We’re always adding new eBooks and Audiobooks to the CA Library collection in the Sora digital reading app — our digital library is open 24/7 all year round!

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

Influenced by Sarah Darer Littman and Cindy L. Otis — What happens when friendship goes too far? Tenth grader Lainey struggles with her anxiety and shifting friendships after her twin brother moves away, but when her confident friend Bliss goes missing, Lainey uncovers a web of secrets about Bliss’s hidden struggles.

“Lainey and Bliss’s respective narratives highlight numerous critical issues, including the pitfalls of social media influencing and the psychology of parasocial relationships” (Kirkus Reviews).

Keep Your Friends Close by Cynthia Murphy — An explosive dark academia thriller set in the world of the BookTok sensation Win Lose Kill Die, where secret societies and lethal ambition run the show. When members of her school’s secret society are murdered, second-year Chloe connects the victims to a ledger of misdeeds recorded by vengeful classmates and searches for the killer before she becomes the next target.

“Bold, thrilling, and wickedly addictive. Keep Your Friends Close will be your next obsession” (Karen M. McManus).

Pushing Hope: An Illustrated Memoir of Survival by Raymond Santana — When Raymond Santana was just 14, he was accused of a crime he didn’t commit. The 1989 rape of a jogger in Central Park was pinned on Santana and four other young teens, a tragedy that would change their lives forever. In this powerful illustrated memoir, Santana takes readers on a journey from his move to Harlem, to his arrest and trial, and from his time in prison to his ongoing fight for justice. Exonerated in 2002, Santana has made it his mission to fight wrongful convictions and injustice.

“This is what justice looks like. Raymond Santana’s story is one of unbelievable courage in the face of rampant injustice and impressive resilience as he maintains his dignity and in the face of obstacles that would destroy many of us. Bravo!” (Ken Burns, filmmaker).

The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson — Bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers another stunning, ripped-from-the-headlines thriller, following a freshman girl whose college life is turned upside down when her roommate’s ex-convict brother moves into their dorm and starts controlling their every move. Out from under her overprotective parents, Jordyn is ready to kill it in prelaw at a prestigious, historically Black university in Washington DC. When her new roommate’s brother is released from prison, the last thing Jordyn expects is to come home and find the ex-convict on their dorm room sofa.

“Jackson’s portrayal of subtle brainwashing, leading up to a wholly unanticipated twist, is excellent” (Kirkus Reviews).

The Weaver Bride by Lydia Gregovic — A sweeping fantasy about a witch who must navigate a ruthless marriage competition—and try not to fall in love along the way. Part twisting mystery, part thrilling romance, The Weaver Bride is an unputdownable romantasy steeped in a lush magical world.

“Gregovic smartly braids gothic mystery and romantic suspense in this twisty fantasy” (Publishers Weekly). 

While We’re Young by K.L. Walther — A whirlwind romance inspired by Ferris Bueller’s Day Off about four friends whose hearts are broken and mended over the course of an epic senior skip day. Grace, Isa, and Everett used to be an inseparable trio before their love lives became a tangled mess. For starters, Grace is secretly in love with Everett, who used to go out with Isa before breaking her heart. And, oh yeah, no one knows that Isa has been hanging out with James, Grace’s brother — and if Grace finds out, it could ruin their friendship.

“While We’re Young takes all the relationship drama of three years in The Summer I Turned Pretty and puts it all into one book (Screenrant). 

Very Dangerous Things by Lauren Muñoz — A murder mystery game turns deadly in this young adult whodunit by the author of Suddenly a Murder. Everyone in town knows about the game. For decades, J. Everett High has staged an annual murder mystery to put its criminology students to the test. And this year, crime junkie Dulce Castillo is dead set on winning. Soon, the game kicks off, and the student playing the victim, Xavier Torres, is found poisoned in the school’s greenhouse . . . except his death is not pretend. It’s murder.

“Dark academia meets classic detective fiction in this clever, twisty page-turner (Karen M. McManus, author of One of Us Is Lying).

You’ve Found Oliver by Dustin Thao — Fall in love all over again with Oliver’s story in the hotly-anticipated companion novel to bestselling sensation You’ve Reached Sam. It’s been a year since his best friend, Sam, died. Even though Oliver knows he won’t get a response, he can’t stop texting Sam’s number, especially as the anniversary of his death approaches. Then one day he accidentally hits the call button, and someone picks up.

“A worthy sequel . . . Thao weaves a tender, sweet love story that stands on its own” (Booklist). 

National Native American Heritage Month celebrates the traditions, languages and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and affiliated Island communities to ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation. Such recognition, however, dates back further with state and organizational recognition of Indigenous peoples days and commemorations occurring since the turn of the twentieth century. For example, Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a member of the Seneca Nation and co-founder of the Society of American Indians in 1911, organized American Indian Day beginning in 1915.

We’ve compiled a collection of eBooks and audiobooks on Native American Heritage over in the Sora digital reading app — you can check it out here: Native American Heritage Month.

These are some of the resources available at CA Library that highlight the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans:

American Indian Lacrosse: Little Brother of War by Thomas Vennum — Often viewed as a gift from the spirits and as far more than recreation alone, lacrosse has functioned in Indian life as a surrogate or “little brother” of war, as a healing ritual, and as a memorial celebration. Featuring archival illustrations, this book presents a rare account of the rules, equipment, techniques, regional differences, and legendary underpinnings of the game among tribes of the Northeast, Southeast, and Great Lakes regions.

“When not retelling notable encounters, Vennum describes the equipage, variant rules, and, in an interlude, the paintings of George Catlin. His images are among a trove of illustrations on this unique contact sport” (Booklist).

Apple, Skin To The Core: A Memoir In Words and Pictures by Eric L. Gansworth (Onondaga) — Gansworth tells the story of his family of Onondaga among Tuscaroras, of Native folks everywhere. From the horrible legacy of the government boarding schools, to a boy watching his siblings leave and return and leave again, to a young man fighting to be an artist who balances multiple worlds.

“A well-written and captivating autobiography about the modern-day Indigenous experience” (School Library Journal).

Dreaming In Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices, edited by Lisa Charleyboy (Tsilhqot’in) and Mary Beth Leatherdale — Whether discussing the transformative power of art or music, the lasting trauma of residential schools, growing up poor, or achieving success, the contributors to this remarkable anthology all have something in common: a rich Native heritage that has informed who they are. Get the eBook

“These 43 stories are as far removed as can be from the usual stereotypes of generic “Indians” in children’s and YA literature . . . It’s hard to imagine a middle- or high-school classroom that wouldn’t benefit from having this” (Booklist). 

Everything You Wanted To Know About Indians But Were Afraid To Ask: Young Readers Edition by Anton Treuer (Ojibwe) –This updated and expanded edition of Treuer’s 2012 book includes dozens of new questions and new sections — including a social activism section that explores the Dakota Access Pipeline, racism, identity, politics, and more. Get the eBook | Get the audiobook

“A thoughtful look at a complex subject that will be useful for both Indigenous and non-­Indigenous readers and a welcome addition to most libraries” (Booklist). 

The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Life In Native America by David Treuer (Ojibwe), adapted by Sheila Keenan — Since the late 1800s, it has been believed that Native American civilization has been wiped from the United States. The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee argues that Native American culture is far from defeated — if anything, it is thriving as much today as it was one hundred years ago. Anthropologist and author David Treuer looks at Native American culture as it exists today — and the fight to preserve language and traditions. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook

“Using approachable language and eye-opening firsthand accounts, Treuer unfailingly puts Indigenous people at the center of their own history to prove that ‘Indian cultures are not dead and our civilizations have not been destroyed'” (Publishers Weekly). 

An Indigenous Peoples’ History Of The United States For Young People by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, adapted by Jean Mendoza and Debbie Reese (Nambé Pueblo) — Going beyond the story of America as a country “discovered” by a few brave men in the “New World,” Indigenous human rights advocate Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States, 2014) reveals the roles that settler colonialism and policies of American Indian genocide played in forming our national identity. Get the eBook

“An important corrective to conventional narratives of our nation’s history . . . . An accessible, engaging, and excellent read, dismantling American mythologies and fostering critical reasoning about history and current events” (Kirkus Reviews). 

Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, And Changemakers From Past And Present by Adrienne Keene (Cherokee) — Celebrate the lives, stories, and contributions of Indigenous artists, activists, scientists, athletes, and other changemakers in this beautifully illustrated collection. From luminaries of the past, like nineteenth-century sculptor Edmonia Lewis — the first Black and Native American female artist to achieve international fame — to contemporary figures like linguist Jessie Little Doe Baird, who revived the Wampanoag language, Notable Native People highlights the vital impact Indigenous dreamers and leaders have made on the world. Get the eBook

“Bright and appealing yet never simplistic, this is a strong addition for every library” (Library Journal). 

#NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women, edited by Lisa Charleyboy (Tsilhqot’in) and Mary Beth Leatherdale  — Whether looking back to a troubled past or welcoming a hopeful future, the powerful voices of Indigenous women across North America resound in this book. In the same style as the best-selling Dreaming in Indian (2016), #NotYourPrincess presents an eclectic collection of poems, essays, interviews, and art that combine to express the experience of being a Native woman.

“Both testament to the complexity of Indigenous women’s identities and ferocious statement that these women fully inhabit the modern world” (Kirkus Reviews).

Sioux Code Talkers of World War II by Andrea M. Page (Standing Rock Sioux) — Page’s great-uncle John Bear King was a Sioux Indian in the First Cavalry in the Second World War. Her book follows seven Sioux who put aside a long history of prejudice against their people and joined the fight against Japan, using their native language as a secret code for the Americans. Get the eBook

“Page explores not only the importance of these soldiers to the war, but also their history, culture, and values. An engagingly written, deeply researched account of a little-known part of World War II” (Kirkus Reviews). 

What The Eagle Sees: Indigenous Stories Of Rebellion And Renewal by Eldon Yellowhorn (Pikani) and Kathy Lowinger — What do people do when their civilization is invaded? Indigenous people have been faced with disease, war, broken promises, and forced assimilation. Despite crushing losses and insurmountable challenges, they formed new nations from the remnants of old ones, they adopted new ideas and built on them, they fought back, and they kept their cultures alive.

“The combination of modern and historical insight is extremely effective. A valuable resource for anyone seeking to learn more about Indigenous history” (School Library Journal).

We continue our series of posts featuring some of the best books in the CA Library collection — today’s featured titles are all Science Fiction and/or Dystopian. Follow the links for each book to learn more from the CA Library catalog!

And if there’s an eBook and/or audiobook available, follow the link to open the Sora digital reading app.

All Better Now by Neal Shusterman — Three teens seek to unravel the truth behind conflicting agendas surrounding a deadly virus that could change humanity forever. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook

“A thought-provoking and grimly enjoyable tale exploring a strange future” (Kirkus Reviews). 

Climate of Chaos by Cassandra Newbould — In the post-apocalyptic domed city of Seattle, disabled seventeen-year-old Fox must navigate a ruthless society where healthcare is currency in search of her younger sister, Rabbit. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook

“An exciting, high-stakes story offering relevant social commentary” (Kirkus Reviews). 

Fable For The End of the World by Ava Reid — The Last of Us meets The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in this stand-alone dystopian romance about survival, sacrifice, and love that risks everything. By encouraging massive accumulations of debt from its underclass, a single corporation, Caerus, controls all aspects of society. Unbeknownst to Inesa, their cruel and indolent mother has accrued an enormous debt — enough to qualify one of her children for Caerus’s livestreamed assassination spectacle: the Lamb’s Gauntlet. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook

“Reid’s tale touches on the dangers of debt and late-stage capitalism, the addiction to screens and technology, and the realities of corporations buying out governments. Suzanne Collins fans, meet your new favorite dystopia” (Booklist). 

Moonstorm by Yoon Ha Lee — In a society where conformity is valued above all else, a teen girl training to become an Imperial pilot is forced to return to her rebel roots to save her world in this adrenaline-fueled sci-fi adventure — perfect for fans of Iron Widow and Skyward! Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook

“Action-packed space battles and strong worldbuilding will draw readers in” (Kirkus Reviews). 

COMING SOON! Snowglobe 2 (Book 2) by Soyoung Park — The groundbreaking Korean phenomenon that Entertainment Weekly called “The Hunger Games meets Squid Game” continues with even more dark secrets and shocking surprises. The temperature is rising and the truth at the center of Chobahm’s frozen world will be revealed in the final installment of this epic dystopian saga. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook

“This volume is accessible to new readers but is best appreciated by those familiar with the series opener. Layered, distinctive, and memorable” (Booklist). 

Songlight (Torch Trilogy, Book 1) by Moira Buffini — Star-crossed lovers, against-all-odds friendship, and a brutal post-apocalyptic world make this first in a trilogy utterly unforgettable. Elsa and Rye bond over having the ability known as ‘songlight’, which makes them outcasts in their world if they were found out. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook

“Clearly inspired by threats that many communities face today, Songlight will appeal to readers who enjoyed Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and similar dystopian novels with patriarchy- and prejudice-driven narratives that marry action to political stories” (Booklist).

Sunrise on the Reaping (A Hunger Games Prequel) by Suzanne Collins — The unforgettable fifth book in the Hunger Games series: Haymitch’s story. As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook

“A brutal tale of compassion and rage, and a frank examination of propaganda and tragedy, that will satisfy longtime series fans and newcomers alike” (Publishers Weekly). 

This Is The Year by Gloria Munoz — In a near-future Florida ravaged by climate catastrophe, seventeen-year-old Julieta Villarreal is recruited by a space exploration program for immigrant teens after her twin sister is killed in a car crash. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook

“A sad but hopeful look at our future if climate change continues to be ignored” (SLJ).

You’ll find even more great science fiction titles in these previous posts:

• Science Fiction (November 2024)
• Science Fiction (November 2023)
• Science Fiction (November 2022)
• Science Fiction (November 2021)
• Science Fiction (November 2020)