness and Respair: Essays

by Jesmyn Ward available now, hardcover, Scribner Ward ruminates on her approach to both fiction and life, reflecting on the power of the novel, how to raise a Black son in an era of rising divisiveness and cruelty, as well as her own personal tragedies—including the titular essay of the collection, which tells the story of her partner’s sudden death on the eve of the COVID-19 epidemic.

New Book Group!

Activists & Democracy Lovers VB Reads...

This new group meets at 4pm on the third Thursday of each month in the Fairhaven VB Readings Gallery. A book club and then some, this group reads books and explore other multimedia sources that not only help us understand our world, but inspire and show us how to make it better. Open to all!

• June 18 –Civil Resistance by Erica Chenoweth See villagebooks.com for additional meeting dates & reads.

How We Disappear: A Personal History of Information

by Thomas S. Mullaney

available in June, hardcover, W.W. Norton

The information that makes up our lives, from mundane official documents to poignant family photos, both defines us, and inevitably decays, no matter the medium. Everything that we put “in formation” eventually collapses into randomness. Never is this more evident than in the wake of a parent’s death. How We Disappear is a wide-ranging examination of the micro and macro, toggling between storytelling from Mullaney’s own life and his reflection on the science of entropy and the nature and history of information.

Biographies & Memoirs

Performing Arts

Restrung: A Memoir of Music and Transformation

by Vijay Gupta

available now, hardcover, Da Capo

Restrung is Gupta’s unflinching memoir of breaking apart and remaking a self. It begins with a boy raised between the strict devotion of Bengali immigrant parents and the ruthless demands of the conservatory. It follows him through the shimmering world of elite orchestras, into the depths of burnout, and ultimately toward an unexpected reawakening—where he discovered that the music he’d spent his life studying was seen not as a curio of high culture or mere entertainment, but a lifeline of connection.

Transcendent:

A Memoir

by Laverne Cox available now, hardcover, Gallery

Surviving a childhood full of trauma, dealing with depression, and working at a drag restaurant for seven years, Laverne was turning forty and felt it was time to throw in the towel when it came to being a Hollywood star—then she booked the character of Sophia Burset in Orange is the New Black. In Transcendent, you will experience life in Laverne’s shoes, from her childhood abuse to making her big break, dealing with Hollywood bureaucracy, feeling lonely in a world that is unaccepting, and finding her voice through the chaos of it all.

Trudeau and Doonesbury:

Bust a Move: Matt Dike, Delicious Vinyl, and the Hip-Hop Hits that First Conquered Pop by Peter Relic available in June, hardcover, Citadel Press Books

Through extensive interviews and dogged journalism, Peter Relic masterfully weaves together a tapestry of the L.A. hip hop scene centered around legendary producer and DJ Matt Dike. Not since Ed Piskor's work on Hip Hop Family Tree have I seen the history of this art form so lovingly gathered and presented. Bust A Move is a revelation on roots for kids of the scene everywhere, but especially those of us on the West Coast. –Bailey

Positive Obsession: The Life

and Times of Octavia E. Butler by Susana M. Morris  available in July, paperback, Amistad

As the first Black woman to consistently write and publish in the field of science fiction, Octavia Butler was a trailblazer. In this outstanding work, Susana M. Morris places Butler’s story firmly within the cultural, social, and historical context that shaped her life. Her cautionary tales warn us about succumbing to fascism, gender-based violence, and climate chaos while offering alternate paradigms to religion, family, and understanding our relationships to ourselves.

A Biography: The Cartoonist Who Turned the News into Art by Joshua Kendall available now, hardcover, Abrams

Biographer Joshua Kendall tells the story of the cartoonist and what drove him to put pen to paper. Drawing on previously unmined archival materials and extensive interviews with Trudeau, his friends, fellow cartoonists, prominent journalists, and even politicians who were mocked in the strip, Trudeau & Doonesbury is an entertaining romp through both Trudeau’s remarkable life and the last half century of American history.

SILENT BOOK CLUB

June 1 & 15 / July 6 & 20 / August 3 & 17

Do you love reading, enjoy being around others with the same passion, yet don't want to feel pressured to interact? A Silent Book Club is just what you need.

Join us at the Next Chapter Cafe for the Silent Book Club—located on the mezzanine level of Village Books in Fairhaven—on 1st and 3rd Mondays at 5:30pm. There are no reading assignments. BYO book or purchase a new read from the store—you read whatever you want at your own pace while enjoying tasty cafe fare!

1st and 3rd Mondays 5:30-7:30pm • Next Chapter Cafe

Backtalker:

Biographies & Memoirs

An American Memoir by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw available now, hardcover, Simon & Schuster Kimberlé Crenshaw permanently reshaped the way Americans think about race and gender when she articulated two concepts that would forever change national and global debates about equality: intersectionality and critical race theory. In the vein of Ta-Nehisi Coates and Bryan Stevenson, Crenshaw evokes time and place like a gifted novelist with extreme honesty and specificity, making her book a series of awe-inspiring, deep revelations.

Scavenging Beauty:

A Memoir in Walks by Angelica Glass available in July, hardcover, Riverhead Books Angelica Glass spent decades as a social worker helping families struggling with poverty, addiction, abuse and neglect. Needing relief from work-related stress, she turned to walking as an outlet. What began as a way to incorporate more exercise into her busy life transformed into something extraordinary: a years-long odyssey in which Glass drew upon physical exercise, a close observation of the natural world, and long periods of introspection to reconcile with her own past.

Glorious Country:

Ghost Stories: A Memoir by Siri Hustvedt available now, hardcover, Simon & Schuster

Ghost Stories is an intimate meditation on grief, memory, and enduring love, written after the death of Siri Hustvedt’s husband, Paul Auster. Hustvedt explores how grief unmoors time, how the intimacy of a shared life continues to mark the everyday, and how the body experiences the absence of love as a presence. She reflects on the things and papers Auster left behind, the forty-three years they spent together, the rituals of mourning, and the nature of language, memory, and the self.

All That's Unseen:

An Appalachian Memoir by Emilee Hackney available in July, hardcover, Penguin Press Emilee Hackney writes about her childhood home town with such heart and reverence, giving a voice to the unseen parts of beautiful Appalachia. With that, she is brutally honest about the path she almost lost herself to and the dangers that were hiding down it. If you liked Educated, this might just blow that book out of the water! –Kiana

How the Artist Frederic Church Brought the World to America and America to the World by Victoria Johnson available now, hardcover, Scribner

Through a close examination of Church's letters, sketches, paintings, and diaries, and traveling in Church's footsteps, Johnson traces the path not only of one man’s life, but of a country swept up in an era of vast and vertiginous change. Church was a founder of New York City’s first great museum, the Met, and in paintings, he conveyed his passion for the exquisite natural beauty of the United States, but also for a Union free of slavery. He gave Americans visions of the majesty of their own new country and of the wonders of worlds only to be seen in paintings by this astonishing adventurer and artist.

Empire of Ink

:

The Printers, Rogues, and Radicals Who Invented the American Newspaper by Alex Wright available in June, hardcover, Basic Books

Between the Revolutionary War and the dawn of the 20th century, the number of American newspapers increased five hundredfold. In Empire of Ink, Alex Wright tells the story of how an unruly young democracy found its voice—shaped by the interplay of new technologies, bold public policies, and a distinctly American zeal for free expression that unleashed the greatest outpouring of print the world had ever seen.

The Renoir Girls:

A Hidden

History

of Art, War, and

Betrayal

by Catherine Ostler available in July, hardcover, Atria

In 1881, Renoir knocks on the door of a wealthy Jewish family’s home in the grandest quarter of Paris. He has arrived to paint the portrait of the family’s two youngest daughters. The parents go to balls, breed racehorses, and ride in the Bois de Boulogne with their aristocratic friends. But for the Jewish community, the undercurrents of Parisian sentiment are already moving in a sinister direction. The story of the Renoir girls will end in the duplicity and the horror of the Second World War.

True Tales

The Wreck of the Mentor:

A True Story of Death, Despair, and Deliverance in the Age of Sail by

Eric Jay Dolin

available now, hardcover, Liveright

The American whaleship Mentor wrecked in 1832 on a remote reef in the western Pacific. With supplies dwindling, the surviving crewmen face not only the miseries of shipwreck in unfamiliar territory but also the profound uncertainty of contact with the Micronesian archipelago of Palau. In this gripping saga of cultural collision, tribal wars, and dashed hopes, Dolin vividly reconstructs the Mentor’s doomed voyage, the years of perilous captivity, and the delicate negotiations and fraught naval rescue mission that followed.

She Takes the Helm: Lessons in Grit from Alaska's Fishing Grounds by Mary Jacobs

available now, paperback, Book House Publishing

From deckhand to experienced skipper of the first all-woman crew seining out of Kodiak,Mary Jacobs's memoir is a fantastic read. She Takes the Helm captures the adventures, dangers, and thrills of fishing in Alaska. Although men still dominate in that world, Mary Jacobs’s life shows how women can break barriers, overcome obstacles, and realize their dreams.

Author Reading! Register at villagebooks.com

Sunday, July 5, 6pm MARY JACOBS at Village Books in Fairhaven

A Walk in the Park:

The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko available now, paperback, Scribner

A Walk in the Park is a rollicking and poignant account of an epic 750-mile odyssey, on foot, through the heart of the Grand Canyon. This New York Times bestseller and winner of the National Outdoor Book Award is now available in paperback! “Passionate…memorable…life-affirming.” —The Wall Street Journal

Sunday, June 14, 6pm

Author Reading!

KEVIN FEDARKO Village Books in Fairhaven Register at villagebooks.com

True Crime

Catch the Devil : A True Story of Murder, Deception, and Injustice on the Gulf Coast by Pamela Colloff available in July, hardcover, Knopf

The riveting, true story of an audacious con man who helped send another man to death row for a murder he did not commit. “Incendiary, emotionally devastating. [This] is a feat of dogged reporting, bravura storytelling, and clear-eyed moral conscience."—Patrick Radden Keefe, author of Say Nothing and London Falling.

North of Ordinary: How One Woman Left It All Behind for Wilderness and Wonder in Alaska's Frozen Frontier by Sue Aikens with Michael Vlessides available now, hardcover, Sourcebooks From the star of the show TV show Life Below Zero, North of Ordinary is an unflinching and inspiring memoir of resilience, reinvention, and the extraordinary power of choosing your own way through the world.

Sunday, June 14, 11am-1pm

SUE AIKENS

Book Signing at Village Books in Fairhaven

See wcls.libcal.com to register for Sue Aiken's book presentaton on Saturday, June 13th in Ferndale —presented by the Whatcom County Library System.

Fierce

Country: The Untold Story of Three Women Who Ignited America’s Love for the Wild by Heather Hansman available in July, hardcover, Hanover Square Press

When even the most courageous outdoor enthusiasts had yet to see the depths of the Grand Canyon, Georgie White jumped into the river at Diamond Creek with just a lifejacket and a backpack full of food. Anne LaBastille was building her life in the Adirondacks. And in the Rockies, Dolores LaChapelle, was burnishing her name as one of the best skiers in America. Heather Hansman brings these women’s fascinating lives to the forefront of the outdoor movement, affirming the rightful place in the larger story of an evolving American landscape.

Shop 24/7 at villagebooks.com

The Latest From Village Books' Chuckanut Editions

This Old Building

A Guide to Buying, Restoring & Managing Historic Commercial Property

by Robert K. Hall

Village Books is proud to announce the latest title in our Chuckanut Editions imprint: a reprint ofThis Old Building by Robert K. Hall.

Hall, owner of multiple historic properties in Bellingham, works on old buildings by restoring them and reviving their role in the community. In This Old Building, he shares practical tips along with before-and-after photographs, making it both a time capsule for locals and a resource for others looking to do similar work. Originally published in 2016, this new reprint is available now to celebrate its 10th Anniversary!

Chuckanut Editions is Village Books' own publishing imprint. Dedicated to the preservation of local history, we are thrilled to share this book with you!

Science & Nature

Our Wild Familiars: How Animals Are Adapting to Cities and Reshaping the Natural World

by Dan Werb available in July, hardcover, Crown

Through vivid storytelling, Our Wild Familiars brings to life the world’s most successful synanthropes: from bats, raccoons, and crows, to some of its weirdest, including the Giant Pacific Octopus. Acting as a guide for the curious, Werb reveals how the cracks in our millennia-long efforts to shield ourselves against the outside world might just lead us to a new and necessary balance with nature—or to an ever more savage future.

Naming Nature:

A Cabinet of Natural Curiosities for Word Lovers by T.A. Barron available now, hardcover, Amber Lotus Publishing Drawing on etymology, folklore, and linguistic nuance, this richly illustrated volume uncovers the meanings behind the names we give to animals and plants—from the “unstoppable one” (elephant in Tsawna and Tsonga) to the delicate metaphors for butterflies and birds in ancient and modern tongues. Whether rooted in mythology, survival, or awe, these words reveal the deep interconnection between language and landscape.

Mason Bee Revolution

2nd Ed .: How the Hardest Working Bee Can Save the World One Backyard at a Time by Dave Hunter and Jill Lightner available now, paperback, Skipstone Mason Bee Revolution is more than a guide to pollination—it’s a call to action for protecting our food systems, ecosystems, and future. A comprehensive update of the bestselling original, this new edition features expanded instruction, fresh insights, and vibrant full-color photography throughout. Readers are introduced to the remarkable world of mason and leaf bees—native pollinators capable of visiting up to 2,000 flowers a day, compared to just 15 by honey bees. Their gentle nature makes them easy to raise in gardens, parks, and urban spaces, and their impact on food crops and native flora is unmatched. Perfect for gardeners, educators, and conservationists alike, everyone can play a part in rebuilding healthy pollinator networks.

Dave Hunter

Monday, June 22, 6pm at Village Books in Fairhaven

ReGen: A New Future for Farming, Food, and Health

by David R.

Montgomery available in August, hardcover, W.W. Norton

A century of conventional farming has left our planet with sick soil, accelerating the interlinked crises of food security, biodiversity loss, water pollution, and climate change. Montgomery lays out a practical and productive vision for recovering soil health and safeguarding the future of food. He marshals more than a decade of research, interviewing innovative farmers and seeing firsthand how they restored degraded farms around the world.

Meet the Author!

The Book of Birds: A Field Guide to Wonder and Loss

by

Robert Macfarlane

and Jackie Morris available in June, hardcover, W.W. Norton

Plant Teachings from My Auntie: Gathering Coast Salish Plants for Medicine, Textiles, Nourishment, and Ceremony by Geraldine Manson, C’tasi:a, and Nancy J. Turner available in July, paperback, New Society Publishers Snuneymuxw Elder and Knowledge Keeper Geraldine Manson, whose traditional name is C'tasi:a, draws on the sacred knowledge passed on to her by her "Auntie Ellen," Dr. Ellen White, also known as Kwulasulwut. Central to these learnings is the fundamental concept or protocol of honoring gifts from the land by gathering and preparing in ways that respect the history, culture, spirituality, and Indigenous knowledge associated with each species. Each entry features plant descriptions complete with both their Hul'q'umi'num and botanical names, typical native habitat, and traditional uses.

In lyrical and incantatory essays, Macfarlane describes nearly 50 once-common species: their habits and habitats, their patterns of flight and patterns of song, how they hunt or fish or scavenge or gather, how they nest and raise their chicks, the myths that attend them, the threats that shadow them—and how their lives intersect with our own. On every page we encounter Morris’s exhilarating artwork, painted from life in watercolor and gold leaf, and animated with an extraordinary attention to detail.

Nature of Writing Nature of Writing Mini-Series A Special Summer

JASON DOVE MARK

Thursday, July 16, 6pm at Village Books in Fairhaven

The Earth Said Remember Me: How to Revive Our Memories and Restore the Planet

by Jason Dove Mark available in July, hardcover, W. W. Norton & Co

In this positive and inspiring manifesto, environmental activist and longtime editor-in-chief of Sierra magazine Jason Dove Mark offers an antidote, focusing on four simple but powerful rules that everyone can use to resist environmental amnesia: Go outside. Bear witness. Make a record. Pass it on. A rallying cry and resistance manual from one of the leaders breathing new life into the environmental movement, this is a hopeful, achievable prescription for protecting the planet, one citizen at a time.

Noticing: Intimate Encounters

With the Natural World

by Richard Louv

available in June, hardcover, Algonquin Books

Through personal essays, rich with descriptions of the California wilderness around his home in the most biodiverse county in the nation, Louv draws on wisdom from influences as far-reaching as neuroscience, nature photography, Indigenous traditions, and mindfulness to foster what he calls "bioenchantment.” He offers a new, deeper understanding of what it means to see a tree, know a fox, and to become fully human.

Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate— Discoveries from A Secret World

by Peter Wohlleben

available now, paperback, Greystone Books

One of the most beloved books of our time: an illuminating account of the forest, and the science that shows us how trees communicate, feel, and live in social networks. After reading this book, a walk in the woods will never be the same again. NOW IN PAPERBACK!

KILIII YÜYAN

Saturday, July 18, 6pm

Location TBD

Watch villagebooks.com for details

Guardians of Life: Indigenous Knowledge, Indigenous Science, and Restoring the Planet

by Kiliii Yüyan

available now, hardcover, Braided River Photographer, speaker and explorer Kiliii Yüyan captures life at the polar regions, beneath cold seas, and within the heart of human communities. Featuring a decade of his National Geographic photography, Guardians of Life takes readers on an extraordinary visual odyssey—from the Amazon rainforest to Greenland's sea ice—revealing Indigenous communities as Earth's most powerful protectors. Including contributions from two dozen Indigenous authors, this new title has been called “a visually dazzling and deeply informative collection that will linger with readers long after the last page."

Nature & Science

Take Me to Your Leader: Perspectives on Your First Alien Encounter by Neil DeGrasse Tyson available now, hardcover, Simon Six

Drawing on a wealth of depictions from history, literature, pop culture, and film, Neil DeGrasse Tyson applies the universal laws of physics to make the case for what Aliens might look like, act like, how they might travel through the universe to reach us, and what they might think of us upon arrival. Should such an event occur, Tyson further offers useful etiquette tips for your first close encounter.

Presented by Village Books in Partnership with North Cascades Institute and Children of the Setting Sun

Libro.fm makes it possible for you to buy audiobooks through your local bookstore (Village Books!) giving you the power to keep money within your local economy. You can sign up for a monthly membership or make your purchases à la carte and listen to audiobooks on your own schedule with no strings attached.

www.libro.fm/villagebooks

THIS IS How We Roll

Adopting

the Wonderland Trail

by Sam Brown-Shaklee, Village Books Employee and Cycling Enthusiast

enture just a few minutes out of town and you can access Galbraith Mountain, a 4,000 acre open space with over 70 miles of public, purpose-built trails. These trails are stewarded by the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition in cooperation with multiple city, county, and state agencies as well as private landowners. Through 40 years of effort, the WMBC has turned Bellingham into a world-renowned mountain biking destination through community-focused advocacy and stewardship efforts. With over 300,000 annual visitors, these trails require an immense effort to keep running smoothly for trail users of all abilities from near and far. It truly takes a village!

As an avid outdoor enthusiast, I am beyond thrilled that Village Books & Paper Dreams has adopted the trail "Wonderland" on Galbraith Mountain for 2026 as part of the WMBC's Trail Adoption Program (TAP). In addition to financial support, you may find us on the trail draining mud puddles, fixing potholes, or trimming back brush next time you're in the woods. Stop and say hi!

Check out wmbcmtb.org for maps and information on volunteering, donating, events, and sponsorships.

Enjoy the Ride!

Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance,

7th Edition

Square One Maps

Chuckanut

Recreation Area

This is THE essential local hiking and biking map. Waterproof & tear resistant, you can take it to the region's best nature trails and parks in any weather.

The World's Best-Selling Guide to Mountain Bike Repair by Lennard Zinn available now, paperback, VeloPress This guide makes bicycle repair and maintenance easy, quick, affordable, and fun.

Cycling Gift Tin

Great for all abilities of cyclists and bike lover, all the tools you’ll need to keep you going and on yer bike during your next adventure—in a handy tin.

Sam joins Village Books co-owners Paul & Kelly on a Wonderland ride!

Live Literature Local Music & A Little Humor

Join us for the taping of this unique local radio show—an evening of LIVE ENTERTAINMENT including amazing literature, live music, fun skits, poetry, humor, and more!

Performed live and recorded for radio, each Radio Hour includes a guest author, live local music, performance poetry by Kevin Murphy, and an episode of "As the Ham Turns" serial radio comedy perfomed by the Chuckanut Radio Players. Hosts Paul Hanson and Kelly Evert are joined by announcer Rich Donnelly for an evening of entertainment. Doors open and music starts at 6:30pm, show starts at 7pm.

Tickets available now. Seating is limited so don't delay—we'll see you there!

Laurie Frankel

at the Hotel Leo, Downtown Bellingham, WA

Tuesday, June 16, 7pm

Join us for a special evening of literature and entertainment as we welcome the bestselling author of This is How It Always Is and Family Family as she shares her newest novel.

Enormous Wings

In this exuberant and timely new story, a 77-year-old woman's miraculous pregnancy raises urgent questions about female agency, bodily autonomy, and mortality. It’s about what happens when you don’t get to choose anymore. It’s about motherhood and family, sex and love and friendship, and how those bedrocks—even so late in the day—can still change, and then change everything.

Thursday, October 22, 7pm

Pam Houston

towards the purchase of the featured book or other merchandise offered at that show!

in conversation with Becky Mandelbaum

Animals Taught Me Everything

Thanks to our regular sponsors

With playful sincerity, Houston finds power and promise in the teachings of our fellow creatures and reminds us that the animals are here for us, every day and everywhere. Join us!

The POWER of Children’s Literature

by Sarah Hutton, Village Books Co-owner

Many of you know that my heart lies with children’s books —I started my early corporate bookselling career working in the kids section, an often-under-appreciated area in any bookstore. As I have continued in the book world, kids books continue to amaze and impress me with their wisdom, compassion, and humor.

Two new books remind adults why we shouldn’t forget about the power of children’s literature. Mac Barnett’s Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children is a love letter to the way kids read and absorb the world, reminding us that GOOD children’s literature reveals meaning, it doesn’t just teach a lesson. It also reminds us that GOOD children’s literature is actually just good literature, period.

Katherine Rundell’s Why You Should Read Children’s Books Even Though Your Are So Old and Wise reminds us about the power of imagination, discovery, and wonder. She reminds us that the joy and delight may be latent in us when we reflect on our young reading life, but is there for us to rediscover as adults.

And, if this topic is close to your heart like it is mine, don’t forget to revisit The Grammar of Fantasy, particularly the recent edition illustrated by Matthew Forsythe.

Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Young Children by Mac Barnett available now, hardcover, Little, Brown

Why You Should Read Children’s Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise by Katherine Rundell available in September, hardcover, Knopf Books for Young Readers

The Grammar of Fantasy: An Introduction to the Art of Inventing Stories by Gianni Rodari, illustrated by Matthew Forsythe translated by Jack Zipes available now, hardcover, Enchanted Lion

author and illustrator presentations, book sales, autographs, and a question-and-answer panel.

YOUNG READERS

Their Families & Educators

Celebrate Summer & Take a Book on a Stroll-er!

I’ll Love You Till the Sloths Start School by Kathryn Cristaldi, illustrated by Kristyna Litten available in June, board book, Harper Collins Ease those first day of schools jitters while enjoying this short and sweet rhyming story!

Picture Books

If the Moon by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Matthew Forsythe available in August, hardcover, Stonefruit Studio

Matthew Forsythe has my heart. His illustrations convey an understanding of a youmg mind in the most delightful way. With imagination, a stunning color palette, and words by Matthew Burgess, this picture book is a winner! –Sarah

Seahorse Is Furious and There Is Nothing You Can Do About It by Morag Hood available now, hardcover, Simon & Schuster

In the spirit of Grumpy Monkey, here is a story about just plain being frustrated about the day. Sometime the water is too wet, and the food too salty, and your friends too, well, friendly. Navigating those big feels with a bit of smile, this book is a must-have in your young kiddo’s life! –Sarah

Board Books

Who's Building?

(Big Jobs for Little Babies) by Katrina Moore, illustrated by Benson Shum available now, board book, Abrams Appleseed

The Big Jobs for Little Babies series explores dynamic careers based on baby’s favorite activities—in this case, building! Who’s Building? will nurture the youngest explorer’s curiosity about the world and their own bright futures.

The Greatest Bedtime Story Ever by Jessie Sima available in June, hardcover, Simon & Schuster  I have to admit, I did not fall asleep while reading this book… instead, I stayed awake wanting to know what was going to happen to THE greatest bedtime story ever told. Would the dragon wake up? Would the storyteller make it out of the cave? Jessie Sima kept me awake and turning each page with a laugh or gasp, but either way, I wanted to know how the story would end. –Kat

Lots and Lots of Ocelots: A

Skip Counting

Book

by Vicky Fang, illustrated by Angel Chang available now, hardcover, Workman Kids

Lots and Lots of Ocelots makes skip counting fun with rhyming text, vivid and colorful artwork, and cute animals facts, as well as additional skip counting resources in the back of the book.

Picture Books

What's On Your Mind?

A Calming

Book for Busy Brains

by Todd Parr available in July, hardcover, Little Brown Books for Young Readers

This story has practical advice that helps little ones sift through overwhelming thoughts, identify feelings, and calm anxiety. Colorful bird characters lead the reader through the book, and interactive pages offer specific tools—such as deep breathing, stretching, and sensory exploration—to relax the mind in a fun and silly way.

Story Rug

by Sophie Blackall, illustrated by Phoebe Wahl available in July, picture book, Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Enjoy this beautifully illustrated book from two of my favorite children’s book creatives! This adorable story celebrates the joys of storytelling, crafting, and the connection we feel when we work together for a common cause. –Kendra

BOOK LAUNCH

with illustrator PHOEBE WAHL

Tuesday, July 14,4pm at Village Books in Fairhaven Free to attend—save your seat at

All Our Families Are Awesome

by Charlotte Bellière, illustrated by Ian De Haes, translated by Lockwood-Holmes available now, hardcover, Floris Books

Told entirely by conversation bubbles, All Our Families Are Awesome captures a conversation between a group of children during playtime discussing families while figuring out who will portray what role. Gorgeous illustrations depict individual families while each child proclaims the awesome characteristics of their specific family. Questions are asked between children and while similarities and differences are acknowledged, the sentiment from the title rings true—All Our Families Are Awesome ! –Kat

Gifts from Crows

by Gideon Sterer, illustrated by Shadra Strickland available in August, hardcover, Clarion Books

Gabi leaves gifts for the crows every day!

Based on the true story of a girl and the crows in her backyard, this adventure explores the mysteries of friendship across species. This story includes true facts and the history of crows which makes this perfect for the curious child or for a classroom library.

The Cow in the Dark at Night

by Jess Hannigan available in July, hardcover, Quill Tree Books

A hilarious tale full of bovinity bold humor, nocturnal friends, and adventure, this is a picture book both parents and kids will get a kick out of! –Kendra

Join us in the kids' section of our Fairhaven location every Tuesday at 11am for a half hour of stories, songs, and movement!

Lynden Fire Fighters! Friendly Dogs! Dinosaurs, Music, and a Princess! See page 36 for a line-up of the fun and varied story times taking place at our Lynden store.

Hey Kids! ummer Reading Challenge

Join us in celebrating summer with one of our favorite activities—READING! Pick up a Summer Reading Challenge form at either our Fairhaven or Lynden location or download one at villagebooks.com then read your way to rewards. You’ll even get to write a review card telling us about your favorite book of the summer which we’ll hang in the store!

Rewards you say? Return your completed challenge by Wednesday, August 31st and receive a $5 gift certificate to Village Books and Paper Dreams PLUS a delicious treat generously donated by one of our partnering businesses and neighbors, Avenue Bread and the Colophon Cafe.

BONUS: We will hold a drawing in early September from the completed forms and if we draw your name, Village Books will donate a $100 gift certificate to your school for books. When a homeschooler wins, we donate to an appropriate charity of their choice.

Take the Village Books Challenges for Everyone!

A Summer Reading Challenge for Teens and Adults

Why let the kids have all the fun? Check out the Village Books Summer Reading Bingo Challenge for teens and adults! Grab a bingo sheet and track your summer reading. Get a bingo and we'll give you a coupon towards a purchase here at the store. Fill the ENTIRE board and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a Village Books & Paper Dreams gift card! Give it a try!

Let's Celebrate Dad

My Papi's Hands

by Melissa Seron Richardson, illustrated by Edel Rodriguez available now, hardcover, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

With lyrical text and striking wood block illustrations, this heartwarming ode to parental love uses the metaphor of a father's labor to illustrate how manos poderosas can teach little hands how to create change within their community. Ages 6-8

Dad

by Christian Robinson available now, hardcover, Balzer + Bray

How does Christian Robinson do it? Once again, Robinson has created a book filled with words and illustrations that feel so relatable (even if it is with a wolf howling…). The short statements resonate with each page turn. Dad  is for every dad figure in someone’s life of any age—to read together or on your own. –Kat

Spendin’ Time

by Gary R. Gray, Jr., illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell available now, hardcover, HarperCollins

My Father, Mi Padre: A Coco Rocho Book, Bilingual English-Spanish by Raúl the Third, illustrated by Elaine Bay and Raúl the Third available now, board book, Versify

A celebration of a father and child doing their favorite things, going on adventures and how Raul shows his dad how much he means to him! Ages 0-4

One, Two, Daddy Loves

You : A Picture Book by Shelly Becker, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino available now, hardcover, Harry N. Abrams

A young girl and her artist father make the best of a sick day with an impromptu puppet show, a cupcake-making session, and lots of art supplies in this heartfelt, rhyming picture book—a joyful ode to the special bond between fathers and their daughters. Ages 3-5

Time With Grandpa!

The upbeat lyricism and cheerful illustrations bring to life this kid-friendly meditation on appreciating every moment— big or small—spent with the people you love. Enjoy this poetic, touching, and lighthearted tribute to cherishing the small moments between grandparents & grandchildren. Ages 4-8

Story Time with

DINGER

of the Bellingham Bells

Tuesday, July 21, 11am at Village Books in Fairhaven

Dinger from the Bellingham Bells —our favorite BellingHAMSTER, will join us for a very special story time. Enjoy themed stories, songs, movement, and good times. A great photo op and fun time—don't miss out. Free to attend!

in Fairhaven and Lynden! FIND WALDO LOCAL

July 1-31, 2026

Have You Seen Waldo?

He's an elusive fellow, but rumor has it that he'll be hanging around Whatcom County again this summer. If you look carefully, you might just spot him. Yes, you read that right: “Find Waldo Local” is back in July!

As we've done in the past, multiple local businesses in Fairhaven and Downtown Lynden will participate in a scavenger hunt all month long.

Do you think YOU can find Waldo? Pick up a passport from either location of Village Books and Paper Dreams or one of the other participating merchants, then look for the guy in stripes. He'll be hiding somewhere in each of the businesses listed on the passport. After you find Waldo in 10 different stores, come back to Village Books for a cool Waldo sticker (while supplies last). If you find Waldo in all the participating stores, you'll be entered in a raffle for the chance to win all sorts of great prizes! Fairhaven and Lynden each have their own list of participating businesses.

PARTIES!

Join our Grand Celebrations at Village Books in Fairhaven AND in Lynden Friday, July 31, 2pm

Stop by either store for games, treats, and the prize drawing for scavenger hunt participants. Come in your red stripes and glasses!

We hope you'll join us as we search for Waldo all around Fairhaven and Downtown Lynden in July!

All Ages

Read with PRIDE  Educate

Reflect • Accept Celebrate!

There are many benefits of LGBTQ+ books for readers of all ages and backgrounds. Whether they're a member of the LGBTQ+ community or not, having the opportunity to read about different perspectives helps children prepare for living in this diverse world. These books help inform and educate readers about accepting differences and reducing stereotypes, providing meaningful messages of keeping an open heart to others. From picture books to chapter books, and graphic novels, everyone should be able to see themselves reflected in quality literature. Read Proud!

Celebrate Diversity with These Fabulous Books!

Play Proud : Fiercely Fabulous Queer Athletes by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Izzy Evans available now, hardcover, Beaming Books

Play Proud highlights 60 historic and modern queer athletes, from Billie Jean King to Megan Rapinoe, Johnny Weir to Carl Nassib. Readers will be on a first-name basis with each of them as they race through the wide world of sports, discovering role models who play hard, play fair, and play proud. The triumphs of these athletes—both on and off the field, court, rink, ring, and pitch—serve as powerful inspiration for everyone who seeks to live their life authentically. Ages 4–8

A Summer Vacation Activitiy for On-The-Go!

A Million Dragons: Adorable Dragons to Color

by Lulu Mayo

available in June, paperback, Union Square Kids

Rainbow Cookies

by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Z.B. Asterplume available now, hardcover, Levine Querido

In this delicious story combining a love of baked good and love for your neighbors you’ll be introduced to integrity, determination, compassion, and empowerment. –Kendra Ages 4–8

Queer

Heroes: Meet 52 LGBTQ Heroes From Past & Present! by Arabelle Sicardi, illustrated by Sarah Tanat-Jones available now, paperback, Wide Eyed Editions

Not new but beautiful and bold, this book celebrates the achievements of LGBTQ+ people through history and from around the world—featuring dynamic full-color portraits of a diverse selection of 53 inspirational role models accompanied by short biographies that focus on their incredible successes. Ages 10-15

Color in a world of adorable ferociously cute dragons! Filled with quirky, off-the-wall illustrations, Lulu Mayo’s coloring book has over 30 spreads packed with dragons and other fantasy creatures of all shapes and sizes. Her instantly recognizable style brings gentle fun and humor to each scene that kids and adults alike will love bringing to life with color.

A Great Graduation Gift

Winnie-the-Pooh: The Little Book of Wisdom by A. A. Milne, illustrated by E. H. Shepard available in July, hardcover, Farshore

One of our favorite teddy bears has been delighting generations of children for nearly 100 years. Milne’s classic children’s stories —featuring Piglet, Eeyore, Christopher Robin and, of course, Pooh himself—are gently humorous while teaching lessons about friendship and kindness.

Fun for the Whole Family

Elaine Miller Bond

Sunday, June 28, 2pm

BFFs!

Black-Footed Ferrets

Love For One of North America's Most Endangered Mammals

Local Author & Illustrator

Phoebe Wahl

Tuesday, July 14, 4pm at Village Books in Fairhaven

Beloved local award-winning children's book creator Phoebe Wahl illustrated this luminous new book—braiding together the joy of storytelling with the satisfaction of learning a new craft. This beguiling celebration of storytelling is woven through with an easy-to-learn and impressive craft project, including instructions, will have readers reaching for scraps to make their own rag rug. And that's just what we'll do! A story AND activity!

Story and Activitiy with Artist & Illustrator

Saturday, August 8, 3pm

Join us for a fun kids event as local author, science writer, and wildlife photographer Elaine Miller Bond as she shares her new award-winning book, BFFs! Black-Footed Ferrets —a fact-filled and heartfelt introduction to one of the most endangered mammals in North America. Read along and enjoy rare photographs of black-footed ferrets prowling, peeking out of prairie dog holes, cuddling with their families, and even dancing! These adorable little bandits just might become your new BFFs! Light refreshments will be available! at Village Books in Fairhaven at Village Books in Fairhaven

Luciana Navarro Powell Squirrel Draws BIG

Feelings

Join us in welcoming artist and illustrator Luciana Navarro Powell as she shares her new book, Squirrel Draws Big Feelings, and leads kids on a fun chalk activity outside ! When Squirrel, Porcupine, and Bear are feeling overwhelmed with big feelings, they turn to chalk art to get unstuck, learning that friendship and sharing are coping skills too.

Non-Fiction

Black Hands: Builders of Our Nation

by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie available now, hardcover, Crown Books

This book serves as an essential educational tool, providing insights into the deep history and contributions of Black Americans and encourages discussions about diversity, resilience, and the importance of recognizing all voices in the narrative of our nation. It's a poetic weaving of history and emotion into an immersive narrative that truly celebrates the diversity of the United States and the spirit, strength, and hope that have shaped it.

So Many Questions:

Abuelita Becomes a US Citizen by Belen Medina, illustrated by Heidi Moreno available in August, hardcover, Quill Tree Books

Learn Something NEW This Summer!

The Declaration Decoded : A Guide to the Document That Inspired Our Nation

by Katie Kennedy available now, hardcover, Workman Kids

Just in time for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the United States: The Declaration Decoded is a little book full of big facts about the foundational document of the United States that translates Thomas Jefferson's writing into fresh, modern language that readers of all ages can understand!

United States History

This picture book is a tribute to the hard work it takes to become an American citizen. It’s based on Medina’s own abuelita, who achieved her dream of becoming a citizen after 50 years in America. This sweet, child-friendly approach to the complicated topic of immigration is sure to be a hit with readers and gatekeepers alike!

Nature

America is Wild!:

A State-By-State Encyclopedia of American Wildlife by Brad Timm, illustrated by Margaux Samson Abadie and Jill De Haan available now, hardcover, Wide Eyed Editions

This is the definitive, illustrated guide to the wildlife and plants of North America featuring nearly 200 animals and 200 plants found in the U.S. It is compiled by Dr. Brad Timm, a wildlife ecologist and educator with a passion for native species. Perfect for little nature lovers! Ages 6-9

Weaver and the Web

by Chris Baker, illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler available in July, hardcover, Godwin Books

Once night falls, Weaver emerges from the rolled-up leaf she sleeps in during the day, and begins searching for the perfect place to spin her latest web. There are plenty of facts webbed into this fascinating narrative! Learn about this spider and its habitat. Ages 4-8

Lots and Lots of Animals

illustrated by Marlène Normand available in June, hardcover, Boxer Books

I love this stunning oversized picture book! Captioned and categorized predominantly by family, this huge non-fiction book features more than 2,000 animals! The back pages contain facts on each animal family, detailing some of their special shared characteristics as well as what distinguishes them from each other. Ages 3-8

Fish Are Friends: Meet the Underwater Creatures Who Keep Our Planet Thriving

by Jules Howard, illustrated by Gosia Herba available in July, hardcover, Wide Eyed Editions Fish are FINTASTIC! They do so much for us. They help prevent diseases, build beaches, create medicines, and balance entire ecosystems. Yet most people have no idea how incredible fish are. Dive into a dazzling underwater world and discover just how important fish really are. Ages 7-11

Middle Grade Titles To Be Excited About

The Brainstormerz: Money Talks by Kwame Alexander with Cassidy Dyce, illustrated by Rashad Doucet available now, paperback, Little, Brown Ink

Ever want something soooo badly, you will try just about anything to get it? This is the predicament Lex, and his two best friends are in. Joining together and creating the BFF group “the Brainstormerz,” they try out every idea they can think of to save money so Lex can get a phone for their birthday. Will they save enough money by the time Lex turns ten? –Kat

Take the Village Books

Summer Reading Challenge

Pick up in store or download at villagbooks.com

A Fishboy Named . . . Sashimi

by Dan Santat available now, paperback, Roaring Brook Press

Sashimi does their best to hide the fact they are a fish, while, hopefully, pulling off the disguise of being just a regular kid. Readers follow along the adventures Sashimi stumbles upon while learning about the way of life on land. The laugh-out-loud content pairs with Dan Santat’s bright illustrations —it all kept me wanting more. I am thrilled this is the start to a series. –Kat

Graphic Novels

First CrushThe New Girl #2 by Cassandra Calin available now, paperback, Graphix

With this brilliant sequel to the beloved The New Girl, Cassandra Calin knocks it out of the park again with a story and illustrations that are heartwarming, nostalgic, and all too relatable. Join Lia as she continues to navigate her life as a new girl in a new country, juggling old friends, new friends, body image, homework, and, most importantly (*wink*), falling head over heels for her new crush, Julien. –Chloe H.

Science Graphic Novel How to Catch Lightning and Other Incredible Ideas about Technology

by William Potter, illustrated by Richard Watson available in August, paperback, Arcturus Gear up for an exhilarating journey through the riveting world of technology! This innovative graphic novel combines side-splitting comic book action and mindexpanding technology facts to explain some of the biggest ideas in science! Ages 7–11

The Village

Books

Extraordinary Educator Celebration 2026

Yay, Teachers!

Earlier this year, Village Books and Paper Dreams opened nominations for the second annual Extraordinary Educator Awards.

Selected by their students, educators were nominated and honored at a celebration that took place during Teacher Appreciation Week.

A host of amazing gifts, generously donated by partner businesses, were distributed to the attendees. Everyone left with something! It was a great time—we can't wait until next year.

Middle Grade Titles

The House of Found Objects

by Jo Beckett-King

available in July, paperback, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Newly acquainted cousins must solve a cryptic, puzzle-filled scavenger hunt through Paris to rescue a family heirloom in this gutsy middle-grade mystery.Follow along as the girls decipher riddles, solve puzzles, and crack codes in this delightful and charming mystery.

Monster and Apprentice

by Jessica Khoury

available in July, hardcover, Margaret K. McElderry Books

After a life on the streets where Rolan Strider has never belonged—not at school, not in the city of Crisanth, and definitely not in the life of his crime-lord father. After an incident when he is caught vandalizing, he is chosen to apprentice under a feared monster hunter to slay Cryptics!

An Interactive Story!

A Roll of The Dice:

Enchanted Forest

by Lauren De Graaf

available in June, hardcover, Magic Cat

One day, a little elf called Briar Luck begins a perilous quest . . . Roll the dice to discover where she lives and what's been stolen from the elves, then keep rolling to go on an exciting adventure to get it back. From what mode of transport Briar Luck takes to who the villain is, and how they're defeated, kids will love rolling their dice to move the story forwards.

Cool Books for a Hot Summer!

Black Point

by Jacqueline West

available in July, hardcover, Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Black Point fits right in within the "cozy horror" subgenre offering the small-town folk horror, beautiful atmosphere and Norse/ Scandinavian vibes. While reminiscent of horror it's comfortably scary, providing readers with the thrills and chills of a good mystery!

HeartLand

by Jilanne Hoffmann

available in July, hardcover, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Told in alternating timelines through both poetry and prose, Heartland quickly immerses readers into the twisty and insistent mind of a tween aspiring to find herself in a deeply complex world. This coming-of-age novel finds a young misfit searching for the truth of her family’s past. "Highly recommended for all middle grade collections.” — School Library Journal

Fatal Glitch #1: Camp Zero

by Erin Entrada Kelly and Eliot Schrefer, illustrated by Jeannette Aroyo available in July, hardcover, Stonefruit Studio

A modern take on Goosebumps -esque fiction that has been sorely missing from my life (as someone who won't go near adult horror). This work of middle-grade appropriate horror features themes of technological addiction, betrayal, and consequences of one's actions. This book will have you cheering on many of the (quite likeable) main characters, but be prepared to agonize over the safety of these children. –Kellen

Young Adult Reads

For Teens . . . The Summer You Never Turned a Pretty Book Down

Wayfarers

by Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro available in August, hardcover, HarperCollins

Readers are all too familiar with the idea of nomadic living around America. While #VanLife isn’t a new phenomenon, it’s clear that it’s here to stay. When Sylvie & Knox go on a life-changing road trip they experience the reality of living this way—it can be difficult, it can be frustrating, but there’s liberation and community to be found as well.

The Last Best Quest Ever

by F.T. Lukens

available in May, hardcover, Margaret K. McElderry Books Ellinore, the kingdom's undefeated knight, is tasked with the impossible in order to save her brother's life. Which would be bad enough, except that she's lied about every quest she’s ever won and is not as brave as she's made herself out to be. Not just your typical fantasy book, this rollicking story is self-aware in a D&D-Movie kind of way that will have you giggling while simultaneously unable to put the book down until the epic adventure is at its end. –Chloe H.

Oh My Affogato! Vacationship

by Daphne Ang and Donna Ghorbanpoor available now, paperback, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Whatever your favorite romance trope is, the Vacationship series has it covered. Oh My Affogato! features a love triangle, a boy next door, and a friends-to-lovers romance, making it the perfect romance to escape into.

We Were Never Here

by Sophia Hannan avaiable in July, hardcover, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Equal parts incredibly spooky ghost story and tenderly complicated tale of grief, this haunting novel will stick with you long after the last page has been turned. With a gothic setting, an art heist, and friends that are all facing different coming-of-age problems, this novel manages to be both relatable and eerily riveting. –Caitriona

Royal Summer

by Kass Morgan available now, paperback, HarperCollins

Get ready to be swept away to Scotland for a Royal Romance! From butterfly-inducing meet-cute to heart-wrenching climactic confrontation to somewhat bittersweet finale, this romantic comedy is fluffed to perfection with just the right amount of reality to ground and colorful spice to indulge.

A Prince Among Pirates

by Katie Abdou

available in June, hardcover, Atheneum Books for Young Readers

A charming nobleman accidentally joins a pirate ship and falls for its debonair captain in this swashbuckling queer debut. Enjoy a summer dreaming of distant shores and shipping these two!

Manga As I Dream of You

by Jennifer Lee, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

available now, hardcover & paperback, First Second Teenagers Sam and Franny fall in love hard and fast, finding the acceptance they long for after Franny moves into town. When a tragic accident tears them apart, they find each other in dreams and wrestle with what it means to love, and what it means to let go. Beautifully written and stunningly illustrated, this difficult-yet-comforting book is for anyone who has ever been left behind after losing a loved one. –Chloe H.

Horror

Unnamed

Bones

by Lora Senf

available in July, paperback, Union Square & Co.

I can’t stop looking at this cover! The gorgeous layers of spooky illustrations had me hooked immediately. This tale of four teens fighting to survive on an island against a creature who might spell the end of the world had me making connections to Buffy and Stranger Things. Happy Summerween! –Kendra

Kids Open M ic

Last Mondays from 5-6pm

Ages 18 and Under

Village Books in Fairhaven invites kids 18 and under to share their own stories, poems and essays at our monthly Open Mic just for kids!

Reading in front of a supportive audience is an excellent way to build self-confidence, improve public speaking skills, and foster creative expression. By participating in low-pressure opportunities like the Village Books Open Mic, children can learn to articulate thoughts, overcome fears, and develop empathy in a fun, safe, engaging space.

Pre-registration to read is required and spaces are limited so please email host Seán Dwyer at sean@seandwyerauthor.com to secure a spot!

June 29 • July 27 • August 31 at Village Books in Fairhaven

Attention Educators!

Village Books and Paper Dreams appreciates the hardworking and inspiring people who are working with our community's young people on a daily basis. To support you in your endeavors, we have some new and ongoing special resources for educators:

• Get a discount when you buy local 10% discount to educators on books and supplies purchased for use in the classroom (with registration in our Reader Rewards Program and Teacher Discount Program). Bring your school ID and ask a bookseller to help you sign up.

• Create a wish list for your classroom or library on our website

Add as many books as you like and share the list with your families.

• Bring your class on a field trip to Village Books

Available for preschool through high school. Check out our new menu of field trip options by visiting villagebooks.com / scan the code below.

• Sign up for our quaretly Educators and Schools enewsletter

Keep up to date on all the latest happenings and offerings—never miss out!

• Book Talks

Educators and all lovers of children's literature are invited to join us for our regular staff book recommendation gatherings! This new tradition features VB booksellers sharing favorite releases in children's literature. These events are FREE to attend, treats are provided, and a good time is had by all. Note: these book talks are not intended for children.

Watch for the dates of upcoming Book Talks at villagbooks.com.

Find all of this and more, including author visits, annual teacher appreciation, and fundraising opportunities at villagebooks.com/community/educators-schools

Reading Recommendations For Teens By Teens

Y.A.R.C. (yark), n.

1. Young Adult Review Committee.

2. A select group of local teens and young adults reading and writing reviews of brand-spanking-new books. 3. Awesome.

Our YARC members have been busy reading and are excited to share the titles they've recently enjoyed. All of these titles are available now or for pre-order from Village Books. Find more reviews at villagebooks.com and on display in Fairhaven.

Her Hidden Fire

by Clíodhna

O'Sullivan

available now, hardcover, Viking Books

Her Hidden Fire exceeded my expectations for a YA romantasy. The writing style was different than I usually read and it perfectly fit the story. Éadha was strong and selfish and had human faults. It made her story intensely relatable. Clíodhna O’Sullivan did an amazing job at illustrating all the different facets that make us human through the different characters. I would highly recommend this series to any fantasy lover. –Sydney, age 16

The Beast You Let In

by Dana Mele

available now, paperback, Sourcebooks Fire

The Beast You Let In is such an amazing exploration of both queer youth and the supernatural! Telling such a realistic, if sad, story of LGBTQIA+ people and their hardships by making a compelling demonic possession story will always be an interesting idea for a novel! Ten-out-of-ten, I recommend this for anyone who likes anything previously mentioned! Dana Mele is truly a literary genius! –Milo, age 15

Tangled Roots & Wild Dreams

by Angela Velez available in June, hardcover, HarperCollins

This is a very emotional story is about figuring out your future, getting over loss, and learning people can change. Ezzie Ramos faces the challenges that come with figuring out your path in life. This book is great for people who love to connect to the characters. It is written beautifully, and portrays grief in a very realistic way. –Charlotte, age 16

Drop Dead Famous

by Jennifer Pearson

available now, paperback, Sarah Barley

Do you want a book that you can't put down? A book to get you out of a slump? A book to leave you wanting so much more? Then Drop Dead Famous is the perfect book for you! Full of intrigue, suspense and a plot that will keep you hooked, you won't be able to let go of this book! –Kiona, age 15

Holloway

by Elana K. Arnold available now, hardcover, HarperCollins I loved the writing style in this book. We can clearly see how our protagonist doesn’t interact with her world like everyone else and has strong feelings about everything around her; I loved seeing how she connects to her family. This book is what I'll think of when the phrase reading helps people be more empathetic and open minded comes up. This book also describes art so often and I think it is really nice detail. I recommend to those who want a change of scenery book to pick up, as this story will compel you. –Rose, age 17

Breakout

by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon available in June, hardcover, Quill Tree Books

Breakout was a book full of twists, turns and plot twists that kept me on my toes. I love how well-crafted the story was, and the writing really helped submerge me into the story. The book follows six teens with hidden pasts on a secluded island, and soon enough the bodies start piling up. Which leads up to ask, is it possible to outrun the worst thing you've ever done, or will it haunt you forever? –Kiona, age 15

The

Whatcom

Dispute Resolution Center’s

B u i l d e r

w

i O C T O B E R 2 , 2 0 2 6 5 : 0 0 - 8 : 3 0 P M

r d s

Honoring the individuals and organizations whose dedication to communitybuilding creates lasting, positive change across Whatcom County.

Y O U T H

P E A C E P O E T R Y C O N T E S T F E A T U R I

Presented by: Whatcom County youth share what peace means to them through poetry, lyrics, short stories and prose.

Non-Fiction

The Healers of Harlem : The Black Women Who Changed Medicine Forever

by Nina Chhita

available in August, hardcover, Dutton Books for Young Readers

Pre-order your copy today!

I'm in awe, simple as that. Nina Chhita's writing was absolutely captivating, her descriptions of the lives and stories of the workers of the Harlem Hospital creates vivid and lively pictures in your mind that keeps you turning pages till way too late in the night (oops!). She beautifully narrates and transcribes the life and struggles Black women faced while cementing their names in medical history. If you liked Hidden Figures you will definitely enjoy The Healers of Harlem. Personally, this book has easily made my top five this year and I think everyone, no matter the background can easily be inspired by reading this book. –Keladry, age 15

Stepping Up:

A Graphic Memoir by Kiara Valdez, illustrated by Diana Tsai Santos available in August, paperback, Harperalley

Graphic Memoir

Stepping Up was a great memoir about trying to fit in and finding your own people. I think this story can give others a reminder that you can find a place to thrive in a place that might not be made with you in mind. This graphic novel was fun, beautifully drawn, and had an easily understandable message that can resonate with a lot of people.

–Sydney, age 16

The Fight of Our Lives: AIDS in America

by David Levithan and Gabriel Duckels

available

now, hardcover, Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers

Y

A .R.C.

Reading Recommenations For Teens, By Teens!

Novel in Verse

An Expanse of Blue:

by Kauakanilehua Māhoe Adams available now, hardcover, Heartdrum I could talk about this book every day for the rest of my life and never get bored. An Expanse of Blue encapsulates everything it means to be a teenager, to be in love, angry, confused, scared, and everything in between. Adams does a phenomenal job of making you feel every emotion alongside Aouli. I hate to admit it, but it’s the first time a book has made me cry in quite a long time. Her storytelling is addicting, she proves time and time again that love always prevails, no matter if it be romantic or family. Not only that, but her story is tragically relatable, the life of a girl growing up with a dad who will never think she's good enough touches places of my heart no other book could. Even if free verse isn’t your style I would 1000% recommend you give it a try. Adam's writing and the life of Aouli Elizabeth Smith are the reminders we all need to grow our wings and fly. –Keladry, age 15

Enjoy additional reviews on our Y.A.R.C. web page at villagebooks. com and on display at Village Books in Fairhaven!

The Fight of Our Lives was a very informative read. It was different than reading about the AIDS crisis in a history book, there was great storytelling while also preserving the firsthand accounts of people impacted by this crisis. I appreciated the amount of sources, timelines and statistics to help give me a better understanding of this history. I think it’s very important that people read this book not only to comprehend our history, but to see how HIV and AIDS affected everyone. –Sydney, age 16

The Gemstone Collector by Alex Michael available soon, paperback

An engaging slow burn enemies to lovers Y.A. fantasy! In Pluiventez, magic hides in gemstones, and only 18-year-old Zephyr Tanisen can find them. Rescued from danger by Holdrent, a powerful Algemeric, she is drawn into a rare romance, epic battles, and awakening ancient magic. With war approaching, Zephyr must fight to survive and decide between love, loyalty, and herself. Join Village Books in welcoming this local author and lifelong storyteller as she discusses this debut novel Free to attend, save your seat by registering at villagebooks.com.

Receive

VB Email Updates

VB READS

Every week, Village Books sends out an email newsletter packed full of store and book information including our upcoming Literature Live events. Sign up for this newsletter and a diverse selection of other newsletters in the store or at villagebooks.com today!

Book Groups

Village Books hosts multiple book groups who read and discuss a variety of genres. Flip to page 78 to find a group that works for you! Watch villagebooks.com for meeting times and reading selections. All are welcome!

VB WRITES

Writing Groups

Village Books is excited to host a variety of writing groups —each with a unique focus. Turn to page 24 for a full list and meeting times then see villagebooks.com for descriptions. Be sure to sign up for our Just Write! eNewsletter, a monthly publication highlighting current classes, tips and tricks, writing book reviews and the like!

Writing Workshops & Classes

Village Books and WCC Community & Continuing Education program have created a writing instruction collaboration called Chuckanut Writers to support writers at all stages of their writing journey throughout the year. Turn to page 25 for upcoming classes and go to whatcom.edu for more information, prices, and to register.

Chuckanut Sandstone Writers Theater

Open Mic

Don't Miss Out! Chuckanut Writers Monthly OPEN MICS

For Chuckanut Writers Conference details see page 27 & ChuckanutWritersConference.com.

Chuckanut Sandstone Writers Theater (CSWT) Open Mic is now held at Village Books in Fairhaven on the third Tuesday of the month at 6pm. Our CSWT emcee is Carla Shafer, who founded Bellingham’s first continuous Open Mic in Bellingham in 1991. Pre-registration to read is encouraged—please email Carla Shafer at chuckanutsandstone@gmail.com to secure your spot!

June 16 • July 21 • August 18

This goup meets the Third Tuesdays of the month starting at 6pm.

Open Mic with Seán Dwyer

Last Mondays from 6-7pm

Village Books invites everyone to enjoy local talents as they share their own stories, poems and essays. Published and unpublished writers are encouraged to attend and enjoy a welcoming audience. Our regular emcee and celebrated local author, Seán Dwyer, is our monthy host! Pre-registration to read is required and spaces are limited so whether you plan to read in person or on Zoom, please email Seán at sean@ seandwyerauthor.com to secure your spot!

June 29 • July 27 • August 31

KIDS OPEN MIC with Seán Dwyer

Last Mondays from 5-6pm

Village Books in Fairhaven invites kids 18 and under to share their own stories, poems and essays. Our regular emcee and celebrated local author Seán Dwyer will host. Pre-registration to read is required and spaces are limited so please email Seán at sean@seandwyerauthor. com to secure a spot!

June 29 • July 27 • August 31

Chuckanut Sandstone Writers Theater

The Village Books Literary Events Program Literature LIVE! EVENTS

Additions and changes to this schedule will occur so check out VillageBooks.com

to stay updated – or even better, let us come to you! Register for the Village Books eNewsletter!

June

Saturday, June 6, 6pm

STEVE GIORDANO and LYNN ROSEN

2026

–Scenic Driving Washington : Including Mount Rainier National Park, Mount Baker, Moran State Park, and Deception Pass State Park Washington State boasts some of the most diverse and breathtaking scenery in the country. Join us in welcoming these local authors and travel experts as they share their new guidebook which highlights 25 carefully selected and diverse drives—just in time for summer!

Sunday, June 7, 6pm

TAMARA LEA SPIRA

–Queering Families: Reproductive Justice in Precarious Times

While elebrating the rich history of queer reproductive justice, Queering Studies is a call to lovingly wager a future for the world’s children, the planet, and all living beings against all odds, and in increasingly perilous times.

Monday, June 8, 6pm

LAURIE NILO-KLUG, M.A.

–Career B.L.I.S.S. : How to Transition from College to Career with Ease

Unless otherwise noted, events take place at Village Books in Fairhaven and include a book presentation/reading, plus a Q&A.

Registration to save your seat is required for most events. When a $5 fee applies, you will receive a voucher for that amount to use for purchases at the event!

Tickets may be available at the door. Details & registration at VILLAGEBOOKS.COM

Tuesday, June 9, 6pm

DANIEL POPE

–Go Help Yourself

Join us in welcoming Seattle author Daniel Pope to discuss his debut novel and to shine a new light on the self-help industry! Sharply funny and surprisingly tender, his new book asks the question: What if we’re not broken in all the ways the prophets of American self-help say we are? This book is for all the people self-improvement leaves behind.

Wednesday, June 10, 6pm

CHRIS SMALLS

–When the Revolution Comes: A Fight for the Future of the Working Class

Career B.L.I.S.S. is more than a career guide—it is a movement that challenges traditional career advice and centers individuals with marginalized identities. This book is grounded in the belief that readers already possess everything they need to succeed and teaches a clear five-step B.L.I.S.S. framework to help them articulate their strengths and build careers that honor who they are and the lives they want to lead.

The Village Books Literature Live Speaker Series could not exist without your support. Thanks for attending the readings and for purchasing the featured titles!

We are so excited to welcome co-founder and former president of the Amazon Labor Union Chris Smalls to discuss his groundbreaking accomplishments! When the Revolution Comes is the riveting inside story of how a young Black man from Hackensack, NJ with little-to-no resources led a scrappy band of Staten Island warehouse workers in an improbable fight against Amazon, the second largest private employer in the U.S., and won. A Fortune “40 Under 40” honoree, he was named one of the 100 most influential people of 2022 by Time magazine.

With Live Music!

Thursday, June 11, 6pm

GREG WRIGHT with Jeffrey Overstreet –Wonderstruck : Because the Universe Wants Us to be Amazed by What Comes Next

Join us for author Greg Wright as he discusses the mysteries of the universe! Everything that you read in these pages is 100% true, if much of it wildly improbable. The author has “lived his questions,” as Rilke once recommended to a young poet, and these essays are a record of his progress, without perhaps even noticing it, toward living into his own answers. Greg Wright has worn many hats as a writer and editor over the years. He is most widely known for his work on Tolkien, Peter Jackson, and The Lord of the Rings. Jeffrey Overstreet, a novelist, creative writing professor, and film critic.

Saturday, June 13, 3pm

STEVEN CRANDELL

–A is for Amy

Join us for local author Steven Crandell as he discusses his brand new picture book for grown ups, A is for Amy. A young widow and mother of three small kids unexpectedly finds love again. A quick read that is both funny and deep, A is for Amy looks like a kids book but reads like a romantic adventure for grownups. Parents can read it incognito while they “watch” the children.

Saturday, June 13, 6pm

GWEN C. DELP

–Diego is Here

We're excited to welcome local author Gwen C. Delp to discuss her fifth book, Diego is Here. In this novel, the characters are part of a complex family history that on the surface appears to be very ordinary. But as the layers are peeled back, the reader enters into the hearts and minds of the characters, including their secrets and their regrets. From a Norwegian grandma to the younger generation, you experience the heart aches and pleasures of everyday living. This is an easy read and will leave you thinking about the families you know and are a part of.

BOOK SIGNING

Sunday, June 14, 11am-1pm

Main Floor, Village Books in Fairhaven

SUE AIKENS

–North of Ordinary: How One Woman Left It All Behind for Wilderness and Wonder in Alaska's Frozen Frontier Sue Aikens is the star of the eight-time Emmy Award-winning National Geographic show Life Below Zero. In this new memoir, she shares her unforgettable story of abandonment, isolation, grit, and fierce independence—from navigating deadly storms to surviving a horrific—living in a remote outpost 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Stop by and meet this extraordinary woman!

BOOK SIGNING

Sunday, June 14, 12-1:30pm

Main Floor, Village Books in Fairhaven

MARY KNIGHT

–My Life Now: Essays by a Child Sex Trafficking Survivor

Come meet author Mary Knight as she signs copies of her unique survivor memoir on our main floor. Knight experienced various forms of child sex trafficking, sometimes in her own home. This memoir was the November 2025 selection for Bellingham Reads.

Sunday, June 14, 6pm

KEVIN FEDARKO

–A Walk in the Park

Join author Kevin Fedarko and celebrate the paperback release of his bestselling book, A Walk in the Park —a rollicking and poignant account of an epic 750-mile odyssey, on foot, through the heart of the Grand Canyon. Fedarko has spent the past 20 years writing about conservation, exploration, and the Grand Canyon. He has been a staff writer at Time, a senior editor at Outside, and is the author of The Emerald Mile and A Walk in the Park which won the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. Both books were also New York Times bestsellers and winners of a National Outdoor Book Award.

Literature LIVE!

Tuesday, June 16, 7pm

The Hotel Leo, Bellingham, WA

The Chuckanut Radio Hour featuring LAURIE FRANKEL

–Enormous Wings

Join us for another exciting live taping of The Chuckanut Radio Hou r —a local radio show featuring humor, literature, poetry, skits, and local music. Our June guest author will be New York Times bestselling author Laurie Frankel with her new book, Enormous Wings— an urgent novel about female agency and bodily autonomy, morality and mortality. It’s about what happens when you don’t get to choose anymore. Doors open and musice starts at 6:30pm.

Tickets $10 - available now.

Wednesday, June 17, 6pm

KAREN TREIGER

–Standing on the Crack : Legacy of Five Jewish Families from Seattle’s Vibrant Gilded Age

Join us as local author Karen Treiger tells the entertaining and educational story of her Jewish ancestors journey to the Pacific Northwest. Both Bellingham and Seattle developed into cities with their own character, but the early Jews who settled there have similar stories.

Saturday, June 20, 3pm

KAREN ODDEN

–An Artful Dodge and JUDITH STARKSTON

–Achilles’s Wife

Join us for a special joint event featuring two fantastic historical fiction authors! In An Artful Dodge, Karen Odden brings Victorian London to vivid life in this heist novel about an all-female thieving gang and one young woman’s heroic plan to escape a life of crime. She is also the USA Today bestselling author of Down a Dark River. In Judith Starkson's Achilles’s Wife, the goddess mother of Greek mythology’s most famous warrior, Achilles, will do anything to prevent her son’s fated early death. In a desperate move, she hides Achilles, against his will, on an island—disguised in a girl’s body.

Saturday, June 20, 6pm

KRISTINA BAK

–Dying to Help

Join local author Kristina Bak as she shares the adventures of 18-year-old Stevie, —a girl with healing powers— and a cast of unique characters in the final installment of the Stevie trilogy! Eariler installments include Nowever and Cold Mirage. Come show your support!

Village Books IN LYNDEN

Saturday, June 20, 6pm BRUCE SCHOLTEN

–Dairy Farming in the 21st Century: Global Ethics, Environment and Politics

How do we achieve food security for a global population now over 7 billion people and trending towards 10 billion by 2050? This study of the global dairy industry examines how to balance our needs with those of animals and the environment. Read more on page 35.

Monday, June 22, 6pm DAVE HUNTER

–Mason Bee Revolution: How the Hardest Working Bee Can Save the World One Backyard at a Time, 2nd Edition

Mason Bee Revolution is more than a guide to pollination—it’s a call to action for protecting our food systems, ecosystems, and future. A comprehensive update of the bestselling original, this new edition features expanded instruction, fresh insights, and vibrant full-color photography throughout. With over 35 years of experience through his company, Crown Bees, author Dave Hunter introduces readers to the remarkable world of mason and leaf bees—native pollinators capable of visiting up to 2,000 flowers a day, compared to just 15 by honeybees.

Tuesday, June 23, 6pm

ORGYEN CHOWANG RINPOCHE

–The Tibetan Book of Success: A Guide to Relationships, Leadership, Communication, and Happiness

Dive into ancient Tibetan wisdom with Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche and unlock your path to success and happiness! Drawn from a long tradition of secular Tibetan teachings on how to live a good life, The Tibetan Book of Success presents four newly translated texts from renowned Tibetan masters, offering clear and succinct guidance for creating happiness, success, harmonious relationships, and strong communities. Orgyen Chowang is a meditation master in the Dzogchen lineage and founder of Pristine Mind Foundation. Known for his accessible and experiential approach, he offers practical methods for living with greater clarity, awareness, and purpose. He is also the author of Our Pristine Mind and From Foundation to Summit.

Wednesday, June 24, 6pm HILLARY BEHRMAN with Maria Mcleod –Lake Effect

Join us for PNW author Hillary Behrman as she reads from and discusses her award-winning short story collection! From Seattle to Istanbul, Lake Effect takes you to unmapped mountain ridges, wild urban places, and the outskirts of a desert outpost—exploring the many ways we love, labor, and isolate ourselves from one another. Maria McLeod’s award-winning poetry and prose have been published by literary journals in the U.S., England, Germany, India, and Scotland. She works as a journalism professor for Western Washington University.

Unless otherwise noted, events include a presentation and take place in the Readings Gallery of Village Books in Fairhaven

Literature LIVE!

Chuckanut Writers Conference 2026

Thursday, June 25 - Saturday, June 27

Whether you’re just starting your writing journey or are an experienced author, the Chuckanut Writers Conference offers a welcoming space for every voice. See chuckanutwritersconference.com for details.

Thursday, June 25, 6pm

RIVERHORSE NAKADATE

with Jason Rolfe

–Water Lines: A Life on Marshes, Rivers, Seas and in the Rain

A luminous, deeply felt collection of essays from Riverhorse Nakadate—angler, musician, conservationist, and lifelong nomad—whose devotion to wild places and the healing power of water pulses through every page. For readers of Edward Abbey, Barry Lopez, Mary Oliver, and Jim Harrison, this book is a soulful invitation to step off the grid and into the current! He is the recipient of the first-ever Texas BHA Leadership in Public Land and Water Conservation Award. Jason Rolfe is the editor of Bellingham-based The Flyfish Journal, as well as the co-host of the Journal’s podcast, Sidechannels.

Thursday, June 25, 7pm

The Hotel Leo Crystal Ballroom Chuckanut Writers Conference

FACULTY READING #1

Join us for the first of two 2026 Chuckanut Writer's Conference Faculty Readings! Open to both the public and Conference attendees, this first night will feature A.Muia, José Orduña, Emily Nemens, Sonora Jha, Peter Mountford, Kelli Russell Agodon, Scott Lambridis, Maya Jewell Zeller, and Sasha LaPointe. With live music by Louis Ledford. WOW!! Tickets $10 available now.

Friday, June 26, 7pm

The Hotel Leo Crystal Ballroom

Chuckanut Writers Conference

FACULTY READING #2 AND

Presentation of the 2026 Village Books LITERARY CITIZENSHIP AWARDS

Join us for a special and celebratory night of literature! Open to both the public and Chuckanut Writer's Conference attendees, this second evening of faculty readings will feature Brenda Miller, Lucy Tan, Derek Sheffield, Sati Mookherjee, Glen Hirshberg, and Anastacia-Reneé.

Included in this special night will be the presentation of the 2026 Village Books Literary Citizenship Awards to Laura Kalpakian, Shannon P. Laws, and Molly McNulty. Tickets $10 available now. See pages 9-10 for details and villagebooks.com to register.

Keep turning for more events

Friday, June 26, 5:30pm

BROOKS KOLB

–Landscape in Lavender

Join author Brooks Kolb for his moving memoir on coming out, love, loss, and identity amid the 1970's sexual revolution and AIDS crisis. In this heartfelt memoir—set in Seattle, Philadelphia, and San Francisco against the backdrop of the 1970s sexual revolution and the devastating AIDS pandemic—Brooks Kolb becomes a landscape architect, crosses racial barriers to win love, loses that love, and searches for a place to call home. Please note the 5:30pm start time.

Saturday, June 27, 4pm

JANICE CUMMINGS

O’MAHONY

–Raise Your Hand

If You Hear My Voice

Raise Your Hand If You Hear My Voice is for who had the joy of poetry crushed out of them in earlier life. They will often say, ashamed, "I just don't GET poetry." They will get this. Startlingly honest, unafraid to reveal foibles, fierce in witnessing others' lives, this book is deceptively simple in honoring our human journey. O'Mahony devoted her professional career to progressive social policy and advocacy for the marginalized. She was recently elected a Trustee for Humanities Washington.

A Free Kids Event!

Sunday, June 28, 2pm

ELAINE MILLER BOND

–BFFs! Black-Footed Ferrets

Join us for author and wildlife photographer, Elaine Miller Bond, and learn about a very cool but endangered mammal, Black-Footed Ferrets! Read along and enjoy rare photographs of black-footed ferrets prowling, peeking out of prairie dog holes, cuddling with their families, and even dancing! These adorable little bandits just might become your new BFFs. Light refreshments will be available!

Thank you for your continued support of Village Books and our Literature Live Events. We couldn't do it without you!

Sunday, June 28, 6pm

Literature LIVE!

NANCY Y. LEVINE AND RACHEL LEVINE-SPATES

–Light : A Mother and Daughter Memoir of Anorexia

Light begins with the joy of a young woman running on a sun-drenched Australian beach, but ends in a story of obsession, family history and stigma, and life-threatening anorexia. Once called the “sickest of the sick,” Rachel fights to recover. Narrated by her mother Nancy and with excerpts and journal entries from Rachel, this dual POV memoir explores how the deadly inner voice of an eating disorder is heard and finally silenced. Blending tough scenes with humorous ones, this book celebrates hope and lasting recovery.

Tuesday, June 30, 6pm

NICOLE BURDICK –The Money Maven Manual

Empower yourself and learn how to make smart and confident financial decisions with Nicole Burdick's The Money Maven Manual ! You’re smart and capable, yet money still feels hard. That’s because finances aren’t just numbers. They’re shaped by emotions, mindset, and your money story. Nicole is on a mission to make money simple and approachable. Her book The Money Maven Manual is a no-shame, practical guide to understanding money, building confidence, and making financial decisions that support the life you want. Don't miss out!

In Fairhaven Tuesdays, 11am In Lynden - Saturdays, 11am Weekly Storytimes &

Looking for a Fun Summer Activity?

Try Solving Our History Mystery

Puzzle Hunts!

It's always fun to try new things and we offer an experience we think you'll enjoy—escape room style challenges that you solve throughout our stores. There are unique challenges at both our Fairhaven and Lynden locations. Free to play—just ask a bookseller to get you started.

Once you've solved both in-store challenges, you're eligible to try your hand at a third challenge—one that takes you around the county! Completed entries are added to a drawing for fun prizes.

Note: the in-store challenges take an average of 45-60 minutes to solve and, while kids can absolutley join in, the puzzles have a level of difficulty intended for ages 14+.

July

Wednesday, July 1, 6pm

NAEEM MURR

–Every Exit Brings You Home

Join Naeem Murr for his newest book, Every Exit Brings You Home, a blend of gentle comedy and poignant tragedy, and one man’s indomitable dedication to the well-being of others! In this multidimensional masterpiece, the conflicts, joys, griefs, passions and hopes of diverse immigrant homeowners in a Chicago condominium come to represent the wounded world we all must share. Murr is the author of four novels: The Boy, a New York Times Notable Book; The Genius of the Sea; The Perfect Man , which was awarded The Commonwealth Writers-Prize for the Best Book of Europe and South Asia and was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. He lives in Chicago and teaches at Northwestern University.

Thursday, July 2, 6pm Poetry

TED MCMAHON –Visitations

JED MYERS –Can’t Be Far

T. CLEAR –Egg Money

Sunday, July 5, 6pm

MARY JACOBS

–She Takes the Helm: Lessons in Grit from Alaska's Fishing Grounds

“Our wake neatly unzipped a blue silk gown behind us.” So begins Mary Jacobs’s dream of fishing for a living on the ocean. From deckhand to experienced skipper of the first all-woman crew seining out of Kodiak, her memoir is a fantastic read. A true sea adventure story. You won’t want to put it down!

Tuesday, July 7, 6pm

KEN WILCOX

–Boots on Fire:

Mountain Adventures of a Restless Duffer

Join us for a special evening of poetry as we welcome three accomplished Seattle poets! In Visitations, Ted McMahon invites us on a poetic journey grounded in Buddhist thought and incorporating the dream-work and mythic archetypes of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell. In Can’t Be Far, Jed Myers invites the reader/listener on an upriver search for one’s own deep and durable courage. In Egg Money, T. Clear traces the small, stubborn acts that keep a life—and a world—going. Join us!

Saturday, July 4

Fairhaven: 9am-6pm • Lynden: 10am-5pm

Sunday, July 5

Fairhaven: 10am-8pm • Lynden: 10am-5pm

*In-store only. Some exceptions apply.

Unless otherwise noted, events take place at Village Books in Fairhaven 1200 11th St., Bellingham, WA 98225

Join us for local guidebook author and mountaineer, Ken Wilcox, as he sums up five decades and thousands of miles of adventuring across the wildlands of North America in his new book, Boots on Fire: Mountain Adventures of a Restless Duffer. Now in its 7th edition, Hiking Whactom County has been a Bellingham staple and Village Books bestseller since the mid-1980s. Don't miss out!

Horror!

Thursday, July 9, 6pm

STEPHANIE ROSE

–Hiding Lies

Calling all horror and slasher fans! Join Stephanie Rose for a reading from her gripping new novel about the hunt for a serial killer, plus a live Q&A where readers and aspiring writers can ask questions about the story, the writing process, and breaking into indie horror publishing! In addition to Hiding Lies, she is the author of Small Town Slasher, Roadkill Revolution Tour, and serves as editor of the Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night anthology series.

Want a signed edition of the book but can’t make it to the event? Order over the phone or through villagebooks.com and write your request for a signature or personalization in the comments field at checkout.

Please call the store if you’re placing your order within 24 hours of the event.

A Free YA Event!

Friday, July 10, 6pm

ALEX MICHAEL with Brittany Micka-Foos

–The Gemstone Collector

Literature LIVE!

Note: Additions and Changes to This Schedule WILL Occur

Join local author Alex Michael as she discusses her debut YA fantasy featuring magical gemstones, epic battles, and romance! In Pluiventez, magic hides in gemstones, and only eighteen-year-old Zephyr Tanisen can find them. Rescued from danger by Holdrent, a powerful Algemeric, she is drawn into a rare romance, epic battles, and awakening ancient magic. With war approaching, Zephyr must fight to survive and decide between love, loyalty, and herself. Alex Michael is a lifelong storyteller and author of twelve novels. Brittany Micka-Foos is the author of the 2024 chapbook A Litany of Words as Fragile as Window Glass.

PRIDE IN BELLINGHAM

July 10-12

A Weekend of Pride Celebrations

See pg. 12 for a schedule and details. Village Books is a PROUD sponsor of the 2026 Pride IN Bellingham Celebrations -All Ages!

Saturday, July 11, 4pm

IRIS FISHER SMITH

–Never Alone

Join Iris Fisher Smith for her heartfelt memoir Never Alone! A Remarkable Journey of Hope, Healin g, and spiritual resilience. Raised in a vibrant immigrant household and shaped by the love of her grandmothers, Smith faced adversity with grit—and discovered divine strength in the process. Through near-death experiences, cultural upheaval, and seasons of grief, she found what we all long for: the comfort of knowing we are never truly alone.

Sunday, July 12, 6pm

JILL VANNEMAN

–The Perfection Campaign: A Daughter’s Search for Acceptance

Join us for Jill Vanneman's candid coming-of-age memoir of identity, acceptance, and healing during a more conservative 1980's America! Born with a cleft lip into an upper-middle-class, conservative family obsessed with image and success, Jill Vanneman was subjected early to a “perfection campaign” aimed at erasing flaws. Told with unflinching honesty, moments of wit, and emotional depth, this coming-of-age story unfolds against the backdrop of 1980s America—a time and place where being a lesbian could cost you your job, your family, and your sense of self.

BOOK LAUNCH

Tuesday, July 14, 4pm

PHOEBE WAHL

–Story Rug

We're excited to celebrate the launch of the adorable new picture book Story Rug, illustrated by Bellingham's own Phoebe Wahl! In this story, solo play turns into communal collaboration. Join us as this best-selling author & artist shares the story then stay for a themed activity! Free to attend—save your seat at villagebooks.com.

so watch our website—or let us come to you. Register for the Village Books weekly eNewsletter!

Summer Nature of Writing Speaker Series

Thursday, July 16, 6pm

JASON DOVE MARK

–The Earth Said Remember Me: How to Revive Our Memories and Restore the Planet

In this positive and inspiring manifesto, environmental activist and longtime editor-in-chief of Sierra magazine Jason Dove Mark outlines four simple but powerful rules that everyone can use to resist environmental amnesia: Go outside. Bear witness. Make a record. Pass it on. Village Books, The North Cascades Institute, and Children of the Setting Sun are proud co-sponsors of this event!

Saturday, July 18, 11am-4pm

Annual Fairhaven Chicken Festival

You don't want to miss this family-friendly festival of everything chicken! Head to the Fairhaven Village Green for activities, music, contests, shopping, and more.

A Summer Nature of Writing Speaker Series Event

Saturday, July 18, 6pm

Location TBD

KILIII YÜYAN

–Guardians of Life: Indigenous Knowledge, Indigenous Science, and Restoring the Planet

Called a visually dazzling and deeply informative collection that will linger with readers long after the last page, Guardians of Life takes readers on an extraordinary visual odyssey—from the Amazon rainforest to Greenland's sea ice—revealing Indigenous communities as Earth's most powerful protectors. Co-sponsors: North Cascades Institute and Children of the Setting Sun.

Sunday, July 19, 6pm

EVAN MORGAN WILLIAMS with Maria McLeod

–The Divide

Join us for author Evan Morgan Williams as he discusses his new book, The Divide, in conversation with local author Maria McLeod! The Divide is a collection of realistic fictions set in the Mountain West. The title is a double entendre, referring to the Continental Divide as well as the divide that often challenges our relationships. The stories concern characters making the difficult choices of life; the stakes are high for the characters and therefore for the readers as well; we read onward to find out how the characters will choose.

KIDS!

Tuesday, July 21, 11am KIDS! STORY TIME with DINGER

Dinger from the Bellingham Bells —our favorite BellingHAMSTER— will join us for a very special story time. You'll enjoy themed stories, songs, movement, and good times. This is a great photo op and a lot of fun—don't miss out. Free to attend!

Wednesday, July 22, 6pm

LAUREL SAVILLE

–How to Live with a Dog: Stories and Solutions for Humans with Dog Problems and Dogs with Human Problems

Calling all dog lovers! Join author and dog behavior consultant Laurel Saville as she discusses her new book about the special connection between dogs and humans! In How to Live with a Dog, Laurel Savillle takes readers deep into the science, psychology, and emotional heart of the dog/human connection. Saville’s intimate, empathetic, and pragmatic essays will warm and wrench your heart as she explores how our dog relationships go wrong and how to make them right.

Friday, July 24, 6pm

DAVE SCOBORIA –Voices of my Fathers: A Five-Hundred-Year Journey

Every person has a story to tell. When we die, our stories linger briefly in the memories of our children and grandchildren. But clues are left behind, breadcrumbs on the trail of our lives. Some of them can be found. There are no kings or villains in these stories. Only tales of my fathers.

Book Launch & Panel Discussion

Saturday, July 25, 4pm SCOTT LAMBRIDIS & FRIENDS

Discussion: The Serious Business of Being Silly—How Absurdity Makes the Unbearable Readable –St. Ulphia’s Dead

August Literature LIVE!

Saturday, August 1, 6pm

MARY LEIGH CAMPBELL –Artyquotes

Join artist Mary Leigh Campbell as she shares her stunning collection of original illustrations, poetry, prose, and musings. This book is like a wandering pathway of hidden discoveries enduring a balancing act between woman-artist hood and motherhood. It is a selection of 90 reproductions of hand-pulled original illustrations by Mary Leigh Campbell along with her enlightenment in written text about art life and home life.

Sunday, August 2, 2pm

MARIJKE MCCANDLESS Workshop!

–Naked in the Now: Juicy Practices for Getting Present Naked in the Now: Juicy Practices for Getting Present offers readers a tender and practical invitation to presence. With wit, honesty, and warmth, Marijke McCandless shares mindfulness practices that are easy, memorable, and transformative—perfect for both newcomers and seasoned seekers ready to deepen their connection to life! Seating is limited—register today!

Kids Story & Activity!

Saturday, August 8, 3pm

LUCIANA NAVARRO POWELL –Squirrel Draws Big Feelings

Free to Attend

Join us for a lively, craft-minded panel discussion about how humor and absurdity illuminates our darkest themes. To celebrate the launch of his debut novel, Scott Lambridis joins fellow Bellingham writers DAVID BEAUMIER, BRITTANY MICKA-FOOS, and others from the online literary journal HamLit, in conversation. Together they’ll explore why laughter and lightness belong beside grief and gravity, share brief readings, and invite audience questions. Part craft talk, part celebration of local storytelling, this event promises an evening that’s both thought-provoking and entertaining.

Friday, July 31, 2pm FIND WALDO LOCAL CELEBRATION PARTIES in Fairhaven AND Lynden

BOTH STORES!

Stop by either store for games, treats, and prize drawing! Come in your red stripes and glasses and be ready to have some fun!

Join us for the amazing artist and illustrator Luciana Navarro Powell as she discusses her new book and leads kids on a fun chalk activity outside! When Squirrel, Porcupine, and Bear are feeling overwhelmed with big feelings, they turn to chalk art to get unstuck, learning that friendship and sharing are coping skills too. FREE to attend! Save your seat at villagebooks.com.

Friday, August 14, 6pm ROBERT BURNS –Rebels in the Wild: The Equality Colony and the Taming of American Capitalism

This is the true story of the rise and fall of an 1890s experiment in socialism—the Equality Colony, built from scratch by a band of dreamers in an evergreen forest near what is now Edison, WA. During his 45-year reporting career for the Associated Press, author Robert Burns covered some of the biggest stories of our time. He covered Wall Street, the White House, the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon, European affairs, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. For ten years he served as president of the Pentagon Press Association.

Unless otherwise noted, events take place in the Readings Gallery of Village Books in Fairhaven

BOOK GROUPS

VB Reads...

Motherhood by the Book

Join in on an hour of spirited discussion of books that celebrate the trials, tribulations, and rewards of motherhood. By no means exclusive to moms with kids still at home, this group meets on the second Sunday of the month at 2pm in the Writer's Corner on the mezzanine level of Village Books in Fairhaven.

• June 14 –My Life Now by Mary Knight Author attending! Meet in the Readings Gallery.

Village Books both hosts and co-sponsors a variety of lively book groups and YOU are invited to join in! All are welcome.

Find additional information under the Readers Corner tab at villagebooks.com. Book groups are free to attendno registration required.

Activists & Democracy Lovers

• July 12 –Feeding Ghosts by Tessa Hulls

• August 9 –Thunder Song by Sasha LaPointe

Participants receive 15% off all book group reading selections. Just mention the group when paying!

Armchair Historians

Let's chat, discuss, and dissect the most current and interesting history being written. We meet in the Readings Gallery at Village Books in Fairhaven the third Monday of the month at 6pm.

• June 15 –Ways and Means : Lincoln and His Cabinet and the Financing of the Civil War by Roger Lowenstein

• July 20 – Mao: The Unknown Story by Jung Chang

• August 17 – Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky

Join us at 4pm on the third Thursday of each month in the Fairhaven VB Readings Gallery. A book club and then some, we read books and explore other multimedia sources that not only help us understand our world, but inspire and show us how to make it better.

• June 18 –Civil Resistance: What Everyone Needs to Know by Erica Chenoweth

• July 16 –Offshore: Stealth Wealth and the New Colonialism by Brooke Harrington

• August 26 –Your Brain on Art by Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen

Reads...

Book Chat

Join Sittrea in the Readings Gallery on second Wednesdays of the month at 1pm for a lively early afternoon book chat. All welcome.

• June 10 –Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

• July 8 –James by Percival Everett

• August 12 – Indeliable by Laurie Buchanan

VB Reads...

• June 17, 7pm at Village Books in Lynden

See page 37 for more reading selections! 3rd Wednesdays

–The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende

Book groups registered with Village Books receive a 15% discount on their monthly reads. To register your book group with us, email bookgroups@villagebooks.com!

Watch villagebooks.com for details, updates, additional new groups, and how to join in!

Saturday, August 15, 2pm

CALIAL MCCARTY

–Naturally Divergent

Welcome Bellingham local and Autism Specialist Calial McCarty to the Readings Gallery for her insightful guide to understanding the neurodiverse! Naturally Divergent provides a compassionate, neuro-affirming framework to differing neuro-types navigate a neurotypical-centric society. Based on McCarty's work as an AuDHD therapist, this book offers practical insights and personal stories on communication, self-acceptance, and living authentically.

Early September

Tuesday, September 1, 6pm

JULIE SALMON KELLEHER

–The Sea-Glass Shore

Experience Bellingham in an alternate reality as local author and WWU Instructor, Julie Salmon Kelleher, debuts her new book, The Sea-Glass Shore ! When Jack, folklorist, meets half-seal Rona, she puts aside her sealskin to live as his human wife. Jack knows all selkie stories end the same: the seal returns to the sea. But could understanding a troubled family past be enough to change it?

A Fall Nature of Writing Speaker Series Event presented in partnership with North Cascades Institute

Thursday, September 3, 6pm

LYANDA LYNN HAUPT

–Among the Birds: Field Notes From Cascadia

Join us for a lyrical and observant exploration of Pacific Northwest birds with New York Times -bestselling author, Lyanda Lynn Haupt, in this Fall Nature of Writing installment! Among the Birds is an enchanting celebration of the Pacific Northwest's birds, brought to life by New York Times -bestselling author and naturalist Lyanda Lynn Haupt. Readers join Haupt on a wandering journey through the region's avian world, drifting intuitively among species, much like you encounter birds on a neighborhood amble, forest trail, or windy shoreline. Note: Lyanda will be a guest author on the 2026 Books A' Sail—bookgroup at sea. See pg 41.

Saturday, September 5, 3pm

SHOSHANA D. KEREWSKY

–The Codex of Christian Surname

Enter a world of knowledge and adventure in this alternate Middle Ages tale with award-winning author Shoshana Kerewsky! In an alternate late Middle Ages, an intriguing stranger arrives in 13-yearold Havah's village in the Iverian mountains. Havah's life will change, but is the visitor who she seems? Sometimes dressed as male and in other guises, Havah traverses the region, explores the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, and learns more about her own Xudish culture and those of Cristianismo, Islama, and Budism. See villagebooks.com for MANY MORE UPCOMING

Literature LIVE!

Nature of Writing Speaker Series

Sunday, September 6, 6pm

MIRIAM HORN

–Homesick for a World

Unknown: The Life of George B. Schaller

Join us as author Miriam Horn joins us to discuss the fascinating life of field biologist George B. Schaller. In this riveting portrait of George B. Schaller. Miriam Horn captures the seventy years he spent living among wild animals in the world’s remotest regions, forever altering how we see—and save—the natural world.

Wednesday, September 9, 6pm

KATHLEEN SCHWAB

–Queenswood

Fans of romantasy and the world of fae—look no further! Join Kathleen Schwab as she presents her lush, lyrical historical fantasy debut that transports readers to 12th-century Ireland.

Thursday, September 10, 6pm

STACY CARLSON

–The Gyre

Author Stacy Carlson will share her new award-winning novel—an atmospheric journey into the far northern wilds, The Gyre spins one man’s search for meaning into an astonishing saga where adventure, folklore, and the Arctic converge.

Mark Your Calendars

A Nature of Writing Event!

Sunday, October 11, 6pm

MARINA RICHIE with Lyanda Lynn Haupt –Feathered Forest

Tuesday, October 13, 6pm WDRC Youth Peace Poetry Contest Reading

Saturday, October 17, 11am-1pm Book Signing with MARY LOU SANELLI –An Island Called Bainbridge

Thursday, October 15

JODI PICOULT

Details TBA - save the date! –Hollow Bones

Thursday, October 22, 7pm

CHUCKANUT RADIO HOUR

Location TBA with PAM HOUSTON –Animals Taught Me Everything