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The Old Place by Bobby FingerA bighearted and moving debut about a wry retired schoolteacher whose decade-old secret threatens to come to light and send shockwaves through her small Texas town--
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John of Johnby Douglas StuartOut of money and with little to show for his art school education, John-Calum Macleod takes the ferry back home to the island of Harris to find that little has changed except for him. In the windswept croft where he grew up, Cal begrudgingly resumes his old life, stuck between the two poles of his childhood: his father John, a sheep farmer, tweed weaver, and pillar of their local Presbyterian church, and his maternal grandmother Ella, a profanity-loving Glaswegian who has kept a faltering peace with her son-in-law for several decades
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Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca ThorneAll Reyna and Kianthe want is to open a bookshop that serves tea. Worn wooden floors, plants on every table, firelight drifting between the rafters--all complemented by love and good company. Thing is, Reyna works as one of the Queen's private guards, and Kianthe is the most powerful mage in existence. Leaving their lives isn't so easy. But after an assassin takes Reyna hostage, she decides she's thoroughly done risking her life for a self-centered queen. Meanwhile, Kianthe has been waiting for a chance to flee responsibility--all the better that her girlfriend is on board. Together, they settle in Tawney, a town nestled in the icy tundra near dragon country, and open the shop of their dreams. What follows is a cozy tale of mishaps, mysteries, and a murderous queen throwing the realm's biggest temper tantrum. In a story brimming with hurt/comfort and quiet fireside conversations, these two women will discover just what they mean to each other--and the world--
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Waiting on a Friend by Natalie AdlerNew York City, East Village, 1984. A young woman with the power to see the ghosts of her friends is haunted by the one who refuses to return--a dazzling, big-hearted debut of friendship and community during a time of devastation and defiance.
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What's the T?: The Guide to All Things Trans And/Or Nonbinary by Juno DawsonIn What's the T? Stonewall ambassador and bestselling author Juno Dawson is back again, this time with everything you've wanted to know about labels and identities and offering uncensored advice on coming out, sex, and relationships with her trademark humor and lightness of touch. It is informative, helpful, optimistic, and funny but with a good dose of reality and some of the things that can downright suck too.
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Bad Queer by Gayathiri Kamalakanthan I feel invincible. Like I could run and run and never stop for breath. I feel a power in me I didn't know I had. The power to speak, to say what I need. Surya knows exactly who they are. Coming out as non-binary to their queer parents and best friend? A total non-event. Catching feelings for Blessing - the boy in drama club whose smile makes their heart race? That's trickier. As their final year of school unfolds and the two of them grow closer, Surya starts to question: Does Blessing really see them? Or just a version of them that doesn't exist? They'd ask their best friend for advice, but she's busy falling in love too. .
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Ramin Abbas Has Major Questions by Ahmad SaberWhile grappling with his identity as a gay Muslim, senior Ramin joins the soccer team in his final semester to meet his graduation requirements.
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Meet Me at the Picket Line by Jasper SanchezA swoon worthy romance wrapped in courage, solidarity, and queer happiness -Unionizing his job wasn't on Eli Goldstein's summer bucket list--but neither was falling for his irritatingly self-righteous and handsome school rival. Sparks fly on the picket line in this hilarious, coming-of-age rom-com.
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Children's Summer Reading
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The Witching Hour by Jennifer HarrisIn the witching hour between dinner and bedtime, anything can happen: laughter, tears, fun screaming, not-fun screaming. Parents, siblings, pets, and neighbors are all familiar with this dreaded time of day. What happens when that cranky baby is part of a family of witches? Turns out, it's pretty much the same, except sometimes the toys levitate and the soothing songs sound a little different--
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So Devin Wore a Skirt by Shireen LaljiDevin's family are all dressed up for Nanabapa's Big Birthday, and everyone looks fabulous! But Devin doesn't have anything special to wear. Then, he spots one of his sister's skirts lying on her bed - it's the deepest blue, and it shimmers in the light. So, Devin puts the skirt on. . . and it feels amazing! But what will everyone say? Devin hides the skirt under a disguise to finally enjoy the party and dance the night away. But all this dancing makes Devin VERY hot! So, he takes off his disguise and reveals the skirt. All eyes are on him -but in steps Nanabapa. He takes Devin's hand, twirls him round in his beautiful skirt . . . and the party continues in full swing! --
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Under One Rainbow by Chris Ayala-KronosThis picture book celebrates Pride Month with a joyful parade of diverse LGBTQIA+ communities, emphasizing unity, resilience, and self-expression under one rainbow sky--even when faced with rain.
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The Gathering Table by Antwan EadyA Southern family gathers in their backyard around a special table to celebrate important moments throughout the year, from anniversaries to new births, as they share food, traditions, and love.--
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The Apartment House on Poppy Hillby Nina LacourNine-year-old Ella considers herself the official greeter, tour guide, and is generally in charge of 1106 Wildflower Place, but the elusive Robinsons who live on the top floor are a mystery--one which Ella is determined to solve, and bring the elderly couple into the community of the apartment building on Poppy Hill--
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Moonflower by Kacen CallenderMoon is convinced that they do not belong to this world: that most of the time they are invisible (unless they stay still too long), that they belong to the stars, and want to go back to them--they live entirely in their imagination with an imaginary spirit guide who can appear in any shape and refuses to speak to anyone, lest their words tie them to a world they reject.
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The Real Riley Mayesby Rachel ElliottFifth grade is just not Riley's vibe. Everyone else is squaded up--except Riley. Her best friend moved away. All she wants to do is draw, and her grades show it. One thing that makes her happy is her favorite comedian, Joy Powers. Riley loves to watch her old shows and has memorized her best jokes. So when the class is assigned to write letters to people they admire, of course Riley's picking Joy Powers! Things start to look up when a classmate, Cate, offers to help Riley with the letter, and a new kid, Aaron, actually seems to get her weird sense of humor. But when mean girl Whitney spreads a rumor about her, things begin to click into place for Riley. Her curiosity about Aaron's two dads and her celebrity crush on Joy Powers suddenly make more sense--
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You Only Live Once, David Bravo by Mark OshiroAfter eleven-year-old David Bravo wishes for a do-over of a disastrous day of middle school, he and a shapeshifting spirit guide try to right a wrong in his past--
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