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Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie GarberLarissa says: Once Upon a Broken Heart tells a story about a girl who is a hopeless romantic and deeply in love until her heart is ultimately in pieces. Going to her last resort to mend her broken heart, she prays to a fallen angel. She strikes a bargain with this angel but soon realizes his end of the bargain is much more dangerous than she expected. This story has a fairytale-like feel to it and Garber does an amazing job of making you have conflicted feelings and wanting to know more about every single character as well as making you excited to turn to the next page. This story greatly captures how far a person will go to secure a happily ever after for themselves.
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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by Victoria SchwabEmily A says: 300 years ago, a desperate Addie made a deal with the devil for freedom and immortality. As with all Faustian bargains, there was a catch. She is forgotten by everyone who has, or will ever, meet her. Addie spends her eternity working to put her mark on a world that can not remember her. That is, until she runs into Henry, a bookstore owner who remembers her name. This book is beautifully written and expertly explores many common fears we all have regarding our time on Earth.
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First Comes Likeby Alisha RaiCarrie says: Jia Ahmed is an internet influencer who is too busy for a relationship, until actor Dev Dixit DMs her. Or does he? It's quickly apparent that she's being catfished, but the couple turns an awful situation into one that works for them. The author is very good at writing awkward situations that are convincing. I believed the character's anguish, and I felt it right along with them. A fun romantic comedy that's a quick read from a master in the genre, First Comes Like is a book I'll read again.
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The Barbizon: The Hotel That Set Women Free
by Paulina Bren
Emily F says: An interesting history of the Barbizon hotel, a women-only apartment in Manhattan built in the 1920s. The author explains the origins of such a hotel, why it was revolutionary at the time and how it changed living options for women. The stories of famous residents (Grace Kelly, Sylvia Plath, etc.) are explored alongside the more ordinary ladies who were finding their way out of the traditional domestic sphere and into the workplace. Seen as a safe space (no men allowed in the apartments), the Barbizon gave women a chance to live on their own and build a community with the other residents. It's a good read for those interested in women's history and also a great reminder of how much has changed for women in the 100 years since the Barbizon was built.
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Boy From Buchenwald: The True Story of a Holocaust Survivor
by Robert Waisman
Beth says: In this memoir for teens (which would be of interest to adults, too), Robert Waisman shares his story of surviving the Buchenwald concentration camp during WWII. While he focuses mostly on what happened to him in the immediate years after the camp was liberated when he was 14 years old, he flashes back to his time in the camp and to life with his family before he was separated from them. While there are many books about Holocaust survivors, his story of adjusting to life as an orphan living after the war was a unique perspective. It was also interesting to note that one of his companions at Buchenwald was the now-famous author Eli Wiesel.
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Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from Past and Present by Adrienne KeeneEmylie says: A really informative and fantastic read. Keene highlights a lot of modern Native activists, especially those from Hawai'i and Alaska. She sums up each person precisely and highlights their stories and it's just really fascinating. Native people have come a long way in reclaiming their culture, etc and there's still a lot to do. Everyone should read this book.
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Ready Player Two
by Ernest Cline
Emily F says: Reading "Ready Player Two" is like reading "Ready Player One" but as a speed run of an old "classic" video game mentioned exhaustively throughout the books. There's no enjoying the craftsmanship or the wonder of new technology, it's just about getting to the end. It's hard to tell whether Ernest Cline is actively trying to make Wade unlikable or if he (unfortunately) is just writing him naturally. Once again, Wade is on a quest to find pieces to a puzzle left by eccentric (and extremely problematic) James Halliday. With his friends, they regurgitate their 80s pop culture references (along with some general "nerd" stuff like J.R.R. Tolkien) in order to complete the game. - The beginning and ending of the book hold real promise; the questions posed about the consequences of virtual reality and AI are interesting but he abandons them. Instead, the middle of the book is a slog; if my husband hadn't recommended staying the course until the end, I probably would have given up.
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The Land of Stories: A Treasury of Classic Fairy Tales
by Chris Colfer
Mary Kate says: This treasury is a companion to Colfer's series The Land of Stories and is filled with adaptions of classic fairy tales and mother goose rhymes from which his books pulls from. This treasury is beautifully illustrated and the stories are short enough to make perfect bed time stories. Readers of all ages will love Colfer's spin on the classic tales- no need to have read his original series!
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Want more recommendations? Request a Personalized Reading List! We'll send you a list of books tailored to your interests. Fill out a form here. |
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Itasca Community Library 500 W. Irving Park Rd. Itasca, Illinois 60143 630-773-1699itascalibrary.org |
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