All the books listed here are available at the library. Stop in, give us a call, or use the online catalog to place a hold and check one out. All book descriptions are summarized from the publisher’s description on the back of the book, Goodreads, or the library catalog.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month:
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan: A lapse in judgment sends Frida, a young mother, into a government reform program where custody of her child is not guaranteed. She learns just how far she will go for her child while exploring the perils of “perfect” parenting. Available on Hoopla (e-book) and Palace Project (audio, e-book).
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai: Follow the story of Sonia and Sunny whose fates intersect and diverge across continents and years. As these two young people navigate the forces shaping their lives and the complicated bonds that link generations together, we get an epic tale of love and family. Available on Libby (e-book) and Palace Project (audio, e-book).
One and Only by Maurene Goo: Cassia Park believes in soulmates, and makes a living helping other people find theirs. Afraid of ending up like her mom, Cassia decides to be told who her soulmate is and years later she still hasn’t found him. So when she crosses paths with Ellis, younger, handsome, and not destined to be her soulmate, she thinks destiny might have a curveball in store for her. Available on Palace Project (audio, e-book).
Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunaseker: Struggling, twenty-eight year old Siriwathi spends her taxi-driving shifts listening to true-crime podcasts, but she never expects to find herself in the middle of a crime herself. When her final passenger of the night is found murdered in her cab, Siriwathi is the obvious suspect. Desperate to clear her name, she chases down leads through New York City to find out who really killed the midnight passenger.
Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang: When Enka meets Mathilde in art school, she is instantly drawn to her and begins to pour everything into their friendship. Mathilde’s unique art leads to fame and success and causes the friends to begin drifting apart. Desperate to keep Mathilde close, Enka considers undergoing a procedure from the cutting edge SCAFFOLD technology that would link Enka and Mathilde forever. At what cost? Available on Libby (e-book) and Palace Project (e-book).
Yellowface by RF Kuang: Best-selling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she is and she didn’t even write the book she says she wrote. Most importantly she’s not even Asian American like she claims. This darkly humorous novel follows June Hayward (Juniper Song) as she steals the work of her recently deceased colleague to pass off as her own, and the secrets she works to continuously keep covered up. Join us for Books & Brew Book Club on May 13 to discuss Yellowface, or join the online discussion with RF Kuang on May 20! Available on Hoopla (audio, e-book), Libby (audio), and Palace Project (audio, e-book).
The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong: On a late summer evening in East Gladness, Connecticut, nineteen-year-old Hai is standing on the edge of a bridge ready to jump, when Grazina, an elderly widow with dementia convinces him to come down. Out of options, Hai becomes her caretaker. They form a life-altering bond built on empathy, spiritual reckoning, and heartbreak as they come to find out that their differences might be the very things that make them similar. Available on Libby (e-book) and Palace Project (audio, e-book).
Celebrate Star Wars Day (May 4) with these books set in space!
Red Rising by Pierce Brown: This dystopian science fiction novel is set on mars and follows lowborn miner Darrow as he begins to infiltrate the ranks of the elite. He’ll have to become one of his enemies in order to bring them down. Available on Hoopla (audio), Libby (e-book), and Palace Project (e-book).
Orbital by Samantha Harvey: As six astronauts collect data and conduct experiments in their spacecraft above Earth, they notice the spectacular beauty of the planet in a single day. As news from home reaches them, the pull to be back on Earth and to continue experiencing life there grows stronger. Available on Hoopla (audio, e-book), Libby (audio, e-book), and Palace Project (e-book).
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu: This fantastical science fiction with a large cast of characters takes place during China’s Cultural Revolution. If you are a fan of aliens and the fight to take over the world, this might be the book for you! Available on Hoopla (audio), Libby (audio, e-book), and Palace Project (e-book).
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine: Ambassador Mahit Dzmare arrives in the center of the multi-system Teixcalaanli Empire only to discover that her predecessor has died, and no one will admit that his death wasn’t an accident. Mahit must discover who is behind the murder, rescue herself, and save her Station from Teixcalaan’s unceasing expansion or rescue it from annihilation. Available on Hoopla (audio) and Palace Project (audio, e-book).
We Have Always Been Here by Lena Nguyen: Psychologist Dr. Grace Park is a part of a crew aboard the Deucalion headed to an unexplored galaxy. As friction between the crew develops, Park finds herself befriending the androids of the ship while the rest of the crew treats them with suspicion. After landing, the crew is trapped with no means of communication–and things begin to fall apart. Available on Hoopla (audio) and Palace Project (e-book).
When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi: Suddenly and without explanation, the moon as we know it is replaced with an orb of cheese with the exact same mass. Through the length of an entire lunar cycle we follow multiple characters–schoolkids and scientists, billionaires and workers, preachers and politicians–as they confront the strange new world they live in, and the absurd, impossible moon that now hangs above all their lives. Available on Libby (e-book) and Palace Project (e-book).
The Martian by Andy Weir: Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate without him, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive. But Mark isn’t giving up yet. Using his ingenuity and engineering skills, he confronts one obstacle after another, but will it be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him? Available on Libby (e-book) and Palace Project (audio, e-book).
