featured book
Wayward Girls is a powerful, life-affirming novel inspired by true events, exploring survival, friendship, and justice. Set in Buffalo, New York during the turbulent Vietnam era, the story follows six teenage girls who are confined to the Good Shepherd, a Catholic reform school run by the Sisters of Charity. Their “offenses” are simply being gay, pregnant, or deemed unruly — yet they are condemned to forced labor in the institution’s laundry.
 
Among them is Mairin, the free-spirited daughter of Irish immigrants, whose confinement is meant to protect her from her abusive stepfather. Within the walls of Good Shepherd, the girls form bonds of resilience and solidarity, navigating cruelty and secrecy while clinging to hope.
 
Susan Wiggs weaves a gut-wrenching yet redemptive narrative that shines a light on hidden histories of women, institutional injustice, and the strength found in friendship. With mystery, suspense, and emotional depth, Wayward Girls stands as both a gripping page-turner and a testament to courage and redemption.
 
 Recommended by Karen Scott, Branch Coordinator
 
 
 
The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking about by Mel Robbins
The Let Them Theory
by Mel Robbins

If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated with where you are, the problem isn't you. The problem is the power you give to other people. Two simple words -- Let Them -- will set you free. Free from the opinions, drama, and judgments of others. Free from the exhausting cycle of trying to manage everything and everyone around you. The Let Them Theory puts the power to create a life you love back in your hands -- and this book will show you exactly how to do it. 
A Truce That Is Not Peace by Miriam Toews
A Truce That Is Not Peace
by Miriam Toews

Miriam Toews’ memoir is a bold exploration of the will to write, blending humor, defiance, and memory into a deeply crafted narrative. Set against a society overflowing with content, it reflects on the power of storytelling as resistance and survival. Celebrated as revelatory and essential, the book has been hailed as a masterpiece and a must-read companion for turbulent times.
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt
The Anxious Generation
by Jonathan Haidt

Jonathan Haidt’s latest book, The Anxious Generation, argues that smartphones, social media, and overprotective parenting have “rewired” childhood, fueling a surge in anxiety and depression among young people. He traces how the decline of unsupervised play and outdoor independence has been replaced by digital immersion, leading to loneliness, emotional dysregulation, and developmental harm. Haidt calls for a cultural shift back to real-world interaction and play as essential remedies for this mental health crisis.
Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by John Grisham
Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions
by John Grisham

Framed recounts ten gripping true stories of innocent men wrongfully convicted and forced to spend decades in prison while the real perpetrators remained free. Co-written with Centurion Ministries founder Jim McCloskey, the book exposes systemic flaws such as racism, misconduct, and unreliable testimony that make overturning convictions nearly impossible. With suspenseful storytelling, it highlights the resilience of those fighting for exoneration and the urgent need for reform in the U.S. justice system.
Open When: A Companion for Life's Twists and Turns by Julie Smith
Open When: A Companion for Life's Twists and Turns
by Julie Smith

Open When is a practical handbook designed to help readers manage mental health challenges in the very moments they arise. Building on her bestselling Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, she offers research-backed strategies for coping with vulnerability, difficult emotions, and healing from past trauma while staying present. With compassionate guidance, the book empowers readers to harness their inner voice, navigate uncertainty, and care for their future selves with resilience and grace.
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This: National Book Award by Omar El Akkad
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This
by Omar El Akkad

Omar El Akkad’s One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This expands on his viral 2023 tweet, reflecting on the moral fractures exposed by the bombardment of Gaza. The book examines how Black, brown, and Indigenous Americans—as well as younger generations—have grappled with disillusionment in Western ideals that often fail to match their professed values. With searing clarity, El Akkad explores the tension between public conscience and political accountability in times of crisis.
For the Love of a Son: A Memoir of Addiction, Loss, and Hope by Scott Oake
For the Love of a Son: A Memoir of Addiction, Loss, and Hope
by Scott Oake

#1 National Bestseller From Hockey Night in Canada's Scott Oake's memoir For the Love of a Son is a deeply personal memoir about his son’s struggle with opioid addiction and the devastating loss that followed. Through raw honesty, Oake recounts the heartbreak of watching Bruce’s life unravel and the grief of his accidental overdose at just twenty-five. Transforming tragedy into purpose, Oake and his family founded the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre, offering hope and healing to others battling addiction.
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism
by Sarah Wynn-Williams

An insider account charting one woman's career at the heart of one of the most influential companies on the planet, Careless People gives you a front-row seat to Facebook, the decisions that have shaped world events in recent decades, and the people who made them.
The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke
The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom
by Shari Franke

From eldest daughter Shari Franke, the shocking true story behind the viral 8 Passengers family vlog and the hidden abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother, and how, in the face of unimaginable pain, she found freedom and healing.
The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond by Marissa Meyer
The Happy Writer: Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond
by Marissa Meyer

Marissa Meyer’s The Happy Writer is a practical and uplifting guide to finding more joy in the writing process. Drawing from her bestselling career and popular podcast, she shares strategies to spark ideas, boost productivity, and reduce stress from draft to publication. With warmth and encouragement, Meyer empowers writers to reconnect with creativity and sustain happiness throughout their writing journey.