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Our Holiday Gift to You: Your Librarians' Favorite Titles of 2018

The library staffers are working on a holiday gift for our readers. It's a list of their favorite new books of 2018 – librarian-tested, librarian-approved. When the list is complete, we’ll put a bow on it and give you the entire list in the libraries and on the library website, thelibrary.org

We won’t make you wait to open it, though. Here’s a peek at some of your librarians’ favorite new titles of 2018.

“There, There” by Tommy Orange – Miranda E., Library Center. A cast of characters depicts the experience of Native Americans living in urban settings.  

"Be Prepared" by Vera Brosgol“Be Prepared” by Vera Brosgol – Allison S., district substitute. A 244-page children’s comic book about a misfit girl and her brother at summer camp, struggling primitive plumbing, snobby tent mates, and boys-versus-girls competitions.

"The Dinner List" by Rebecca Serle“The Dinner List” by Rebecca Serle – Vanessa S., Library Center. On her 13th birthday, Sabrina finds herself in a fantasy dinner: with five living or dead people, all with something to say to her.

“Educated: A Memoir” by Tara Westover“Educated: A Memoir” by Tara Westover – Gina D., Library Center. Born to a father opposed to public education and never attended school, Westover spent her days working in her father's junkyard or stewing herbs for her mother, a self-taught herbalist and midwife.

"Tempests and Slaughter: A Tortall Legend” by Tamora Pierce“Tempests and Slaughter: A Tortall Legend” by Tamora Pierce – Tiereney G., Willard Branch. Young adult fantasy. Arram Draper, Varice Kingsford and Ozorne Tasikhe forge a bond of friendship that sees them through many changes as student mages at Imperial University of Carthak.

"A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti“A Heart in a Body in the World” by Deb Caletti – Lindsey B., Collection Services. Young adult fiction. Followed by Grandpa Ed in his RV and backed by her brother and friends, Annabelle, 18, runs from Seattle to Washington, D.C., becoming a reluctant activist as people connect her journey to her recent trauma.

"The Late Bloomers' Club: A Novel" by Louise Miller“The Late Bloomers' Club: A Novel” by Louise Miller – Judy W., Park Central Branch. Two headstrong sisters, a small town's efforts to do right by the community and the power of a lost dog to conjure up true love.

These titles are coming soon or are available at thelibrary.org/catalog.

Vickie Hicks is community relations director for the Springfield-Greene County Library District. She can be reached at vickieh@thelibrary.org.

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