Author: Balakrishnan, Chris, editor. Wasowski, Matt, editor. Orr, Kristen, illustrator. Published: 2024 Call Number: 502.07 HOW Format: Books Summary: "In the vein of acclaimed popular-science bestsellers such as Atlas Obscura, Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry, The Way Things Work, What If?, and Undeniable, the co-founders of the global science organization Nerd Nite bring readers a collection of wacky, yet fascinating STEM topics. For 20 years, Nerd Nite has delivered to live audiences around the world, the most interesting, fun, and informative presentations about science, history, the arts, pop culture, you name it. There hasn't been a rabbit hole that their army of presenters hasn't been afraid to explore. Finally, after countless requests to bring Nerd Nite to more fans across the globe, co-founders and college pals Matt Wasowski and Chris Balakrishnan are bringing readers the quirky and accessible science content that they crave in book form, focused on STEM and paired with detailed illustrations that make the content pop. The resulting range of topics is quirky and vast, from kinky, spring-loaded spiders to the Webb telescope's influence on movie special effects. Hilariously named after Dale Carnegie's iconic book, How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi features narratives, bursts, and infographics on all things STEM from scientists around the world. Chapters are sure to make you laugh-out-loud, with titles such as "The Science of the Hangover," "What Birds Can Teach Us About the Impending Zombie Apocalypse," and "Lessons from the Oregon Trail." With fascinating details, facts, and illustrations, combined with Chris and Matt's incredible connections to organizations such as the Discovery Network and the Smithsonian Institution, How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi is sure to reach joyful STEM enthusiasts of all ages around the world. About Nerd Nite: Started in 2003, Nerd Nite is a monthly event held in 100+ cities worldwide during which folks give 20-minute fun-yet-informative presentations across all disciplines, while the audience drinks along!"--
Author: Robinson, Marilynne, author. Published: 2024 Call Number: 222.1106 Format: Books Summary: "Marilynne Robinson, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Humanities Medal, presents a thrilling, radiant interpretation of the first book of the Bible"--
Author: McKinlay, Jenn, author. Published: 2024 Call Number: LP F MCKINLAY Format: Large print Summary: "Briar Creek Public Library director Lindsey Norris and her husband, Sully, are at a popular archivist conference in Chicago to hear book restoration specialist Brooklyn Wainwright give a keynote address. After the lecture, Lindsey looks under her seat and finds a tote bag containing a first edition of Patricia Highsmith's Strangers on a Train, inscribed to Alfred Hitchcock. Brooklyn determines the novel is one of a kind and quite valuable, so Lindsey and Sully return the book to the conference director, not wanting to stir up any trouble. But just hours after the pair boards the train back to Connecticut, rumors that the Highsmith novel has gone missing buzz amongst the passengers, and they soon find the conference director murdered in his private compartment. And worse -- the murderer planted the book in Lindsey and Sully's room next door, making them prime suspects. Now, they must uncover the murderer and bring them to the end of their line, before they find themselves booked for a crime they didn't commit." --
Author: Marsh, Sarah (Novelist), author. Published: 2024 Call Number: LP F MARSH Format: Large print Summary: "Ellen Lark is on the verge of marriage when she and her fiancé receive an unexpected visit from Alexander Graham Bell. Ellen is deaf and for a time she was Bell's student learning visible speech. During their lessons, Bell also confided in her about his dream of producing a device that would transmit the human voice along a wire: the telephone. Now, on the cusp of wealth and renown, Bell wants Ellen to speak up in support of his claim to the patent of the telephone, which is being challenged by rival inventors. But Ellen has a different story to tell: that of how Bell betrayed her and other deaf pupils in pursuit of his own ambition. Ellen knows that this is her one opportunity to tell the true story -- her story -- but to do so will risk her engagement, her future prospects and her mother's last wish for her. Inspired by journals kept by Alexander Graham Bell's real deaf students, this stunning historical debut casts new light on the inventor and the invention that would forever change how we communicate."--
Author: Everhart, Donna, author. Published: 2024 Call Number: LP F EVERHART Format: Large print Summary: "Talk of impending war is a steady drumbeat throughout North Carolina, though Joetta McBride pays it little heed. She and her husband, Ennis, have built a modest but happy life for themselves, raising two sons, fifteen-year-old Henry, and eleven-year-old Robert, on their small subsistence farm. They do not support the Confederacy's position on slavery, but Joetta considers her family to be neutral, believing this is simply not their fight. Her opinion is not favored by many in their community, including Joetta's own father-in-law, Rudean. A staunch Confederate supporter, he fills his grandsons' heads with stories about the glory of battle and the Southern cause until one night Henry runs off to join the war. At Joetta's frantic insistence, Ennis leaves to find their son and bring him home. But soon weeks pass with no word from father or son and Joetta is battered by the strain of running a farm with so little help. As the country becomes further entangled in the ramifications of war, Joetta finds herself increasingly at odds with those around her -- until one act of kindness brings her family to the edge of even greater disaster. Though shunned and struggling to survive, Joetta remains committed to her principles, and to her belief that her family will survive. But the greatest tests are still to come -- for a fractured nation, for Joetta, and for those she loves . . ."--
Author: Blasey, Christine, author. Published: 2024 Call Number: B BLASEY Format: Books Summary: On September 27, 2018, Christine Blasey Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee which was considering the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court; this is the true behind-the-scenes story of that testimony.
Author: Michaels, Fern, author. Published: 2024 2023 Call Number: LP F MICHAELS Format: Large print Summary: "Isabelle "Izzy" Flanders and Yoko Akia are beginning a new project--a café that will be the cornerstone of a market village. Izzy knows just where to get the project off the ground: her old college classmate, Zoe Danfield, now vice president of a huge construction corporation. But buildings and bridges have been collapsing all over the world, causing hundreds of deaths, and Zoe suspects her firm's inferior foundation materials are the cause. Zoe knows someone has to blow the whistle and reveal the truth. Who better than the Sisterhood? But this adversary has money, power, and no intention of giving up without a fight"--
Author: Ondaatje, Michael, 1943- author. Published: 2024 Call Number: 813.54 ONDAATJE Format: Books Summary: "Following several of his internationally acclaimed, beloved novels, A Year of Last Things is Michael Ondaatje's long-awaited return to poetry. In pieces that are sometimes wittily funny, moving, and always wise, we journey back through time by way of alchemical leaps, unearthing writings by revered masters, moments of shared tenderness, and abandoned landscapes we hold onto to rediscover the influence of every border crossed. Moving from a Sri Lankan boarding school to Moliere's chair during his last stage performance, to Bulgarian churches and their icons, to a California coast, and his beloved Canadian rivers, Michael Ondaatje casts a brilliant eye that merges his past and present, in the way memory and the distant shores of art and lost friends continue to influence all that surrounds him"--
Author: Blake, Matthew (Author of Anna O), author. Published: 2024 Call Number: LP F BLAKE Format: Large print Summary: "Anna Ogilvy is a budding twenty-five-year-old writer with a bright future. Then, one night, as she is fast asleep and with no apparent motive, she stabs two people to death--and she has yet to wake up. Anna, now dubbed "Sleeping Beauty" by the tabloids, has a rare psychosomatic disorder known as resignation syndrome. Dr. Benedict Prince is a forensic psychologist and an expert in the field of sleep-related homicides. His methods are the last hope of bringing Anna back to consciousness so she can stand trial and solving the infamous "Anna O" case. But he must be careful treating such a high-profile suspect--he's got career secrets and a complicated personal life of his own. As Anna shows the first signs of stirring, Benedict must determine what really happened and whether she should be held responsible for her crimes."--Page 4 of cover.
Author: De León, Jason, 1977- author. Published: 2024 Call Number: 364.1372 Format: Books Summary: "An intimate and one-of-a-kind look at the world of human smuggling in Latin America, by a MacArthur "genius" grant winner and anthropologist Political instability, poverty, climate change, and the insatiable appetite for cheap labor all fuel clandestine movement across borders. As those borders harden, the demand for smugglers who aid migrants across them increases every year. Yet media and politicians have always characterized smugglers-or coyotes, or guides, as they are often known by the migrants who hire their services-using tired tropes and stereotypes, as boogie men and violent warlords. In an effort to better understand this essential yet extralegal billion dollar global industry, internationally recognized anthropologist and expert Jason De León embedded with a group of smugglers moving migrants across Mexico over the course of seven years. The result of this unprecedented access is SOLDIERS AND KINGS: the first ever in-depth, character-driven look at human smuggling. It is a heart-wrenching and intimate narrative that revolves around the life and death of one coyote, Chino, who falls in love and tries to leave smuggling behind. In a powerful, original voice, De León expertly chronicles the lives of low-level foot soldiers breaking into the smuggling game, and morally conflicted gang leaders who oversee rag-tag crews of guides and informants along the migrant trail. SOLDIERS AND KINGS is not only a ground-breaking up-close glimpse of a difficult-to-access world, it is a masterpiece of narrative nonfiction"--
Author: McDonough, Patrice, author. Published: 2024 Call Number: F MCDONOUG Format: Books Summary: In 1866 London, Dr. Julia Lewis, when grisly murders happen all over the city, works with Inspector Richard Tennant to understand a killer's dark obsessions and motivations, facing off against a fiendishly calculating opponent who has set his sights on Julia.
Author: Shukairy, Ream, author. Published: 2024 Call Number: Y SHUKAIRY Format: Books Summary: Told in their separate voices, six Muslim teens are falsely accused of an alleged attack on a Los Angeles beach and must trust or turn their backs on each other to prove their innocence.
Author: Porter, Sarah, 1969- author. Published: 2024 Call Number: F PORTER Format: Books Summary: After murdering the young woman he couldn't have, a sorcerer sends projections of himself out into the world to seek out and seduce women who will return the love she denied--or suffer a fate worse than death.
Author: Sanders, Deion, author. Yaeger, Don, author. Maxwell, John C., 1947- writer of foreword. Published: 2024 Call Number: B SANDERS Format: Books Summary: "Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders is one of the greatest motivators and inspirational leaders of all time-on the field, in business, with family, and in his community. Now, with Elevate and Dominate, he delivers the ultimate playbook of inspiring personal stories, winning strategies, and the motivation required to help us "elevate and dominate" in all aspects of our lives. A natural born leader, Sanders demands and expects the best from himself and from those around him, never settling for anything less. Whether it's dealing with intense pressure, using the competition to his advantage, or navigating personal challenges-both physical and emotional-Sanders has conquered it all by applying the hard-earned principles he's learned throughout his life and career. The 21 inspirational ways to win here are based on the motivational stories and experiences of Sanders' incredible life, including being raised by a single mother who sacrificed and worked nonstop to support her family, being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, earning his place as a Head Coach with a Division I football team, and being a dedicated father of five accomplished children. His inspirational messages reach far beyond the world of sports because they are based on deep faith, respect for himself and others, and an unflagging commitment to that which he believes in. They are designed to help anyone who is looking to improve the quality of their life, whether it be in business and leadership, relationships and partnership, or parenting and family. Through his unique and powerful lens, Coach Prime provides the direction, motivation, and action required for anyone to dominate and win at life"--
Author: Childs, Laura, author. Published: 2024 Call Number: LP F CHILDS Format: Large print Summary: "When Theodosia Browning reads the tea leaves on the set of the movie Dark Fortunes, things go from spooky to worse. Lights are dimmed, the camera rolls, and sparks fly as the film's director is murdered in an electrical accident. When Theodosia's friend Delaine become the prime suspect, Theodosia begins her own shadow investigation. She doggedly hunts down clues and explores the seemingly haunted Brittleback Manor where the murder took place. But this clever killer will go to any lengths to hide his misdeeds, as Theodosia soon finds on when she and her tea sommelier, Drayton, get caught up in a dangerous stakeout"--
Author: Unger, Lisa, 1970- author. Published: 2024 Call Number: LP F UNGER Format: Large print Summary: "Rosie and Chad Lowan are barely making ends meet in New York City when they receive life-changing news: Chad's late uncle has left them his luxury apartment at the historic Windermere in Murray Hill. The building is the epitome of old New York charm. One would almost never suspect the dark history lurking behind its perfectly maintained facade. At first, the building and its eclectic tenants couldn't feel more welcoming. But as the Lowans settle into their new home, Rosie starts to suspect that there's more to the Windermere than meets the eye. When one of the neighbors turns up dead, Rosie must get to the truth about the Windermere before she, too, falls under its dangerous spell"--
Author: Mallery, Susan, author. Published: 2024 Call Number: LP F MALLERY Format: Large print Summary: The rules of summer book club are simple: No sad books. No pressure. Yes, wine! Besties Laurel and Paris are excited to welcome Cassie to the group. This year, the book club is all about fill-your-heart reads. Since Laurel's divorce, she feels like the Worst Mom Ever. Cassie has an unfortunate habit of falling for ridiculous man-boys. Paris is still reeling after chasing off the only man brave and foolish enough to marry her. Inspired by the heroines who risk everything for fulfillment, Laurel, Paris, and Cassie begin to take big chances. Facing an unwritten chapter can be terrifying. But it can be exhilarating, too, if they can find the courage to change.
Author: Dodd, Christina, author. Published: 2024 Call Number: LP F DODD Format: Large print Summary: In an isolated lighthouse on the California coast, Rowan Winterbourne lives a solitary life with only her secrets for company. For she has a mission that drives her--to avenge herself against Gregory Torval, the powerful drug and arms dealer who murdered her mother and vowed to eliminate everyone in her family. Then Joe Grantham arrives at her door and, for the first time, Rowan lets her guard down--a dangerous mistake when he blackmails her to go with him to Torval's private island. There Torval's decadent birthday celebration rages, and while Joe pursues his own agenda, she'll provide the perfect distraction. On Raptor Island, Torval's will is law and Joe, the closest she has to an ally, is an enigma she can't trust. One false move, one careless word, and Rowan will die. As dark truths are uncovered, one by one, Rowan recognizes her last chance for the revenge has come. But is it worth everything she must sacrifice to get out alive?
Author: Lieu, Susan, author. Published: 2024 Call Number: B LIEU Format: Books Summary: "An emotionally raw memoir about the crumbling of the American Dream and a daughter of refugees who searches for answers after her mother dies during plastic surgery. Susan Lieu has long been searching for answers. About her family's past and about her own future. Refugees from the Vietnam War, Susan's family escaped to California in the 1980s after five failed attempts. Upon arrival, Susan's mother was their savvy, charismatic North Star, setting up two successful nail salons and orchestrating every success-until Susan was eleven. That year, her mother died from a botched tummy tuck. After the funeral, no one was ever allowed to talk about her or what happened. For the next twenty years, Susan navigated a series of cascading questions alone-why did the most perfect person in her life want to change her body? Why would no one tell her about her mother's life in Vietnam? And how did this surgeon, who preyed on Vietnamese immigrants, go on operating after her mother's death? Sifting through depositions, tracking down the surgeon's family, and enlisting the help of spirit channelers, Susan uncovers the painful truth of her mother, herself, and the impossible ideal of beauty. The Manicurist's Daughter is much more than a memoir about grief, trauma, and body image. It is a story of fierce determination, strength in shared culture, and finding your place in the world"--
Author: Sokolik, Vicki, author. Published: 2024 Call Number: 362.7756 Format: Books Summary: "An exploration of the crisis of homeless youth--told through the stories of a woman on the frontlines and the kids themselves"-- "They hide in plain sight. They survive on school breakfasts and lunches, join sports teams in order to shower, sleep on friends' couches, in parks, or on the streets. Their official designation is "unaccompanied homeless youth"--they are not "runaways" breaking free from strict parenting; these are kids seeking safety. They have escaped abusive parents, been abandoned, or never had a home to begin with. When Vicki Sokolik's son brought home a classmate who was living on her own and about to drop out of school to work a minimum wage job, Vicki stepped in to help. Soon she was introduced to other kids who lacked adult supervision, support, and the means to survive and thrive. As she learned more about the invisible population of young people navigating life alone, she discovered the countless ways they are overlooked and impeded by the system. She founded a nonprofit and worked to change legislation in her home state of Florida to give these kids agency over their lives. Listening to the kids opened her up and changed her; and in turn, her unwavering belief in them transformed their ideas of what was possible. If You See Them wakes us up to the issue of youth homelessness in America through Sokolik's own story of advocacy and through the voices of the kids themselves. Her grassroots action demonstrates the world-shifting power of compassion, acceptance, belonging, and self-determination, and the capacity each of us has to change our communities for the better"--