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Historical Fiction January 2026 |
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| Huguette by Cara BlackHuguette, a teenager ill-treated by her father and others, survives the Nazi occupation of France during World War II. In the lawless aftermath, she assists a famous film director and deals in underground goods for him. Fans of the author's acclaimed Aimée Leduc mysteries set in contemporary Paris will appreciate meeting Aimée's grandfather, a kind cop who helps Huguette, in this compelling standalone tale. Read-alike: Pam Jenoff's Last Twilight in Paris. |
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| Helm by Sarah HallThe Helm, a ferocious, mischievous wind in Northwest England, occasionally makes its way down the highest mountain in the Pennines. Narrated by a personified Helm, this intriguing, inventive novel covers the wind's beginnings when the world was new and on through time via the stories of various humans, including Neolithic tribe members, a medieval mathematician, early balloonists, a Victorian child, meteorologists, Royal Air Force pilots, and more. For fans of: Irene Solà's When I Sing, Mountains Dance. |
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| The Land in Winter by Andrew MillerAs one of the coldest winters in English history bears down in late 1962, two neighboring couples with London connections navigate rural life and the upcoming births of their firstborns. Neither marriage is what it used to be, but Irene, who's married to the local doctor, and Rita, a former dancer turned farmer's wife, connect with each other over their pregnancies in this quiet, interior novel that gathers momentum as a blizzard hits. Try this next: Jessica Anthony's The Most. |
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| Beasts of the Sea by Iida TurpeinenPart of Captain Bering's Great Northern Expedition in 1741, naturalist Georg Steller notices an animal that's never been documented. But the starving men kill the gentle sea cows for food, which leads to their extinction in just 27 years. Later, a Steller's sea cow skeleton is found, studied, and moved to a museum in the 1950s in this "masterful debut" (Booklist) that fuses science and literature. Read-alike: Ethan Rutherford's North Sun, or The Voyage of the Whaleship Esther. |
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Books You May Have Missed
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| Strangers in Time by David BaldacciNavigating life in London as World War II rages, Ignatius Oliver (a widowed bookseller with secrets), Charlie Matters (an orphaned 14-year-old who steals for food), and Molly Wakefield (a well-to-do 15-year-old whose parents are missing), create a safe haven with each other even as bombs fall. Read-alike: The Lilac People by Milo Todd; The Keeper of Lost Art by Laura Morelli. |
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| Junie by Erin Crosby EckstineEnslaved 16-year-old Junie loves poetry and her family. As maid to Violet, the only child of Alabama plantation owners, Junie knows that if Violet marries the wealthy man her father has brought home, they'll both end up in faraway New Orleans. Distraught, Junie asks her dead sister Minnie for help, unleashing her ghost. In this moving debut, the author "evokes the earthly and supernatural to equally powerful effect" (Publishers Weekly). For fans of: Jesmyn Ward's Let Us Descend. |
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| Red Clay by Charles B. FancherIn 1943 Alabama, an 80-something white woman visits a Black household who've just lost their grandfather, Felix Parker. Felix was once enslaved by the visiting woman's family, and surprising information surfaces due to her visit in this thought-provoking tale that flows back to the Civil War and Reconstruction. Based on the author's ancestors, this sweeping debut doesn't shy away from violence and complex topics. Try this next: The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers. |
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| Before Dorothy by Hazel GaynorEmily Gale and her new husband Henry move to Kansas to start a farm, leaving Emily's dear sister Annie and her newborn Dorothy behind in the city. Just a few years later, in 1932, Annie dies and the couple adopt Dorothy. But the youngster isn't the only big change in the couple's world -- drought and devastating dust storms threaten everything. For other Oz retellings, try: After Oz by Gordon McAlpine; Toto by A.J. Hackwith, or Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts. |
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| Last Stop Union Station by Sarah JamesWork is drying up for middle-aged Hollywood star Jackie Love, who has a reputation for being difficult. Out of options in 1942, she joins the Hollywood Victory Caravan, a cross-country train trip raising money for the war effort. But a suspicious death causes a pause in Chicago, where Jackie teams up with Officer Grace Sullivan to prove it's a case of murder, leading them to danger and homegrown Nazis. Try this next: The Starlets by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne. |
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| Anima Rising by Christopher MooreIn 1911 Vienna, celebrated artist Gustav Klimt saves a woman from drowning in the Danube, but she has no memory of her past. That is, until Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung help out and the woman recalls, among other things, being in the Arctic over 100 years earlier with Victor Frankenstein. For fans of: offbeat novels that mix real characters and fictional ones into irreverent and compelling plots. |
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Readerpalooza: A Book Fair For Adults and Teens
Saturday, January 31,
1:00pm
Northwest
Do you feel nostalgic about the book fair experience of your youth? Need a book recommendation to complete your Winter Reading Bingo? Then Readerpalooza is for you! This extravaganza for adult readers will feature book displays, swag and giveaways, bookish crafts, author spotlights, and more. Fill your TBR ("to be read") list and indulge in the joy of being surrounded by people who understand that "just one more chapter" is always a lie. This event is come-and-go and designed for adults and teens to celebrate their reading era!
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Our Oklahoma History: The Story of Walnut Grove
Sunday, February 1,
2:00pm
Bethany
During the Our Oklahoma History series, historians will share fascinating and lesser-known tales from Oklahoma's rich history. Join us, you won't want to miss it!
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Build Your Financial Foundation: A 6-Week Workshop Series: Spanish
Monday, February 2,
3:00pm
Warr Acres
Take control of your financial future with this practical and engaging 6-part series! Each one-hour session explores a key topic in personal finance-- from building wealth and understanding interest to managing debt and navigating taxes. Whether you are just starting out or looking to strengthen your financial know-how, this workshop will give you the tools and confidence to make informed money decisions. Join us and start building a solid foundation for lasting financial success! This workshop will be taught in Spanish.
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Before Greensboro: Why the 1958 Katz Sit-In Matters Nationally With Dr. Karlos K. Hill
Saturday, February 21,
2:00pm
Downtown
Join us for a powerful discussion as Dr. Karlos K. Hill tells the story of the transformative sit-in movement in Oklahoma City through the words and reflections of the 13 original sit-inners. This presentation will serve not only as a historical exploration but as an homage to those courageous individuals and to the creation of the Clara Luper Sit-in Plaza that recognizes their legacy. Dr. Karlos K. Hill is Regents’ Professor of African and African American Studies at the University of Oklahoma. He is the author of three books: Beyond The Rope: The Impact of Lynching on Black Culture and Memory, The Murder of Emmett Till: A Graphic History, and The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre: A Photographic History. There will be a book signing immediately following the event. Second Story Books will be on hand and will have copies of Dr. Hill's books available for sale. Street parking is free downtown on the weekends. Alternatively, there are several nearby garages that charge by the hour.
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Consumer Reports
Access the latest reviews and ratings of cars, appliances, electronics, home and garden equipment, products for babies and kids and more from Consumer Reports. You can also access Cars Best Deals Plus which gives you the information you need to select the right car and negotiate the best price for it.
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JobNow
JobNow features job and career resources such as chatting with a live job coaching expert, resume and cover letter templates, interview tips, expert resume review, and more.
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988 Mental Health Lifeline
The 988 Lifeline provides free and confidential support 24/7 for people in distress. It has suicide prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
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ChiltonLibrary
ChiltonLibrary provides access to repair, maintenance and service information on the most popular cars, trucks, vans and SUVs on the road today, as well as, many new vehicles. This continuously updated resource provides step-by-step repair procedures, troubleshooting guides, diagnostic trouble codes, photos, illustrations, diagrams, and multimedia (videos and animations) to simplify even the most complicated tasks.
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Poetry & Short Story Reference Center
This database provides a historically rich collection of full-text classic and contemporary poems, as well as short stories, biographies and authoritative essays on poetic forms, movements, techniques and more; includes contemporary content from the finest publishers.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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