Henri Haltiwanger, also called Halti, seems to have it all. He’s one of the most popular students at the prestigious FATE school in New York, is a trusted dog walker for his wealthy neighbors, and can charm just about anyone. Anyone that is, except for his classmate Corrine Troy. When Corrine discovers that Henri’s dog walking business isn’t exactly what his customers think it is she blackmails him into helping her revamp her image at school. As the two spend more time together a friendship, and maybe something else, quickly develops. This light, but heartfelt, romance is sure to charm many readers.

Experience the joy, pain, beauty, and wonder in life through this collection of poetry by renowned performance poet Sophia Thakur. In four parts Thakur brilliantly describes the process of finding yourself, who you are, and who you want to be. This critically acclaimed book is perfect for devoted poetry fans, fans of coming of age stories, and reluctant readers.

In the far distant future humans and androids live together on the crowded streets of New Beijing. A plague has ravaged the earth and the Lunar people of space are watching the devastation and waiting to make their move. The fate of the Earth rests on one girl, Cinder, who feels both the hatred of her by her step-mother and sisters, and the prejudice she faces as an android in a human’s world. Can she find the strength to save herself and everyone else? The first book in The Lunar Chronicles is a retelling of the classic fairytale Cinderella and will have readers on the edge of their seats. Perfect for fans of fairytales, strong female leads, and science-fiction adventure.

I love this 2020 picture book title. This beautifully illustrated book describes what children are. A child is a non-stop ball of energy. A child is a force of nature. A child is also a tight hug. Every child is worthy of success. Many of the pictures depict African American boys. Find a child you are proud of and read this book together. Share this book with a child who needs to hear that he or she is worthy to be loved. Read this book to yourself. Read it again and again.

This title available in print and as a ebook.

If you want to be inspired to start releasing creative work, this book is -- and isn’t -- for you. It’s inspiring, sure, but one of the key messages in the book is “Don’t wait for inspiration.” Instead, Godin says that you should develop a practice of creating, then trust that the practice is worth doing. Inspiration isn’t something to wait for. It’s the people who continue their practice without waiting for inspiration that ultimately are inspired. Famous authors, sculptors, architects, and other artists are often the ones who sit down and create. People who sit and try to figure out the perfect next move are just fooling themselves, hiding behind their fear of failure, and never get anything of consequence shipped.

“Show us your hour spent on the practice and we’ll show you your creative path. You already know what to do to be creative. And you already know how to do it. You’ve done it before, at least once. At least once you’ve said or done something insightful, generous, and original. At least once you’ve solved a problem or given someone a hand by shining a light. The practice simply asks you to do it more than once, to do it often enough that it becomes your practice.”

Early in the book, Godin describes art as being an “act of doing something that might not work, something generous, something that will make a difference. The emotional act of doing personal, self-directed work to make a change that we can be proud of.” For most of the remainder of the book, he walks through each bit of this definition, showing how each facet results in high quality creative work that is worth doing. When a thing is worth doing, he says, the outcome isn’t the important part. The practice is.

A reluctant king, a shut-in queen, a mad monk, and a rebellion on the rise. The fall of the Russian empire is famously shrouded in myth and mystery. How did Czar Nicholas manage to lose the trust and adoration of the Russian people? Was the monk Rasputin really a holy man or a con-artist trying to steal the crown? Did Princess Annastasia survive the massacre that killed the rest of the royal family? Through thorough research and thoughtful writing Candace Fleming answers all these questions and more. Using diary entries and letters from the last rulers of the Russian Empire the author brings to life the people behind the stories. Perfect for history buffs and fans of royal intrigue.

Through poems, prose, interviews, and art the women in this collection share their stories of what it’s like to be an indigenous woman in today’s world. From outsiders antiquated pictures of Native Americans, to just plain racism, these women shed light on their experiences and the experiences of their peers. A fantastic book for anyone wanting to learn more about Indigenous American experiences today.

The absorbing story of a widowed woman from a marriage mixed in both race and religion. Streeter addresses with honest experience and humor the topics of mixed marriage, death and funerals, as well as the continuation of adoption proceedings after the unexpected death of her husband. Streeter struggled to honor her husband's beliefs and wishes while also keeping her own beliefs and identity as she planned his funeral. She tells of her struggles as she dealt with her husband's death trying to move on with her life while working through issues of avoidance, overeating and drinking and depression. These issues are approached in an honest, heartbreaking and sometimes humorous way. Her struggles with disappointment, loss of faith and making difficult life altering choices are a few of the issues she faced. Included in her story is learning how to tell her two year old son about his father's death. This touching, often humorous and heartfelt story deals honestly with the difficult topics of racism, grief, friendship and family bonds.

Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park

In the news today, there is much information about racial discrimination. I wonder about my own biases in everyday life. The main character in Prairie Lotus is Hanna, a fourteen year old girl who is travelling by wagon with her father across Dakota Territory in the spring of 1880. Hanna experiences racism firsthand in their newly adopted town of LaForge. She tries to avoid “trouble” with the white settlers, but prejudice finds her regardless. I enjoyed reading about Hanna and her family; their struggles and their triumphs. I was amazed at all the tasks Hanna is responsible for in 1880 at age fourteen. Had I lived then, would I have been successful in those tasks when I was fourteen?

The hardcover book, Prairie Lotus, can be found among the new chapter books in the Youth Services Department.

At this time VCPL does not own an eBook or audio copy of this title.

Atlas of the National Parks focuses in-depth on 33 National Parks based on criteria derived from the spirit of the 1918 directive to “seek out scenery or features so extraordinary as to be of national importance, ‘exemplifying the highest accomplishment of stream erosion… the oldest rock forms… and the luxuriance of deciduous forests.’” Within the pages about these 33 parks, the reader will discover the historical reasons for the formations of these parks, both ecological and human-created, as well as some of the current day issues the parks face. Near the end, 28 other parks each get a single page briefly highlighting their creation.

Not a travel guide, this book is more for those who seek to appreciate the formation, creation, and beauty of the National Parks. Filled with wonderful images and maps, a history lover or a lover of National Parks in general, will surely enjoy this oversized book.

What is it like to move from a big city to a small rural town? Ben Hardy is going to find out in My Life as a Potato by Arianne Costner when his family moves from Los Angeles, California to South Fork, Idaho. Ben doesn’t even like potatoes but he now finds himself in the “Potato Capital of the World”! What will it be like trying to make new friends and fit in in the middle of seventh grade? How does Ben end up as the school’s mascot, Steve the Spud, and why doesn’t he want anyone to know? Read this Youth Services chapter book to find out.
Available in hardcover, eBook or AudioBook

Dannie has every step of her life planned. She is in the career she loves. She is living with the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Everything in her life is going as planned, until she has a dream of her life in five years in an apartment she's never seen and with a man she has never met. Dannie's best friend Bella is nothing like her, wild and carefree she lives for the moment and never follows a plan. Bella lives life to the fullest. This is a unique love story, not at all the traditional romance and its twists and turns will keep you reading to the very end to find out what will happen in five years with Dannie and Bella.

Reader's who enjoy reading exciting Christian Fiction such as the Left Behind series will enjoy this novel on the topic of end times. Uniquely written with the prophetic Bible passages noted at the end of each chapter the author tells the story of several people who experience the disappearance of people close to them as well as millions around the world. The disappearances trigger civil unrest and rioting throughout the world, governmental changes and wars. This intriguing story leaves you wanting more. Print and ebook versions available.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live through a disaster? Ranger is a golden retriever with some search and rescue training but more importantly, he can travel back in time! In this juvenile chapter book, Ranger finds himself inside the Twin Towers just as a plane crashes into the building. Will Ranger be able to help fifth-graders Risha and Max reach safety? At the end of her novel author, Kate Messner includes facts about the events that took place on September 11, 2001. Where were you on 9/11/2001? Were you in school? Maybe you were not born yet. If you enjoy this story, there are several others in the Ranger in Time series.
This title is available as a print book. Lexile level: 570L

Love Bridget Jones Diaries? Meet Laurie Watkinson, 36, a up and coming lawyer in the British law firm, Salter and Rowson. She loves her career and believes her 18 year relationship with fellow lawyer, Dan Price, to be solid and is rocked when he abruptly ends things. Enter Jamie Carter, another lawyer in their firm, who needs Laurie’s help to move up in firm. Can they fake a relationship to save her from office humiliation while advancing Jamie’s career? Author Mhairi McFarlane provides readers with likable characters and contemporary issues in this fast paced read.

This title is available in print, ebook and eaudiobook from VCPL.

When a massive solar flare causes a worldwide blackout, an Amish community in rural Pennsylvania is not immediately affected. Their lives, purposefully simple, do not involve a lot of computers or other modern technological conveniences, so the disruption of electronics don’t change their day to day activities. But when the English – their name for those outside the Amish circles – have their lives shattered by this catastrophe, this quiet community can’t stay separate for long.

When the English Fall is told from the perspective of a man named Jacob, in the form of journal entries, written from before this world-shattering event until a few months after. It details the struggles of this peace-loving man, as his desire to keep his family safe contrasts with his deeply-held belief that he needs to help the hurting and act with love to all mankind.

The roving bands of survivalists, so common in other post-apocalyptic stories, are present here too, violently raiding Jacob and his neighbors’ farms for supplies. National Guard forces requisition the food that the community had been saving for the winter, to be used to feed those in nearby cities. English friends arrive, trying to find refuge from the crowded urban sprawl.

At its heart, while this narrative has a post-apocalyptic setting, it is a story about the human condition – about the value of human life, and about the struggle to keep one’s convictions and ideals in the midst of tragic circumstances.

For those who miss sports, live for March Madness, and always root for the underdog: this book is for you.

The author, a Duke University alum, isn't as much of a homer for them as one would expect. He often skewers the one-and-done schools, most predictably, University of Kentucky. His focus for The Back Roads to March is the mid-majors, most of it along the East Coast and New England. The tie that binds is the lead-up to the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Within that framework, the reader will relive some epic moments that remind us why college basketball's mid-majors deserve respect: George Mason's run to the Final Four and UMBC's win for the ages.

With good research and humor, Feinstein showcases the aspects of college basketball we don't often see, unless we've lived it.

Bryan Stevenson weaves numerous tales of injustice around the thread of his own coming of age as a lawyer and the case of Walter McMillian. Stevenson was a young lawyer when he first founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice that assists those, like McMillian, who find themselves accused of a crime, lacking funds and proper legal counsel.

The audacity in the actions of the officials trusted to ensure safety is both mesmerizing and horrifying. That these occurrences have happened within this reader’s lifetime, and not in some remote time stolen from a history book is even more alarming. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the topics of equality, justice, or the death penalty.

Anna has agoraphobia. She hasn’t left her house in ten months. Anything she needs, she has delivered: medications, wine, food, a therapist. She helps others with agoraphobia via an online forum and plays chess via a different forum. Stuck in her house, she spends ample time watching her neighbors. When a few new neighbors start coming by, she finds herself surprised, but also enjoying their company. Then one night, she witnesses something happen to one of those new neighbors – swears she saw it – but what did she really see?

This title is also available in ebook and eaudiobook formats.

"He had come so far, but what struck me then and for many years afterward was how little I had done for him. I don’t mean this in the way of false modesty. I mean that it frightens me that so little was required for him to develop intellectually – a quiet room, a pile of books, and some adult guidance. And yet these things were rarely supplied."

Reading with Patrick is one teacher’s journey into the Delta, a poor, rural community, and the impact she hopes to make, the guilt she feels when leaving, and the pull she feels back to her previous students. Focusing on what becomes a friendship between herself and a former student, this non-fiction selection is a commentary on the social injustices and inequality found among US schools.

This title is available as both a print book and an audiobook on Overdrive: https://idm.overdrive.com/media/2830214

Wyatt has no idea what’s in store for him when he travels to Washington DC with his class. Typical kid hijinks as well as more unrealistic shenanigans ensue when Wyatt’s best friend immediately makes enemies with some suspicious characters on the airplane. A contemporary fiction selection that may have your younger ones asking, “Did that really happen?”

Dave Barry’s humorous style is one that the whole family will enjoy. This title is a perfect audiobook for a road trip.

This YA fiction title is a twisted tale of a small child who murdered a baby. Allegedly. When the reader meets this child, she’s now a teen, stuck in a group home. Her mom visits, just like clockwork, every other Sunday at the exact same time after church. Life is fairly predictable; the chaos and violence of the group home is expected. And then an unexpected surprise causes Mary to finally search for her voice and fight for a different future.

A little dark, Allegedly is a fast-paced read. The reader slowly learns what happened the night Alyssa died: through Mary’s memories, interview transcripts, and newspaper clippings. Both teens and adults are sure to be enthralled by this suspenseful murder mystery.

This title is available in print and electronic formats.

Rahi, an only child, reveals to his parents the truth of his sexual orientation and is met with silence and is subsequently cut off from his family. After an unexpected phone call, Pival is informed by her husband that Rahi is dead, a sudden death. She never quite believes him, but has no evidence to the contrary.

Pival’s appeal draws in the reader from the very beginning. She is at once independent and helpless; isolated in a place crowded with her husband’s relatives. The story arc follows the widow’s travels, from India to America, as she enlists the help of a tour guide company to travel the country that took her son.

While not narrated directly by the individuals themselves, each chapter is viewed from the perspective of a specific person. The text is well written and the characters are likable, but realistic. The story has a colorful cast of secondary characters, some of whom are charming, even as they are trying too hard. “[B]ut when you are being in Rome, as it were, you pay Roman fees” warned the tour company owner about the custom of tipping in America.

This title is also available as an eaudiobook on hoopla here: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/12126524

The “Marsh Girl,” as she is commonly known, is the subject of rumor and gossip in the small town of Barkley Cove in North Carolina. Other times they call her marsh trash. Abandoned since age 10, Kya’s ingenuity helps her survive. However, the rumors and gossip become even worse as she occasionally dreams of what it would be like to join "polite" society. Will she ever escape her isolation?

Set in the 1950s and 60s, this first novel by Delia Owens will draw the reader in from the very beginning. It is an intriguing mix of romance and murder mystery, although a little "fluffy," but otherwise enjoyable.