What is Afrofuturism? There are some dictionary definition answers I could give, but they wouldn’t fully encompass the idea and there is still disagreement about what exactly defines it. The genre was born decades ago but is still developing and even some people who are categorized into it do not want to be. Also, I’m not going to try to define all of it here. Since our topic is Black Panther, and this post is coming to you in anticipation of the soon-to-be-released Black Panther 2, let’s define it as one thing: Afrofuturism is Wakanda. Continue reading “Black Panther & Afrofuturism”
Hello, my ghouls, ghosts, and other assorted specters. We are in the thick of Halloween season, with less than a week until that magical day of candy and costumes, spooks and scares! In celebration of the season, I wanted to take you, dear reader, through a number of my favorite graphic novels that fit the occasion for one simple reason: they are gory, gruesome, drenched in enough blood to make Dracula drool, and otherwise feature plenty of insides that just so happen to be on the outside. All of these graphic novels have their merits outside of their crimson-coated cast, with the level of horror varying from title to title. Each title, however, is worth a look for those who don’t mind things getting a little bit bloody in honor of the spooky season. So let’s get started! Continue reading “Bloody Good Graphic Novels for Halloween”
In perusing new stories for the spooky season, I was thrilled to see so many books about witches! I actually had trouble narrowing them down for this blog! Harness your magic, get ready for adventures, and revel in autumn with some witchy reads.
Continue reading “Season of the Witch”
Looking for a great read? Then look no further! These books were all given 5 stars by our teens! Pick one (or all of them) up at your library!
Continue reading “Reader Reviews: 5/5 Stars ★★★★★”
Dark academia is an aesthetic and book genre that has gained a lot of popularity in the last year or so, thanks to TikTok.
Dark academia’s look comes mostly from boarding schools and old universities. Think school uniforms, tweed jackets, stone columns, dark wood, dimly lit libraries with old books and drifting dust.
The books that fall into the dark academia trend could have many aspects of this multifaceted genre. They often take place in a school or university and have menacing themes like crime or secret societies. The characters may study classical philosophy, poetry, or literature. Death, existentialism, and mortality are often subjects. They aren’t usually high fantasy, but often involve arcane knowledge and more speculative elements.
As we settle into the new school year, check out this list and indulge your blazer-wearing, coffee-drinking, mystery-loving self.
Do you hear that? It’s the sound of the new school year approaching. Whether that fills you with joy, dread, or something in between, why not try a new book to usher in the new semester? As always, these are brand new books which means we may not have the ebook version yet. I can order print copies ahead of time so they show up in our catalog, but digital things I order the day of. So if you prefer to read or listen to your book digitally, check our catalog or your Libby/Sora app after the book’s release date! Continue reading “The Selector’s Selections: August 2022”
We’re in those last, steamy days of summer.
School is an impending obligation, but if you’re not ready to let go of the golden sultriness, I’ve got a few books to help your summer feel endless.
Continue reading “Steamy Summer Reads”
You don’t have to be a woman to be angry with the current state of…*gestures vaguely at everything*
So for every human who wishes they could burn it all down, have I got some recommendations for you. Continue reading “Books for When You Want to Burn it All Down”
How’s that To Be Read pile looking? Dangerously low? Now’s your chance to squeeze in as much reading as you can before school starts back up, but don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! Not gonna lie, most of my picks this month have some romance, but if that’s not your thing I’ve also got a thriller with an unreliable narrator.
“Into the Sublime” by Kate A. Boorman
In case you couldn’t guess from the cover, this is the thriller. The story begins at the ending, as three girls emerge from a cave. Two are immediately rushed to the hospital, one is covered in blood that isn’t hers, and begins to tell their story to the police. And one girl is missing. The four of them were part of a thrill-seeking group that was following local legends about an underground lake. Rumor says that anyone who faces their greatest fear at the lake will have something big changed for them. The story unravels as it unfolds, with an increasingly untrustworthy narrator and claustrophobic psychological and supernatural horror. Pair this book with a trip to the Devil’s Icebox trail and Connor’s Cave if you really want the full experience. Continue reading “The Selector’s Selections: July 2022”
Summer reading is in full swing and we are getting tons of recommendations from our teen readers! Here are a few books highlighting our teens’ favorite fantasy novels. Warning: Some of these books may be part of a series so you may need to do some catch-up reading before you dive into one of these recommended reads.
Continue reading “Reader Reviews: Fantasy Edition”
