Hey YA Podcast: Favorite Books of 2024!

Posted on December 18, 2024 by calibrary

“I Like a Little Depression Now and Then”: over on the Hey YA Podcast, on the Book Riot platform, hosts Erica Ezeifedi and Kelly Jensen talk all things bookish for 2024, including their favorite young adult books of the year!

Books discussed on this episode:

Kill Her Twice by Stacey Lee — In in 1930s Los Angeles Chinatown, the Chow sisters, May, Gemma, and Peony, suspect foul play in the death of Chinatown star Lulu Wong and take it upon themselves to solve the murder, revealing a conspiracy that threatens their Chinatown neighborhood. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook

Cat + Gamer series by Wataru Nadatani, translated by Zack Davisson — Riko, a twenty-nine-year-old office worker with an obsession for video games, finds her quiet life upended when she takes in a stray cat. Get the eBook

COMING SOON! Hirayasumi, Vol. 1 by Keigo Shinzō, translated by Jan Mitsuko Cash — In a world filled with anxiety, confusion, and grief, Hiroto and the people who surround him are all just doing their best to figure out this thing called life.

Flying Witch, Vol. 1 by Chihiro Ishizuka, translated by Melissa Tanaka — Makoto Kowata, a novice witch, packs up her belongings (including a black cat familiar) and moves in with her distant cousins in rural Aomori to complete her training and become a full-fledged witch.

Clever Creatures of the Night by Samantha Mabry — When Case arrives at her best friend Drea’s isolated West Texas home and finds her missing, she embarks on a search for clues about Drea’s disappearance while facing the unsettling, cult-like, and possibly murderous behavior of Drea’s roommates.

Flamboyants by George M. Johnson — An empowering set of essays about Black and Queer icons from the Harlem Renaissance. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook

Shift Happens: The History of Labor in the United States by J. Albert Mann — The engaging history of the worker actions that brought us weekends, pay equality, desegregation, an end to child labor and more documents how the labor movement has shaped America. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook

Heir by Sabaa Tahir — Three teens, whose fates intertwine to stop the murder of innocent children, journey across two warring nations to ensure a better future for their people. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook

Suffragist’s Guide to the Antarctic by Yi Shun Lai — In 1914 England, eighteen-year-old American Clara lies about her age and citizenship–claiming to be twenty-one and Canadian–to land a coveted spot on an Antarctic expedition, but when the crew is marooned on an ice floe, Clara’s mission to advance the women’s suffrage movement takes a back seat to survival.

Morgana and Oz by Miyuli — Morgana belongs to a long line of witches, and Oz to the rival vampire clan. After a chance encounter . . . and maybe a few stray spells . . . these two need to find a way to work together, or risk all-out war between coven and clan.

Moon Dogs #1 (One Shot) by Tananarive Due, illustrated by Kelsey Ramsay — East African werewolves are secretly living in Miami, a minority within a minority caught in a burgeoning war that threatens both lycanthrope and human lives.

The Fade #1 by Aabria Iyengar, illustrated by Mari Costa — A once-fearless high school student, Jeannie wasn’t prepared for the aimless feeling of being a college freshman, but that’s all about to change.

COMING SOON! After Life by Gayle Forman — One afternoon after school, Amber arrives home on her bike. But when her mom sees her, she screams — because Amber died seven years ago, hit by a car while on the very same bicycle she’s inexplicably riding now.

New eBooks Available In Sora!

Posted on December 18, 2024 by calibrary

We’re always adding new eBooks and Audiobooks to the CA Library collection in the Sora digital reading app, especially as we wait for new books to hit the New Books shelves in the library — our digital library is open 24/7!

Take a look at the latest eBooks available in your Sora account, including these great titles:

Wednesday: A Novelization of Season One by Tehlor Kay Mejia — Based on the hit TV series on Netflix! While attending Nevermore Academy, Wednesday Addams attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a killing spree and solve the mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago. Also available as an Audiobook

“I absolutely love how Wednesday inner thoughts are much more fleshed out, and it’s perfectly in her voice and I’m excited to continue reading!” — Angelina Pedrotti, Amazon Reviewer

The Color of a Lie by Kim Johnson — In 1955, Calvin’s family relocates from Chicago to the all-white suburbs of Levittown, Pennsylvania, where they must pass for white to survive, but when Calvin begins to uncover dark secrets about the town and its inhabitants, he puts his family and their new home at risk. Also available as an Audiobook

“Well researched, this historical fiction novel explores hidden identities, segregation, racial discrimination, and societal inequities that persist today due to deeply rooted historical laws and implications” (School Library Journal).

A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants: Wicked Weeds and Sinister Seeds by Rebecca E. Hirsch — Explore the strange and remarkable stories of poisonous and even deadly plants. From a hallucinogenic fungus linked to the Salem Witch Trials to the weed that killed Abraham Lincoln’s mother, learn how certain plants evolved toxicity to avoid being consumed by predators and became the predator on their own.

“An engaging, visually appealing guide for science buffs, true-crime enthusiasts, and herbalists alike” (Kirkus Reviews).

Fledgling by S.K. Ali — The first book in a gripping duology from acclaimed author S.K. Ali introduces a fractured world on the brink of either enlightenment or war. Raisa of Upper Earth has only lived a life of privilege and acquiescence. Ever dutiful, she accepts her father’s arrangement of her marriage to Lein, Crown Prince of the corrupt, volatile lands of Lower Earth. Though Lein is a stranger, Raisa knows the wedding will unite their vastly different worlds in a pact of peace. Also available as an Audiobook

“Ali depicts a richly complex setting through the perspectives of an array of politically positioned characters. A grippingly believable mirror of our own world” (Kirkus Reviews).

Flyboy by Kasey LeBlanc — Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets The Night Circus in this standout debut YA novel, about a boy who visits a magic-filled circus in his dreams in order to escape reality, where his trans identity remains a secret. In his desperation to hang on to the one place he feels at home, Asher sets both worlds on a collision course that could destroy all the relationships he cares about most. An ideal next read for fans of Cemetery Boys. Also available as an Audiobook

“LeBlanc’s debut boasts stunning, evocative writing, and the vibrant settings of both Asher’s daytime life and the magic of the circus will transport readers” (Booklist).

Icarus by K. Ancrum — Perfect for fans of Adam Silvera, this suspenseful YA romance reimagines the tale of Icarus as a star-crossed love story between a young art thief and the son of the man he’s been stealing from. Icarus Gallagher steals priceless art and replaces it with his father’s forgeries. For years, one man — the wealthy Mr. Black — has been their target. To keep their secret, Icarus adheres to his own strict rules — Don’t let anyone close. Don’t let anyone touch you. And, above all, don’t get caught. Also available as an Audiobook

“A narrative filled with suspense, romance, and heartbreak with secrets unraveling at a breakneck speed” (Kirkus Reviews).

Kindling by Traci Chee — A standalone fantasy set against a war-ravaged world where kindling warfare — the use of elite, magic-wielding teenage soldiers — has been outlawed. In this rich and evocative novel, seven kindlings search for purpose and identity as they prepare for one final battle. Also available as an Audiobook

“A thorough and gut-wrenching exploration of finding reasons to move forward after devastating loss and darkness and how community and connection can breed hope that will linger with readers long after the last page” (Booklist).

Looking For Smoke by K.A. Cobell –In her powerful debut novel, K. A. Cobell (Blackfeet) weaves loss, betrayal, and complex characters into a thriller that will illuminate, surprise, and engage readers until the final word. When local girl Loren includes Mara in a traditional Blackfeet Giveaway to honor Loren’s missing sister, Mara thinks she’ll finally make some friends on the Blackfeet reservation. Instead, a girl from the Giveaway, Samantha White Tail, is found murdered. Also available as an Audiobook

“Cobell highlights the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis and delivers a gut-punch of an ending in this timely debut thriller that is by turns spine-tingling and emotionally raw” (Publishers Weekly).

On The Bright Side by Anna Sortino — A hopeful novel about love, disability, and the inevitability of change by the author of Give Me a Sign. When eighteen-year-old Ellie’s Deaf boarding school shuts down, she attends a public high school where she struggles to adjust, but finds an ally in Jackson, a soccer player going through a disability diagnosis of his own. Also available as an Audiobook

“An earnest romance that strikes the perfect balance of hope and resilience while challenging readers to consider a world outside of their own” (School Library Journal).

A Queen’s Game by Katharine McGee — The bestselling author of the American Royals series invites you to visit 19th-century Europe amid the glamour and intrigue of the Victorian era. In this historical romance inspired by true events, three princesses struggle to find love — and end up vying for the hearts of two future kings. In the last glittering decade of European empires, courts, and kings, these young women are on a collision course with history — and with each other. Also available as an Audiobook

“Readers looking for romantic machinations will be satisfied, even when gossip and blackmail threaten all three happily-ever-afters in the last moment, leaving them gasping for the sequel” (Booklist).

For even more great eBooks, check out these recent posts:

Most Popular Audiobooks For The Week of 12/16

Posted on December 17, 2024 by calibrary

One of the features of the Sora digital reading app is the ability to sort collections by popularity, and not just popularity within our school library, but across all libraries that use Sora! Here are the top 10 most popular audiobooks available in three library collections: