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Staff Picks September 2020
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The Color of Law : a forgotten history of how our government segregated America by Richard RothsteinArgues that laws and policies created by local, state, and federal government deliberately promoted segregation in metropolitan areas during the twentieth century, creating long-lasting consequences. An invaluable examination that shows we must relearn history to pave the way for remedying the past.
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Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa AnapparaIn an award-winning debut based on true events, a 9-year-old reality-television enthusiast in India uses crime-show approaches to investigate the disappearance of a classmate, before additional abductions shatter life in his sprawling city home. This mystery is moving, flawlessly imagined, and a triumph of suspense.
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Highfireby Eoin ColferBurned out by the days of yore and passing his time in the Louisiana bayou watching Flashdance, a vodka-drinking dragon endures unexpected misadventures when he crosses paths with a 15-year-old troublemaker on the run. A hilarious and high-octane adult novel by the author of the Artemis Fowl series. This is an effortlessly clever and relentlessly funny action filled genre-bending fantasy.
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Hollow Kingdomby Kira Jane BuxtonSensing something is wrong with his owner, a domesticated crow abandons the only life he ever knew to discover that humans are turning into zombies and uses knowledge gleaned from his TV-viewing to save them. Accompanied by his faithful and stupid dog companion, he sets off to find out why things have changed and how to bring back all the things he loves. This irreverent adventure has a ton of wonderful and weird characters, a lot of action, and even a little social commentary.
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The Black Flamingo by Dean AttaA fierce coming-of-age teen novel in verse about identity and the liberating power of drag follows the experiences of a mixed-race teen in London who struggles to connect with his heritage before coming out and establishing his place in Drag Society. Told with raw honesty, insight, and lyricism, this debut is a bold story about the power of embracing your uniqueness and letting ourselves shine. Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo, Jason Reynolds, and Kacen Callender.
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Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie WrobelEnduring decades of serious illness as a victim of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy before exposing her mother’s behavior, Rose Gold invites her unrepentant mother back into her life to secretly settle the score. The ending of this debut novel had my jaw on the floor! A great read for fans of Emma Cline's The Girls, Hulu's The Act and twisty domestic thrillers in general. Readers who loved the surprises of Gone Girl but enjoy the dynamics of a mother daughter relationship will speed through this one.
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Homie : Poems by Danez SmithRooted in the loss of a close friend, this book comes out of the search for joy and intimacy within a nation where both can seem scarce. In poems of rare power and generosity, Smith acknowledges that in a country overrun by violence, xenophobia, and disparity, it can be hard to survive, even harder to remember reasons for living. But then the phone lights up, or a shout comes up to the window, and family - blood and chosen - arrives with just the right food and some redemption. A magnificent anthem about the saving grace of friendship.
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The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. JamesA young woman takes a night-clerk job at the same roadside motel from where her aunt went missing decades earlier. What follows is a dual story as Viv in 1982 and Carly in 2017 try to find out who is killing local girls. An engrossing supernatural thriller that horror fans will want to check out. Not my usual genre...but I couldn't put it down! By the award-winning author of The Broken Girls.
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The Golden Thread : how fabric changed history by Kassia St. ClairA design journalist describes the 30,000-year history of fabric, exploring the technologies and cultural customs that helped shape human civilization. Ranging from the invention of silk to characters such as Richard the Lionhearted and Bing Crosby it offers an alternative guide to our past, present and future.
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Wonder Woman, Warbringer : the graphic novel by Louise SimonsonDiana risks exile from her land of warrior sisters to save Alia Keralis, a Warbringer - a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy - as both face an army of enemies determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. Based on the bestselling novel, this teen graphic novel brings to life Diana's first adventure beyond the hidden shores of Themyscira. Will Diana's brave act doom the world?
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Magic for Liars by Sarah GaileyA private investigator and talented liar embarks on a search for a killer at a California private academy for mages where her estranged, magically gifted twin hides in plain sight. This book is solid gold and was so real I felt I could walk right into it. The heart of the novel is Ivy and Tabitha's terrible and complex sisterhood. They're both heavily flawed, realistically drawn characters. The story is an unusual blend of mystery and fantasy with incredible world-building and would be a great read-alike for fans of Lev Grossman's The Magicians.
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