Blog Post
Staff Picks: Cozy Baking
by emjane
Sometimes we just need a little treat to get through the last lap of winter. Please let this be the last lap! Luckily, cookbooks have you covered! Bake yourself that little treat and warm up your kitchen in the process! During our last arctic stretch, I checked out four cookbooks that I’ve never read before and challenged myself to bake one recipe out of each of them using ingredients I already had in my pantry. After all, it was so cold, I didn’t want to take that extra trip to the store. Here are the results!
Baking with Julia: Savor the Joys of Baking with America’s Best by Dorie Greenspan | Request Now
Julia Child and Dorie Greenspan are two heavy hitters in the kitchen world! This cookbook is the oldest that I checked out—published in 1996 as a companion to Child’s PBS series, but there’s a reason it’s stayed on our shelves. Its wide-ranging recipes from breads to cakes and pastries cover a lot of ground, all while walking you through the process, not assuming you have a depth of baking experience and knowledge. Though the cookbook lacks some of our modern design sensibilities—a handful of color photo inserts, but mostly text on the page—you need not worry that you won’t be able to see what you’re getting! If you’re a visual learner, the recipes follow episodes of the PBS show, which can be watched online through your local PBS station. You can also find a handful of episodes from AADL either on DVD or through streaming!
I made the Gingersnaps recipe on page 324. They were quick and easy to put together, and they made a small batch. In my oven, they needed more time than the recipe calls for, as they didn’t have the snap I was hoping for. Still, the flavor was good, the ingredients were pantry staples, and I know how I’d change it next time!
My Bread: The Revolutionary No-Work, No-Knead Method by Jim Lahey | Request Now (2009 edition) | Request Now (2024 edition)
Jim Lahey, founder of Sullivan Street Bakery, brings the power of baking bread to the people with this straightforward, instructional book celebrating homemade bread. An ideal book for novice bread bakers, it’s instructive with step-by-step pictures for many of its base loaves, providing reassurance that “it’s supposed to look and feel this way” throughout the process. After becoming a pro at the bread basics, you can use My Bread to branch out with inventive sweet loaves and full meals—homemade pizza, anyone? But the book won me over with its final section on “stale bread.” After all, once you start baking, you may end up with some extra bread lying around past its prime. It’s nice to have a recipe to use it up!
Obviously, when testing this book, I had to go with the basics: the no-knead bread recipe that’s Lahey’s claim to fame. It’s a remarkably easy loaf to make, though it does require time. Given the colder weather, I gave it nearly 24 hours to rise before baking. The loaf had beautiful air pockets—the results of the long rise—and a hearty crust. It’s the perfect fit for a big pot of soup! I checked out and worked from the 2009 edition, which looks very similar to the 2024 edition, though the latter includes a few new recipes.
Grandbaby Cakes: Modern Recipes, Vintage Charm, Soulful Memories by Jocelyn Delk Adams | Request Now
Okay, I may have picked up Grandbaby Cakes because of its attractive teal spine. Don’t tell anyone I judge books by their covers, but I’m so glad it lured me in. This book pairs gorgeous food photography with vintage family photos, sharing the family’s history of the recipes alongside the steps. You get a real sense of why Adams loves baking and carrying on her family’s legacy through cakes. That, combined with the “if only I could eat with my eyes” pictures of cake, makes this book worth reading even if you don’t turn on the oven.
Grandbaby Cakes nearly stymied me in my “don’t leave the house to get ingredients” challenge, since most of the cakes use buttermilk, heavy cream, or cream cheese, which I don’t tend to keep on-hand. However, when I saw the decadent S’more Lava Cakes recipe on page 151, I knew I had a winner! Quick to put together, they were the perfect fancy-seeming dessert for a weekend treat. Don’t skip the marshmallow on top. I did, thinking they were mostly garnish, but I missed the extra marshmallow-y flavor to balance out the rich chocolate. The recipe seems to be missing from Grandbaby Cakes website, so I guess you’ll need to check out the book to join in the fun!
Weeknight Baking: Recipes to Fit Your Schedule by Michelle Lopez | Request Now
Okay, I was super skeptical when I checked out Weeknight Baking. Sure, I bet the recipes would be tasty, but just how much time does Hummingbird High creator Michelle Lopez think I have on a weeknight? Because the answer is NOT MUCH! When I flipped open the cover, I was met with Lopez’s definition of Weeknight Baking:
Recipes that come together quickly, or come together quickly over a few nights.
Recipes that use ingredients you have in a well-stocked baker’s pantry, or can be easily substituted with other similar ingredients.
Recipes that store well for baking, decorating, assembling, or serving in the future, or are made with parts that do.
And I thought, “You know, she might be onto something.”
Flipping through this cookbook, you’ll find recipes that appeal to both kid and grown-up palates. The bright, inviting photos and clearly mapped out baking plans allow you to choose whether you’re making it all in one go or over a couple of days. And, best of all, actually realistic prep/work times so you can judge whether you have time to tackle it on a weeknight.
I opted to try the black-and-white chocolate chunk shortbread cookies recipe on page 145. Let me tell you, they were easily my favorite of the baking challenge. Not that I would ever encourage you to try raw cookie dough, but if some happened to fall into your mouth, I’d bet you’d be thrilled with the deep cocoa taste. Fortunately, for those smart bakers who choose not to take food safety risks, that deliciousness carried over into the final product. I’m returning the cookbook so y’all can check it out, but it’s going on my frozen holds list so I can continue to dip into Lopez’s treats that can be thrown together on a weeknight!
Blog Post
Staff Picks: The Games Must Go On!
by SaraP
The Olympics may be over, but some of us aren’t ready to let the flame die just yet. If you're in the same boat, then binge these top picks for Winter Olympics flicks! From heartwarming underdog stories to rom-coms, dramas, and even a documentary, there is plenty keep the games going, at least in spirit.
Eddie the Eagle | Request the DVD
Hugh Jackman takes a turn as the fictional coach of British ski jumper Michael “Eddie” Edwards (played by Taron Egerton), an underdog candidate for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Based on a true story, but with the extra drama of Jackman's role!
Cool Runnings | Request the DVD
Maybe you’re already watching it this Winter Olympics season—what a classic!—but if not, then hop on the request list, because John Candy and a great supporting cast deliver a charmingly chill comedy, pun intended, loosely based on another true story. This time, the unlikely heroes are the inexperienced Jamaican bobsledding team!
Detroit's Olympic Uprising | Watch Now
Okay, this documentary is technically about a summer game, and it’s not really about the games themselves. It’s about Detroit’s amazing bid to host the 1968 Summer Games, and it is absolutely fascinating. Did you know Detroit tried seven times to get the games here in Michigan? This is available to stream from AADL’s catalog, so you can watch anytime without the wait!
I, Tonya | Request the DVD or Request the Blu-ray
This movie is SO. GOOD. Margot Robbie knocks it out of the park, or rink, with her biting portrayal of Tonya Harding. A fantastic film that frames Harding within her hard-knock existence, so you’re left with an unsettling mix of disgust and empathy for what unfolds next. At times horrifying and hilarious!
Downhill Racer | Request the DVD
A fictional drama about a talented skier, played by a very dashing Robert Redford, who joins Team USA with a whole lotta ego. Let’s just say things go a little downhill before they start looking up, at least for Redford, less so for other contestants. Shot on location in Colorado, France, Switzerland, Austria, and much of the skiing during the 1969 World Cup, to give that powder an authentic vibe.
The Cutting Edge | Request the DVD
This one is silly, sappy, 100 percent fictional, and I still love it. A stuck-up female figure skater is in a bind with her partner injured. Enter a down-on-his-luck, ex-hockey-champ, and real tough guy to step in and maybe save the day. But will they ever get along? And will he ever figure out the toe pick? Just watch it, and you'll see!
Blades of Glory | Request the DVD or Request the Blu-ray
Will Ferrell. Figure skating. It’s absurd, outlandish, crass at times, but it will make you laugh in spite of yourself. You won't wanna close your eyes—well, you might, from the glare of the costumes and hair, but you definitely don’t wanna miss a thing!
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Immigration Stories
by evelyn
Immigration is at the very heart of the story of the United States. The following titles, aimed at a range of ages and including perspectives from the academic to the individual, can help explore it.
Undocumented: A Worker’s Fight by Duncan Tonatiuh | Request Now
Undocumented began as a graphic novel for adults, but by the time Tonatiuh was ready to publish it, he had become known for his children’s books. So he changed some of the text to make it suitable for all ages. The resulting book, although labeled for kids, is a great fit for anyone. Tonatiuh tells the story of Juan, a man who travels from Mexico to the United States as an undocumented worker. Living in the United States, Juan works as a busboy in a restaurant; however, his boss severely underpays him and the other undocumented workers. Stuck in a cycle of poverty, Juan and his fellow workers make the brave decision to form a union and strike, despite risking retaliation from their boss. Packaged in a box, Undocumented opens out from an accordion fold based on the format of an ancient Mixtec codex. The book is printed on both sides and features Tonatiuh’s distinctive illustrations. The combination of his Pre-Columbian flat art style and unique format beautifully links Juan’s story from the present-day United States to ancient Mexico.
Something Happened to My Dad: A Story about Immigration and Family Separation by Ann Hazzard and Vivianna Aponte Rivera | Request Now
Something Happened to My Dad is a picture book that sensitively tells the story of a child whose father is detained by ICE. This book shows the implications of deportation, both on those who are taken and those who are left behind. When the government arrests Carmen’s father, she doesn’t know what to do. Carmen’s mother, a U.S. citizen, tells Carmen not to tell anyone what’s happened because she’s worried that other people will judge their family. Eventually, Carmen does tell her friend, which makes her feel better, although she worries that her Mama will be mad. Instead, Mama responds with compassion and care, and although the book ends without a final resolution, Carmen still gets a moment of triumph at her school’s talent show. Something Happened to My Dad concludes with endpapers that give advice on how to talk to children about immigration, detention, and deportation.
Immigration: An American History by Carl J. Bon Tempo and Hasia R. Diner | Request Now
Why do people want to immigrate to the United States? Why do some U.S.-born citizens want to keep immigrants out? Ranging from the 17th century to today, Immigration: An American History answers these questions through the changing tides of immigration. Although not exactly an easy read, to give you an idea of the research behind Immigration, it’s full of endnotes, and every chapter includes further reading suggestions. This book will provide you with a broad understanding of our nation’s history—the good, the bad, and the ugly.
I found the chapter “What Americans Said about the Immigrants, 1882-1921” particularly interesting and depressing. During a boom of immigration that peaked in the 1890s and 1900s, already established citizens fought over who should be allowed to immigrate. In the 1920s, the doors slammed shut with the racist 1921 Emergency Quota Act, followed by the also racist Immigration Act of 1924. Many of the anti-immigration sentiments expressed in this chapter do not sound much different than those of today.
Open Borders: The Science and Ethics of Immigration by Bryan Caplan and Zach Weinersmith | Request Now
Should borders exist at all? In this nonfiction graphic novel, Bryan Caplan, a professor of economics at George Mason University, says that we shouldn’t. He believes that it would be best if there were no restrictions on immigration; he argues this both for humanity’s sake and the sake of the world economy. Although Caplan believes this would be a beneficial change for the world, the majority of Open Borders focuses on the United States. Caplan provides economic research to support his points, and the lively illustrations from Weinersmith help round out the book. This is a comprehensive examination of immigration as an economic and political issue. Regardless of how you currently feel about immigration and borders, Open Borders will help you consider a new perspective on the topic.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: To the Ends of the Earth
by audreyh
Tales of exploration are one of those genres that can be endlessly fascinating. It’s an examination of the unknown, but also the lengths to which some people are willing to go to make some mark on history. For those who want to curl up in a cozy armchair and read about derring-do, these explorers make for fascinating subjects as they travel to the ends of the earth in search of some greater meaning. These are stories of physical endurance rife with uncertainty; there’s no guarantee anyone will make it out of these ventures alive.
The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey by Candice Millard | Request Now
There are several ways to deal with a defeat. One might consider journaling, taking up a new hobby, or venting to friends about the inherent unfairness of life. After failing to be elected president of the United States for a third term in 1912, Theodore Roosevelt dealt with his loss by embarking on an expedition to the Amazon. He wanted to locate a river tributary whose existence was in question and dubbed the “River of Doubt.” Roosevelt may have been avoiding his problems rather than setting out to discover something, but his experience in the Amazon is nevertheless riveting. It is a thrilling story of exploration into the unknown, featuring plenty of long odds and hazardous conditions that push the exploration party to their limits.
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing | Request Now
The Endurance set sail from England in 1914, bound for Antarctica. Polar explorer Ernest Shackleton intended to cross the continent on foot, exploring the final uncharted continent. Unfortunately, for everyone involved, things did not go as planned, and the Endurance became trapped in ice for 10 months before being crushed. Recognizing that no rescue crew would be coming after them, Shackleton and his crew were now faced with a new venture: a journey over 850 miles of the South Atlantic, without a ship, back to the nearest vestige of civilization.
The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann | Request Now
Famed explorer Percy Fawcett disappeared into the Amazon jungle with his son in 1925. He was in search of a fabled great city hidden deep in the jungle. Fawcett dubbed it “Z” because it didn’t have a formal name, and he wanted to throw off competitors who were searching for the golden city. Fawcett never returned from his expedition, and his fate remained a mystery for years. New Yorker journalist David Grann, who would later go on to write Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, discovered Fawcett’s long-lost diaries and began to reconstruct the explorer’s last journey. Grann intertwines his own research and trek into the Amazon with the story of Fawcett, thrilling readers with mysteries and dangers both modern and Victorian.
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer | Request Now
Jon Krakauer is not the first person to climb Mount Everest, not by a long shot, but his memoir of climbing the mountain expertly captures the physicality of the act. In recounting the lengths necessary to reach the top of the tallest peak in the world, Krakauer gives us a taste of what it’s like to venture into the unknown ourselves. In May 1996, Krakauer reached the top of Mount Everest. Having successfully summited the mountain, he was now tasked with descending, even as members of his climbing team were still struggling towards the top. As they climbed, a storm rolled in that would cause one of the largest climbing disasters in Mount Everest's history. Krakauer’s own love of climbing is part of what makes his account so successful. It takes a specific person to endure the grueling conditions on Mount Everest and the climb to the top. Krakauer, having been bitten by the love of climbing, is able to communicate some of that fervor to his readers.
Blog Post
From Book to Movie
by lucroe
From the myriad renderings of classics like Pride and Prejudice to bestselling authors like Stephen King, there are plenty of book-to-movie adaptations to read and watch. Below are a few standouts from our collection you can read, watch, and compare.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan | Request Book Now
Movie directed by Tim Mielants | Request Movie Now
Claire Keegan’s novel, and the movie it inspired, explores Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries, run by Roman Catholic nuns, which housed and exploited unmarried mothers and “fallen” girls until the late 1990s. Supported by state complicity and community silence, these institutions perpetuated abuse. The story follows Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy), an Irish coal deliveryman, during the weeks leading up to Christmas in the mid-1980s. Bill is a devoted husband and father with a strong sense of responsibility to his family and work.
However, beneath his quiet and reserved exterior, he grapples with inner conflict. Early on Christmas morning, while making a delivery to the local convent, Furlong discovers a young girl (Zara Devlin) locked inside the coal shed, shivering from the cold. He gives her his jacket and brings her to the convent door. There, the girl asks about her baby, who was taken from her. When the door opens, the Mother Superior (Emily Watson) greets them warmly and invites them in for tea and polite conversation, gently pressuring Sarah to admit she must have been accidentally left behind after a game of hide-and-seek.
As Furlong prepares to leave, he is handed a Christmas bonus—a convenient gift meant to ensure his silence. Furlong’s encounter compels him to confront the troubling reality of the Laundries and question whether to adhere to societal expectations or pursue moral responsibility. Both the novel and movie are quiet and captivating with deep moral questions that resonate greatly to this day. As Keegan writes, “He [Bill] found himself asking was there any point in being alive without helping one another. Was it possible to carry on for all the years, the decades, through an entire life, without once being brave enough to go against what was there and yet call yourself a Christian and face yourself in the mirror?”
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters | Request now
Fingersmith movie directed by Aisling Walsh | Request Now
The Handmaiden movie directed by Park Chan-Wook | Request Now
Fingersmith, by Welsh author Sarah Waters, is a thrilling tale of thievery, betrayal, and mistaken identity. It tells the story of two women from different stations of life whose fates are inextricably linked. Set in Victorian England, Fingersmith is narrated by Sue Trinder and Maud Lilly. One is a young “fingersmith,” which is slang for a thief, and the other is an aristocratic lady. Their intertwined history unfolds along the way when Sue acts as her maid in a plot to steal Maud’s fortune. Through the deception and betrayal, however, love between them conquers all.
The BBC three-part adaptation, also available on DVD, closely follows the book. The exquisite depiction of a poverty-stricken, disease-ridden Victorian London fills the screen, introducing the lavish set and costume design that serves as the backdrop to the story. Sally Hawkins portrays Sue with subtle comedic moments, especially when she learns to dress a lady properly with a chair as a prop. Elaine Cassidy portrays Maud with all upper-class seriousness, which breaks as Sue opens up her world more. If you are looking for a straight adaptation, this is the one to see.
If you want to try a different interpretation, then check out South Korea’s Park Chan-Wook rework, The Handmaiden, which changes the setting to Korea under Japanese rule. In this adaptation, a young woman, Sook-hee (Kim Tae-ri), is hired by Count Fujiwara (Ha Jung-woo) to become a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee), who is held in check by her twisted uncle Lord Kouzuki (Cho Jin-woong). The class and gender struggles from the original Victorian story are viewed through a colonial perspective here, while still highlighting the feminism of the two women who are initially being taken advantage of but ultimately turn the tables on the men to secure their freedom.
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi | Request Book Now
Persepolis book also available in French, Russian, and Spanish
Movie directed by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud | Request Movie Now
Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographical masterpiece, Persepolis, features historical events and personal experiences related to the 1979 Iranian revolution and war. The story begins with her rebellious childhood in Tehran and then progresses to her teenage years in Vienna. It also explores her return to Iran before leaving for France. Both the award-winning graphic novel and feature film versions of Persepolis share the theme of rejecting conformity.
However, while the graphic novel conveys this theme through detail and dramatic buildup, the film sacrifices detail to accentuate select parts using sound and transitions.For example, her liking of punk music was forbidden in her culture. The book is limited to her dialogue and posters of bands to convey this, but the film adds the actual music to show the contrast between her uptight, conservative country and her loud, expressive music tastes. The film Persepolis stays true to the overall tone and style of the graphic novel, yet its intention is slightly different.
While the book tells the dramatic story of Marjane Satrapi, the film educates viewers about Iranian history. Overall, the film does an excellent job of depicting the historical facts of the revolution while giving the reader more graphic imagery. The novel, however, is much more in tune with Satrapi’s emotions during such a time and creates a bond with the reader that the movie could never accomplish. Read, watch, and compare; neither will disappoint.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Beginner Graphic Novels With Dynamite Duos
by SaraP
Do you have a little one in your life—or maybe a reluctant one—who is still getting comfortable with reading? Does this kiddo like friendship, humor, and adventure? Perfect! These series are all super fun, short and digestible, and just the ticket for kids transitioning from early readers into “bigger” books. The dialogue isn’t too complicated, and the graphic novel format keeps things moving along so kids stay engaged and don’t get discouraged. The first time your small bestie gets through a whole book on their own and feels super proud of themselves is one of those standout moments in life. Each book in this series has the potential to be the magic one that gets your kid or grandkid hooked on reading! For my kid, it was Pizza and Taco, so let's start there.
Pizza and Taco: Who’s the Best? by Stephen Shaskan | Request Now
I love everything about these adorable graphic novels. They aren’t too long, the art is super cute, but not saccharine, and they are laugh-out-loud funny. Best of all, the titular friends—literally a slice of pizza and a taco—find themselves in pretty realistic situations for kids. They learn how to navigate school and friendships together, which, let's be honest, is really stinkin’ hard! There are new kids, drawing contests, agreeing—or not—about what to play, and lunchroom mayhem. Then, there’s fun stuff like trying new looks, imagining you’re a famous pro wrestler, or planning a party. Gosh, there’s a lot to figure out when you're a kid! Readers will love the funny setup with food-based characters and goofy approaches to problem-solving that mirror kid-think in a delightful way.
Cr
ab and Snail: The Invisible Whale by Beth Ferry | Request Now
Aw, look at these little guys. They’re like a light version of Narwhal and Jelly! Crab and Snail are just two pals chilling at the beach. Well, unless they are defeating an evil eel or investigating an invisible problem. The beachy, undersea setting is great for kids and grown-ups who want a little escapism from our frigid Michigan climate this winter. You can plan to take them on your next sandy adventure! Complete with tongue-in-cheek humor that will make you chuckle alongside the kids if you’re reading together, these adventures are fun, cheerful, and not too intimidating.
S
prinkles and Swirls: A Fun Day at Fun Park by Lola M. Schaefer | Request Now
Like Pizza and Taco, Sprinkles and Swirls are two besties showing up in food form—this time at the sweet end of the spectrum. Follow along as these two little cupcakes have fun, conquer worries, help each other out, and learn as they go. These are shelved in the Readers' section at the library, but they are definitely graphic novels for beginners. I love that they come with a “how to read a graphic novel” section at the beginning that explains the order to read the frames and such. My kid has grown up around graphic novels and comics, but it was still a helpful short guide to get his brain in the right space before decoding words.
Bal
oney and Friends by Greg Pizzoli | Request Now
Baloney is a pig. His name is Baloney. WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT? You want friends, too? Okay, how about Baloney’s friend Peanut for starters? Seriously, though, these are super fun, with illustrations reminiscent of Mo Willems’ Elephant & Piggie books. Baloney and crew are a zany bunch, and their fun-size adventures, with more than one per book, like Frog and Toad Are Friends, are perfect for Willems fans and anyone who enjoyed the old PBS show Peep and the Big Wide World. That’s the beauty of the perfect literary friend group—stories about friendship duos never get old. It’s time to borrow a never-ending supply for your nearly independent readers to get them feeling more and more confident!
Blog Post
Staff Picks: ALA Youth Media Awards
by evelyn
In January, the American Library Association announced the most prestigious awards in children’s literature, the ALA Youth Media Awards. There are 18 awards, which you can learn about here, but we’re going to highlight the top three: Caldecott, Newbery, and Printz. You can browse the catalog to look for the recent winners. If you are interested in exploring the history of these awards, visit us at the Downtown Library! In the Kids’ Room, you will find a non-circulating historical collection of the winners of these prizes.
Fireworks by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Cátia Chien | Request Now
The Randolph Caldecott Medal is awarded to the children’s book with the best illustrations for the year. Traditionally, it is given to a picture book, although on occasion, a graphic novel wins. This year’s winner is the Fourth of July celebration Fireworks, written by Matthew Burgess with illustrations by Cátia Chien. Her mixed-media illustrations follow the day of two children in a city, leading up to the night where they will watch fireworks from their rooftop. The pictures are bright and dazzling with colors of hot pink and bright yellow set against a deep blue sky. This book will make anyone excited for the next hot summer night when the sky fills with fireworks.
All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson | Request Now
The John Newbery Medal is for the best writing in children’s literature. Although there are no restrictions on the book genre, this book is usually awarded to a fiction book aimed at elementary school kids. This year, All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson, a previous Newbery Honoree for 2017’s Piecing Me Together, is the winner. A novel in verse, All the Blues in the Sky, traces the story of Sage, an aspiring pilot living in Harlem, whose best friend is hit by a drunk driver on Sage’s 13th birthday. Sage blames herself for the death, and this book winds its way through her experiences in her after-school grief group. It’s a beautiful exploration of love, sadness, and what it’s like to miss someone every day. If you are looking for a book that will make you cry and provide some hope, this is the one.
Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories, edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith | Request Now
The Michael L. Printz Award is for the best book for young adults and is a relative newcomer to the Youth Media Awards. It was first awarded in 2000, as opposed to when Newbery was first awarded in 1921 and Caldecott in 1937. This year, the anthology Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories, edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith, is the winner. Legendary Frybread contains 17 tribal stories. All of the stories take place in part at Sandy June’s drive-in diner, where every teen receives unique guidance and love from their elders.
One of my favorite stories is the fourth, “Mvskoke Joy,” by Marcella Bell. This story takes place in a somewhat science fiction-inspired version of Sandy June’s, staffed by Sarah Rector. The story follows a teen content creator’s love life and the story of the Creek Freedmen. The Creek Freedmen are descendants of Africans who were enslaved by the Muscogee people. It’s a brief, wonderfully complex explanation of legacy. If you like this book, check out the editor’s collection of stories for younger readers, Ancestor Approved, set at the Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, which happens annually in Ann Arbor! And of course, be sure to attend the Powwow on March 28-29 at Skyline High School.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Award-Nominated, Winning, and Buzzy Movies to Watch Now
by erin
It’s the time of year when all the greatest movies from 2025 get buzzed about, nominated, and sometimes win! Unfortunately, not as many movies make it to DVD or Blu-ray, so you have to spend time hunting down the correct streaming services! Save yourself some time and check out hot titles, and some a little more under the radar, and expand your watching this season!
Black Bag | Request DVD or Request Blu-ray
Another thriller from director Steven Soderbergh, Black Bag, is a gripping spy drama about legendary intelligence agents George Woodhouse and his beloved wife, Kathryn. When Kathryn is suspected of betraying the nation, George faces the ultimate test of loyalty to his marriage or his country. Starring Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, and Pierce Brosnan, this film is full of delicious twists and dramatic turns!
Bugonia | Request DVD or Request Blu-ray
Check the Express Shelf for DVD and Blu-ray copies not filled by holds.
Bugonia is a dark sci-fi comedy about two conspiracy-obsessed young men who kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth. This is the fourth film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring actress Emma Stone. If you haven't seen the first three films she made with Lanthimos, you can check them out now: The Favourite (DVD or Blu-ray), Poor Things (DVD or Blu-ray), and Kinds of Kindness (DVD or Blu-ray).
Eddington | Request Blu-ray
Check the Express Shelf for Blu-ray copies not filled by holds.
Eddington is Ari Aster’s darkly comedic, genre-bending movie set during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s about a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayor that sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in Eddington, New Mexico. Eddington stars Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Pedro Pascal, and Austin Butler.
F1 | Request DVD or Request Blu-ray
If you like cars, action, and lots of amazing effects and stunts, then F1 is for you! F1 has been nominated for Best Cinematography, Visual Effects, Box Achievement, and Outstanding Stunts! Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was the golden boy in the 1990s in Formula 1 until an accident on the track. Thirty years later, his former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem) convinces him to return and drive alongside ace rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) for one last shot at being the best in the world. Sonny’s past catches up with him, and he finds that the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone.
One of Them Days | Request DVD
Nominated for several Independent Spirit Awards and NAACP Image Awards for Best Feature, Screenplay, Lead Performance, and Breakthrough Performance. One of Them Days is about best friends and roommates, Dreux (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA). When Alyssa realizes her boyfriend has blown their rent money, the friends find themselves going to extremes in a race against the clock to avoid eviction and prevent ruining their friendship!
Sinners | Request DVD or Request Blu-ray
A historical horror movie with a stupendous soundtrack and a standout performance, both played by Michael B. Jordan. Sinners is about twin brothers wanting to leave their troubled lives behind. When they return to their hometown to start over, they discover that an even greater evil awaits them.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Travel Outside Your Comfort Zone
by SaraP
For fans of Mary Roach or Neil deGrasse Tyson’s endlessly interesting and eminently readable nonfiction books, these unusual “travel” guides will scratch that itch in surprising ways. Find a destination, or maybe the journey is the point, that makes you a tad uncomfortable, but oh so terribly engaged. Don’t worry, there’s a lot of fun to be had alongside all the bits that make you squirm!
The Passenger: How a Travel Writer Learned to Love Cruises & Other Lies from a Sinking Ship by Chaney Kwak | Request Now
Have you ever wondered how a colossal modern cruise ship might handle an engine failure and/or a nasty bit of weather at sea? What is it like to drift aimlessly aboard a vessel that big with hundreds, even thousands, of people when disaster strikes? NO? Well, my morbid curiosity sure did, and lo and behold, I found the perfect book in travel writer Chaney Kwak’s account of peril at sea aboard the Viking Sky! You'll be glad you weren't there, but just like you gobbled up all those books about the Titanic as a kid, you'll be absolutely delighted to read about it from the safety of your couch!
A Traveler’s Guide to the End of the World: Tales of Fire, Wind, and Water by David Gessner | Request Now
David Gessner asks numerous experts what they think it will be like living on this planet in about 40 years, when his daughter will be the age he is now. While the answers and the topic itself, climate change, can be a tough pill to swallow, Gessner’s approach here is riveting, and weirdly, easy to read. No stats-based wallopings, no best or worst-case scenarios, or splitting hairs over how many fractions of a degree of increased temperature will lead to which version. Instead, we get the everyday details that scientists actually think about when considering the realities of life in the U.S. in 2060-something. Is it bleak? Sure! Can we still have fun while exploring this future country? Might as well!
From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find Good Death by Caitlin Doughty | Request Now
If you enjoyed super cool, gross, but still super cool reads like Stiff or Packing for Mars by Mary Roach, then From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty is right up your alley! Doughty already revealed, with warmth and humor, the business of crematories in her 2014 memoir Smoke Gets in Your Eyes. Perhaps even more interesting, though, are Doughty’s global travels, which give a post-mortem on death rituals around the world. What she shares is full of heart, surprise, and even hilarity. Some of the rituals described will shock American sensibilities—a trigger list abounds—but the journey is both intimate and epic. The moments of tenderness and existential release are well worth the bumpy stretches of road. If only more books pulled back the curtain to expose different approaches to death, mourning, and the great send-off that everyone gets one way or another. It’s surprisingly comforting to dispel mystery and taboo.
100 Places to See After You Die: A Travel Guide to the Afterlife by Ken Jennings | Request Now
Let’s wrap things up with a killer spin on travel guides that actually serves as an interesting, easy foray into mythology, religion, history, and culture. Ken Jennings’ tongue-in-cheek tour of the afterlife and its variations around the world is ultimately a light-hearted philosophical and historic romp ‘round the globe with beautiful destinations such as Tian (China), Qudlivun (Inuit Alaska, Canada, and Greenland), and Aaru (Ancient Egypt). His thorough research points out hellish pitfalls to avoid, if possible, and tips on traversing them if you must. If you like Jennings’ fun, quirky style, you should also check out Maphead: Charting the Wide, Weird World of Geography Wonks.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Great Books from 2025 You Might Have Missed
by emjane
Countless amazing and meaningful books come out every year, and it is impossible to read them all. Maybe you missed hearing about a title. Maybe you peeped at the hold-list and thought, “Another time.” That time is now: here are four great books that came out in 2025 that are worth circling back for!
Maya & Natasha by Elyse Durham | Request Now
There’s no question that twins Maya and Natasha were born to dance. Abandoned by their mother, a prima ballerina at the Kirov Ballet, the girls were essentially raised at the Vaganova Ballet Academy. Until their senior year, the two were seen as two halves of one whole. But as the year unfolds, and the two find themselves competing for their future, a rift forms and widens, and they start to build lives of their own. While I’m not typically a reader of historical fiction, I was fascinated by immersing myself in Russia during the Cold War. Though a novel, Maya & Natasha is well-researched, containing many “real-life” people and events. Seeing it all through the lens of dance helped keep me engaged. Tense sibling dynamics also mean the plot had personal stakes, as well as political ones.
Back After This by Linda Holmes | Request Now
Podcast producer Cecily knows it’s hard for a person to find success in her industry. So when she’s allowed to help further secure both her and her best work friend’s jobs, she reluctantly agrees to work on the other side of the microphone. Cecily partners with Eliza, an influencer matchmaker, as the single guinea pig whom Eliza will set up on countless dates. That means when she has an extraordinary meet-cute with Will, she has to set their chemistry aside. After all, she has a job to do. And that job is to date. And record her thoughts on said dates for the world to hear. Holmes’ romances, Evvie Drake Starts Over and Flying Solo, are also great fits for people on the Emily Henry, or EmHen, train looking for similar stories with well-developed leads that value friendship, identity, and romance.
The Unveiling by Quan Barry | Request Now
Striker doesn’t fit the type—rich, white—that fills her Antarctic cruise, but when she has the opportunity to take one for her job as a film location scout, she takes it. When the unexpected happens on a kayak excursion off the ship, Striker and a small group of her shipmates find themselves fending for themselves in the vast Antarctic waters. The situation is further complicated because Striker did not take the medication that prevents her from having delusions that day. This is a “go-along-for-the-ride” book; I don’t think you’ll be able to determine what is really happening. After all, Striker’s not really sure what’s happening either. I was surprised to see this fresh take on an unreliable narrator filed under horror, as it doesn’t fit the typical horror beats. But the more I thought about it, the tag is fitting. The situation is horrifying, and it’s an otherwise hard-to-categorize book. But its genre-defying eeriness is what keeps me thinking about it, even though it’s been a few months since I read it.
The Float Test by Lynn Steger Strong | Request Now
Following the death of their mother, the four Kenner siblings—Jenn, Fred, Jude, and George—find themselves forced into each other’s lives in a way they haven’t been since childhood. It turns out they each have their own struggles: Jenn is not feeling fulfilled as a mother of six. Fred, a novelist, finds herself unable to write and make a living. George, the “baby” of the family, has separated from his wife and is hampered by his immaturity as he moves back in with his widowed father. Despite her role as narrator, we know less about the second-youngest, Jude, though there is driving tension in her estrangement from Fred. This book is more about who the Kenners are and their relationships with one another. It’s less about any driving plot, despite the gun found early in the book that threatens to serve a Chekhovian role. Read it for the dynamics and the writing, not to find out “what happens next.”