Avon Lake Public Library: Spirituality and Religion: January 2026

Recent Releases

Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi's Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging
by Angela Buchdahl

Born to a Korean Buddhist mother and Jewish father, Angela Buchdahl shares her remarkable journey from outsider to one of America’s most influential rabbis. Both memoir and spiritual guide, this inspiring account explores identity, resilience, and the power of faith to create belonging in a fractured world.

There Is No Other: The Way to Harmony and Wholeness
by Ram Dass; edited by Parvati Markus

Drawn from Ram Dass’s final teachings, this guide urges readers to move beyond division and rediscover unity. Through reflections, meditations, and wisdom from leading voices, it offers hope and practical steps for living with compassion and wholeness, serving as a timely resource for those craving connection.

Not That Wheel, Jesus! Stories From a Faith That Went Off-Road in the Best (and Worst)...
by Mary Katherine Backstrom

A heartfelt and hilarious memoir of spiritual upheaval, this book chronicles Mary Katherine Backstrom’s journey from certainty to doubt -- and back again. With wit and vulnerability, she explores how one child’s question unraveled her faith and led to a deeper, more grace-filled understanding of belief.

Guided: The Secret Path to an Illuminated Life
by Laura Lynne Jackson

A celebrated psychic medium shares stories of connection and intuition, offering practical tools for tuning in to life’s unseen currents. Warm and reassuring, this account blends personal experience with spiritual insight, making it perfect for readers curious about signs, synchronicity, and the possibility of guidance beyond the physical world.

Give Me a Word: The Promise of an Ancient Practice to Guide Your Year
by Christine Valters Paintner

Rooted in the ancient monastic tradition, this contemplative book invites readers to choose a sacred word as a spiritual companion for the year ahead. Blending reflection, creativity, and gentle prompts, it’s a soulful resource for those yearning for mindfulness and meaning in daily life.

The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage
by Richard Rohr

Drawing on a century of Biblical scholarship and written in the warm, pastoral voice that has endeared millions to Rohr, The Tears of Things breathes new life into ancient wisdom and paves a path of enlightenment for anyone seeking a wholehearted way of living in a hurting world.--

Read into the NEW YEAR at ALPL