New Action Movies

- Elena Leave a comment

Looking for something fast-paced and action-focused for your next movie night? DPL has you covered! These new action DVD releases are ready for checkout. (Descriptions below provided by publisher.)

Sisu: Road to Revenge

Returning to the house where his family was brutally murdered during the war, “the man who refuses to die” dismantles it, loads it on a truck, and is determined to rebuild it somewhere safe in their honor. When the Red Army commander who killed his family comes back hellbent on finishing the job, a relentless, eye-popping cross-country chase ensues a fight to the death, full of clever, unbelievable action set pieces.

Deathstalker

In Deathstalker, the Kingdom of Abraxeon is under siege by the Dreadites, heralds of the long-dead sorcerer Nekromemnon. When Deathstalker recovers a cursed amulet from a corpse-strewn battlefield, he’s marked by dark magick and hunted by monstrous assassins. To survive, he must break the curse and face the rising evil. Death is just the beginning… of great adventure!

King Ivory

A gritty action crime thriller about the dangerous underworld of fentanyl cartels in middle America. Work hits too close to home for a drug cop when his son becomes an addict. He makes it his mission to take down those responsible, including the Mexican cartel, Indian Brotherhood War Chief, and the local Irish Mob.

The Running Man

In a near-future society, The Running Man is the top-rated show on television, a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian, to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.

The Rescue

A rescue unit within the Chinese Coast Guard are forced to overcome their personal differences to resolve a crisis. During a big storm, a giant cargo ship caught fire. The rescue bureau launched a comprehensive rescue plan. The rescue team while haunted by the shadow caused by past accidents must team up with the ship crew to save the ship.

During the month of April, look for the “Spring into Action” displays at all three branches for more action movie recommendations.

NEURODIVERSITY CELEBRATION MONTH

- Jill Leave a comment

The American Library Association promotes the nationally recognized Neurodiversity Celebration Month every April. During the month, libraries around the country take the opportunity to highlight neurological differences, such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. In conjunction with World Autism Day on April 2nd, and on the heels of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, which is the last full week in March, the goal of the month is to move beyond awareness and toward empowering neurodivergent individuals through support, providing resources, increasing accessibility, and celebrating the unique contributions of neurodivergent individuals. Various initiatives include advocacy, education, and events focused on recognizing the rights of neurodivergent people, learning about their experiences and achievements, and challenging stereotypes.

In order to highlight Neurodiversity Celebration Month, we’ve selected some books below that have main characters who are neurodivergent. You can also check out our Learning & Literacy Collection LibGuide which includes resources on Neurodivergence, Neurodivergent Learners, and Parenting Neurodivergent Kids.

 

The father she went to find by Carter Wilson

“Penny has never met anyone smarter than her. That’s par for the course when you’re a savant–one of less than one hundred in the world. But despite her photographic memory and super-powered intellect, there’s one question Penny doesn’t know the answer to: where did her father go when he left her and her mother years ago? On Penny’s 21st birthday, she receives a card in the mail from her father, just as she has every year since he left. But this birthday card is different. For the first time ever, there’s a return address. Penny may not know much about the world beyond her mother’s house and The Institute, the special school she has attended since her abilities became clear, but now seems like the perfect time to break free of her safe existence and start to really live. What she doesn’t realize is that the real world is more complicated and dangerous than she ever imagined it could be.”

 

A special interest in murder by Mette Ivie Harrison

“A brilliant neurodivergent female sleuth colliding with an FBI agent with a secret. A crime that is not all it seems. At 24 years old, Ada Latia used to be the youngest millionaire in the cosmetics industry. And, she used to be married. Now, she spends her time studying ways to communicate with aliens. After all, aliens could not possibly be more cruel or deceitful than other humans. Ada’s spiteful ex-husband Rex believes autistic people like her are monsters, so she’s not surprised when he calls her to share a clickbait article gleefully shouting that one autistic child has killed another at a special school in Idaho. Rex just means to hurt her, but when Ada reads the article, it’s not the lies about autism being fake that catch her eye: it’s a disturbing photograph of the dead child. The image of the girl is perfect – too perfect. As if someone has committed a murder, and then carefully staged the scene to cover it up. Ada reports her suspicions to the FBI, and the case crosses the desk of her old classmate Henry Bloodstone, who invites her to assist him. Ada’s not a trained investigator. It’s painful for her to come up against situations she’s not an expert in. She barely remembers Henry, even though it’s clear that he remembers her. But the death is a mystery – and Ada, who counts murder as one of her special interests, has never learned to let a mystery go.”

 

What about the bodies by Ken Jaworowski

“Three desperate lives are about to collide in Locksburg, Pennsylvania, a hard-edged, Rust Belt town. There, Carla, a single mom poised to finally break free from her cycle of poverty, must join with her son to hide the body of a classmate who died while with him. At the same time, Reed, an autistic young man, sets out on a journey to keep a deathbed promise. Along the way he’ll encounter both kindhearted residents and a cold-blooded nemesis. And Liz, an aspiring musician on the cusp of a breakthrough, needs to quickly come up with the cash she owes a brutal ex-con. If she can’t pay him, both her dream and her life will be in grave danger. In this small-town thriller, these three compelling characters intersect and the novel ignites into a story filled with explosive twists, hair-raising chills, and boundless love.”

 

American girl by Wendy Walker

“Charlie Hudson, an autistic 17-year-old, is determined to leave Sawyer, PA as soon as she graduates high school — in the meantime, she works as many hours as she can at a sandwich shop called The Triple S to save money for college. But when shop owner Clay Cooper — a man who is both respected and feared by many in this economically depressed community — is found dead, each member of his staff becomes a suspect in the perplexing case. Charlie must work to protect herself and her friends, and uncover the danger that may still be at large in their tightknit community. Based on the #1 bestselling audio, American Girl is a riveting thriller told through the eyes of an unforgettable protagonist.”

 

My kind of trouble by Leanne Schwartz

“Conwoman Harmony Hale has sold lies up and down California for years, never looking back at her crafty scams or one-night stands. Now she’s come to Brookville, California, with her sights set on its wealthy mayor–the man who stole her father’s music-streaming algorithm and ruined his life. Harmony is finally ready to take him down, with her trusty con of selling a nonexistent music festival. All she needs is the cooperation of the man who owns the potential festival site. Autistic librarian and piano teacher Preston Jones spends his days fighting book challengers trying to shut down his library programs. He’s responsible for raising his selectively nonspeaking little sister and needs to focus on keeping his job. He doesn’t have time for a romance like the ones in his books–and certainly none for the brassy festival promoter who wants to use his land for her “Coachella North.” Preston sees things in black and white, and he sees Harmony–amazing curves, flashy smile, and all–as nothing but trouble. But when Harmony promises to help him win the public over and save his youth programs, Preston finds himself wondering if this hustler with a heart of gold might be the someone he’s been waiting for. Soon things are getting steamy in the stacks, and with her con coming to a crescendo, Harmony needs to choose: revenge and running again or the happy ending she never saw coming.”

 

Switcheroo by E. J. Copperman

“New York private investigators – and super-sized, ever-so-slightly-paranormal siblings – Fran and Ken Stein are back in business. Thirty-two-year-old Austin Cobb is trying to find his birth parents to get an answer for a deeply rooted question: Was he put up for adoption because he’s on the autism spectrum? Fran and Ken personally know about abandonment, due to their parents leaving to keep them safe, hence the reason they founded K&F Stein Investigations. So naturally they want to help Austin and bring him good news. But the more the PI duo investigate, the more they find themselves in an entangled plot involving abduction, fraud and murder. Having their past catch up with them and posing a threat to their existence and their parents puts them into even more peril than they bargained for . . .”

 

The curious incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon

“Despite his overwhelming fear of interacting with people, Christopher, a mathematically-gifted, autistic fifteen-year-old boy, decides to investigate the murder of a neighbor’s dog and uncovers secret information about his mother.”

 

 

Best boy by Eli Gottlieb

“A middle-aged autistic resident of a therapeutic community where he was sent as a young child rebels against changes in his environment by attempting to return to a family home and younger sibling he only partially remembers.”

 

 

New Debut Novels

- Stephanie Leave a comment

If you want something new, try a debut novel! By choosing a debut novel, you are introduced to authors who are brand new to fiction. Below is a collection of new voices, stories, and characters just waiting to become someone’s favorite.

As of this writing, all of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. Descriptions are provided by the publishers.

A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang

A dark, magical realist debut family saga that moves through the Japanese occupation of Manchuria, the Cultural Revolution, and the present day to explore the effects of intergenerational trauma, the legacy of colonialism, and the inescapability of fate.

Qianze has not seen her father in eleven years, since he walked out of her life the night of her fourteenth birthday and disappeared without a trace. But then she gets a call—there is a man on the porch of her childhood home, and he’s asking for her. This man isn’t the Ba Qianze remembers: he is much older, more fragile, and worst of all, haunted by a half-forgotten prophecy.

While Qianze wrestles with what she owes this near-stranger, Ba begins telling stories of his past. From his bloody days as a Red Guard during the Cultural Revolution to his mother’s youth under Japanese occupation, he circles around the prophecy he came to deliver. Qianze has always longed to know more about her family history, but as Ba reveals a past far darker than she could have imagined, she finds herself plagued by strange visions—fox spirits trail her on her evening commute, a terrifying jackalope stalks her nightmares, and the looming prophecy slinks ever closer.

Spanning decades and continents, A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing employs a combination of stunningly rendered folklore and atmospheric prose to examine the legacy of colonialism through the eyes of three generations. Alice Evelyn Yang’s debut novel is a story of family and forgiveness, of folklore and fate, that will leave you unsettled and undone. – William Morrow

Burn Down Master’s House by Clay Cane

As turmoil simmers within a divided nation, smoke from another blaze begins to rise. Sparked by individual acts of resistance among those enslaved across the American South, their seemingly disparate rebellions fuel a singular inferno of justice, connecting them in ways quiet at times, explosive at others. As these flames rise, so will they.

Luke, quick-witted and literate, and Henri, a man with a strong and defiant spirit, forge an unbreakable bond at a Virginia plantation called Magnolia Row. Both seek escape from unimaginable cruelty. And sure as the fires of hell, Luke and Henri will leave their mark, sparking resistance among the lives they touch…

One is Josephine, a young, sharp, and observant girl who wields silence as her greatest weapon. A witness to Luke and Henri’s resilience, she listens, watches, waits for the moment to make her move.

Then there is Charity Butler, her husband a formerly enslaved man who proved his ferocity as a young boy standing alongside Josephine. At his encouragement, Charity fights for her freedom in court and wins – only to battle a deeply unjust system designed to destroy the life they’ve built.

And finally, there is Nathaniel, who ruthlessly exploits other Black people and mirrors the cruelty of the white men who, like him, are enslavers. A perversion of the system of slavery, his fragile and contradictory rule will become a catalyst of its own.

Inspired by the true stories of the profoundly courageous men and women who dared to fight back, Burn Down Master’s House is a singular tour de force of a novel—breathtaking in scope, compassion, and a timeliness that speaks powerfully to our present era. – Dafina

Dandelion is Dead by Rosie Storey

Jake has fallen head over heels for Dandelion. The only problem? Dandelion is dead.

When Poppy discovers unanswered messages from a charming stranger in her late sister’s dating app, she makes an impulsive choice: She’ll meet him, just once, on what would have been Dandelion’s fortieth birthday. It’s exactly the kind of wild adventure her vivacious sister would have pushed her toward.

Jake is ready to find something real—and not least because his ex-wife’s twentysomething boyfriend has moved into their old family home. When he meets the intriguing woman who calls herself Dandelion, their connection is undeniable, and he can think of little else.

As their relationship deepens, Poppy finds herself trapped in a double life she never meant to create. Every moment with Jake feels genuine, electric, and totally right—despite the fact they’re tangled in deceit. As the lines between grief and love blur, Poppy faces a choice: keep her sister’s memory alive through her lies, or risk everything for a chance at her own happiness?

With sparkling wit and aching tenderness, debut author Rosie Storey gives us a modern love story about the courage it takes to live again after loss and finding hope in the most unexpected places. – Berkley

This title is also available in large print.

Discipline by Larissa Pham

I have the sense that something is being drawn between us. Not drawn as in line but as in arrow pulled back. Yet I don’t know which of us holds the bow, and which of us faces the arrow.

Christine is on tour for her novel, a revenge fantasy based on a real-life relationship gone bad with an older professor ten years prior. Now on the road, she’s seeking answers—about how to live a good life and what it means to make art—through intimate conversations with strangers, past lovers, and friends.

But when the antagonist of her novel—her old painting professor—reaches out in a series of sly communiques after years of silence to tell her that he’s read her book, Christine must reckon with what it means to lose the reins of a narrative she wrote precisely to maintain control. When her professor invites her to join him at his house, on a remote island off the coast of Maine, their encounter threatens to change the very foundations of her life as she’s imagined it.

A pristine and provocative high-wire act toggling the fictions we construct for ourselves just to survive and the possibilities that lie beyond them, Discipline launches a spellbinding inquiry into the nature of art-making and rigor, intimacy and attention, punishment and release. – Random House

Escape! by Stephen Fishbach

Everyone gets the story arc they deserve.

Kent Duvall, a faded reality show winner, just wants another chance at glory—to find his way out of his depressing life and back to his highlight reel. When a scandal is captured on camera at a charity event, he gets his shot, on a new jungle survival show with seven other contestants. Each of them has been cast as a type—Ruddy the bully, Miriam the nerd, Ashley the love interest—but everyone is more than they appear.

The contestants’ goals seem simple—survive the wild, build a raft, win treasure. But Beck Bermann, a reality producer who suffered her own public shaming, sees them as characters in her redemption arc.

As the schemes and strategies spiral out, breakout camps sabotage each other and rival producers struggle to control the storyline. Soon the question becomes less about who will win than who will make it out in one piece. – Dutton

This title is also available in large print.

Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy

Waldo is ravenous. Horny. Blunt. Naive. Wise. Impulsive. Lonely. Angry. Forceful. Hurting. Perceptive. Endlessly wanting. And the thing she wants most of all: Mr. Korgy, her creative writing teacher with the wife and the kid and the mortgage and the bills, with the dead dreams and the atrophied looks and the growing paunch. She doesn’t know why she wants him. Is it his passion? His life experience? The fact that he knows books and films and things that she doesn’t? Or is it purer than that, rooted in their unlikely connection, their kindred spirits, the similar filter with which they each take in the world around them? Or, perhaps, it’s just enough that he sees her when no one else does.

Startlingly perceptive, mordantly funny, and keenly poignant, Half His Age is a rich character study of a yearning seventeen-year-old who disregards all obstacles—or attempts to overcome them—in her effort to be seen, to be desired, to be loved. – Ballantine Books

This title is also available in large print.

How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigley

Summer, 1986. The Creel sisters, Georgie Ayyar and Agatha Krishna, welcome their aunt, uncle and young cousin—newly arrived from India—into their house in rural Wyoming where they’ll all live together. Because this is what families do. That is, until the sisters decide that it’s time for their uncle to die.

According to Georgie, the British are to blame. And to understand why, you need to hear her story. She details the violence hiding in their house and history, her once-unshakeable bond with Agatha Krishna, and her understanding of herself as an Indian-American in the heart of the West. Her account is, at every turn, cheeky, unflinching, and infectiously inflected with the trappings of teendom, including the magazine quizzes that help her make sense of her life. At its heart, the tale she weaves is:

  1. a) a vivid portrait of an extended family
    b) a moving story of sisterhood
    c) a playful ode to the 80s
    d) a murder mystery (of sorts)
    e) an unexpected and unwaveringly powerful meditation on history and language, trauma and healing, and the meaning of independence

Or maybe it’s really:

  1. f) all of the above. – Pantheon

The Infamous Gilberts by Angela Tomaski

The Remains of the Day meets The Royal Tenenbaums in this darkly funny debut novel about a wealthy, eccentric family in decline and the secrets held within the walls of their crumbling country manor.

Thornwalk, a once-stately English manor, is on the brink of transformation. Its keys are being handed over to a luxury hotelier who will undertake a complete renovation—but in doing so, what will they erase? Through the keen eyes of an enigmatic neighbor, the reader is taken on a guided tour into rooms filled with secrets and memories, each revealing the story of the five Gilbert siblings.

Spanning the eve of World War II to the early 2000s, this contemporary gothic novel weaves a rich tapestry of English country life. As the story unfolds, the reader is drawn into a world where the echoes of an Edwardian idyll clash with the harsh realities of war, neglect, and changing times. The Gilberts’ tale is one of great loves, lofty ambitions, and profound loss, and Angela Tomaski’s mordantly witty yet loving account is an immersive experience. Reminiscent of the haunting atmospheres in Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca and Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle, The Infamous Gilberts offers a fresh take on a classic genre, capturing the essence of a troubled but fascinating family. – Scribner

Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg

Fleabag meets Big Swiss in this bold debut about a charismatic misfit who livestreams her life for seven days and nights to raise money to save her comatose sister—a poignant and darkly funny exploration of grief, forgiveness, and redemption.

Dell Danvers is barely keeping it together. She’s behind on rent for her studio apartment (formerly a walk-in closet), she’s being plagued by perpetual stomach pain, and her younger sister, Daisy, is in a coma at a hospital that wants to pull the plug. Freshly unemployed and subsisting on selling plants to trust fund kids, Dell impulsively starts a 24-hour livestream under the username mademoiselle_dell to fundraise for private life support for Daisy.

Dell is her stream’s dungeon master, banishing those who don’t abide by her terms and steadily rising up the platform’s ranks with her sympathetic story and angry-funny screen presence. Once she discovers she has a talent for eating spicy food, her streaming fame explodes and her pepper consumption escalates from jalapeño to ghost to the hottest pepper on earth: the Carolina Reaper. Dell is finally good at something—but as her behavior becomes riskier and a shadowy troll threatens to expose her dark past, Dell must reckon with what her digital life ignores, and what real redemption means.

Narrated in seven taut chapters, one for each day of Dell’s livestream, Just Watch Me careens through a week in the life of this misguided striver with a heart of gold. Voyeuristic and visceral, audacious and outrageous, Lior Torenberg’s debut is both a razor-sharp tragicomedy about the internet economy and a surreptitiously moving tale about the desire to be watched, and the terror of being seen. – Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster

Online Reading Challenge – April

- Stephanie Leave a comment

Welcome Readers!

Our 2026 Online Reading Challenge is … KNOW YOUR HISTORY! Each month we will be reading about a different observance month and highlighting a main title about that month.

For April, we will be reading books that celebrate Arab American culture and heritage by reading books that feature Arabic culture and history. Our main title for April is Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa. Here’s a quick summary from the publisher:

As Nahr sits, locked away in solitary confinement, she spends her days reflecting on the dramatic events that landed her in prison in a country she barely knows. Born in Kuwait in the seventies to Palestinian refugees, she dreamed of falling in love with the perfect man, raising children, and possibly opening her own beauty salon. Instead, the man she thinks she loves jilts her after a brief marriage, her family teeters on the brink of poverty, she’s forced to prostitute herself, and the US invasion of Iraq makes her a refugee, as her parents had been. After trekking through another temporary home in Jordan, she lands in Palestine, where she finally makes a home, falls in love, and her destiny unfolds under Israeli occupation. Nahr’s subversive humor and moral ambiguity will resonate with fans of My Sister, The Serial Killer, and her dark, contemporary struggle places her as the perfect sister to Carmen Maria Machado’s Her Body and Other Parties. – Washington Square Press

Looking for some other books that celebrate Arab American culture and heritage? Try any of the following.

As always, check each of our locations for displays with lots more titles to choose from!

Online Reading Challenge – March Wrap-Up

- Stephanie Leave a comment

How did your reading go this month? Did you read something to commemorate the roles of women in history and society? In March, we focused on Women’s History Month. Are you finishing strong? Or do you still have some months to catch up on? Share in the comments!

I read our main title: Code Girls by Liza Mundy. This title had been on my to-read list for a very long time, so when I was researching what I wanted our main title to be for March, I knew I wanted Code Girls by Liza Mundy. This book tells the stories of the more than ten thousand American women who served as codebreakers during World War II. Readers learn about their efforts from before and how they came to be in their positions during the war.

With men shipping off to serve in the Armed Forces during World War II, the Unites States government realized that they needed to recruit women to serve as codebreakers. The Army and Navy were sent to small towns and colleges to recruit women to move to Washington to learn code-breaking. They didn’t know what they signing up for, just that their efforts were vital to the war effort. Their tireless work would end up shortening the war, saving lives, and eventually giving them access to careers that were denied to them previously. Code Girls was a fascinating and illuminating read telling these women’s stories that were previously unknown. A vow of secrecy forced the women to remain silent for years, basically erasing their stories from history. (Fun fact: Agnes Meyer Driscoll, known as Miss Aggie, one of the leading Navy crytanalysts, was born in Geneseo, Illinois!)

Next month, we will be reading about Arab American Heritage Month.

In addition to following the Online Reading Challenge here on our Info Cafe blog, you can join our Online Reading Challenge group on Goodreads and discuss your reads!

New Romystery

- Stephanie Leave a comment

I would like to start a movement that romystery becomes the next big trend in literature (move over romantasy!). Romystery is the mix between romance and mystery. This genre is typically less high stakes than romantic suspense, but still contains a mystery that will keep the romantically entangled characters linked. Below is a list of new romystery titles that we can’t wait to get our hands on (and that we hope you’ll like too)!

As of this writing, all of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. Descriptions provided by the publishers.

And Then There Was the One by Martha Waters

In a quaint village in the Cotswolds, Georgiana Radcliffe has accidentally become an amateur detective after helping solve four murders in a single year. When the chairman of the village council turns up dead, everyone agrees with the official ruling of a heart attack, but Georgie can’t help but suspect that the council chairman is a fifth victim. Now, murder tourists are flocking from around the country, in hopes of becoming sleuths themselves.

Along with her reporter friend, she reaches out to a famous London detective for assistance in ascertaining why they have become a magnet for murder. But the fancy detective is simply too busy—or can’t be bothered—to help, and instead dispatches his secretary, Sebastian Fletcher-Ford—a posh womanizer who, truthfully, is just trying to get out of his hair, much to practical, no-nonsense Georgie’s dismay. But as they investigate in the charming Buncombe-upon-Woolly—with plentiful scones, sheep on the village green, and murder tourists at every turn—Georgie finds that her previous assessment of Sebastian may have been wrong, and rather than solving a murder, she may be solving for love instead. – Atria Books

This title is also available in large print.

Crazy Spooky Love by Josie Silver

Ghosts and spirits are business as usual, but love just might be enough to scare Melody Bittersweet.

In the leafy, charming town of Chapelwick, the Bittersweet family has been a fixture on High Street for as long as anyone can remember. Their rambling black-and-white building houses all three generations of ghost-sensitive Bittersweet women and their business, Blithe Spirits.

On her twenty-seventh birthday, Melody Bittersweet converts the disused back storeroom into her office and opens her own business. Unlike the rest of her family, she’s not taking down messages from ghosts—she’s taking them out.

Right away, the freshly minted Girls’ Ghostbusting Agency takes on its first case: a grand old house that won’t sell because a trio of incumbent ghost brothers raise merry hell whenever prospective owners arrive to view it.

It soon becomes clear that there’s a whole heap of unfinished business between the Scarborough brothers—including murder—and Melody isn’t the only one trying to unravel the mystery. Leo Dark, her rakish ex and business rival, is also on the case, along with the TV crew that trails him.

To make matters worse, the sarcastic and skeptical (and annoyingly good-looking) local reporter Fletcher Gunn has his nose in the story as well. Sniffing out a way to publicly discredit the Bittersweets is his favorite assignment—and has absolutely nothing to do with his inability to resist Melody.

With her business on the line, it’s up to Melody to work out the brothers’ issues, but can she protect her own very susceptible heart from Fletcher’s charm? Does she even want to? – Dell

This title is also available in large print.

Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies by Jenny Elder Moke

Juliette Winters is used to taking care of business alone. She has no time for petty things like romance, friendships, or emotional commitments. Love is for people who believe in reality TV dating and holding hands in public. She’s too busy dominating the publishing world by single-handedly saving her company from financial ruin with the book deal of the century.

Business magnate Warren Ellingham has guaranteed Juliette exclusive rights to his explosive memoir that promises to expose the secrets of his ultra-exclusive country club, Pacific Pines. But when Warren drops dead of an apparent heart attack and the memoir is stolen, Juliette suspects that someone was willing to resort to murder to keep their secrets from being exposed.

Enlisting the help of Charlie Hawkins, a doctor with a heart of gold and abs of steel, Juliette dives into the glamorous and messy world of Pacific Pines Country Club. As the investigation heats up, so does the tension between Juliette and Charlie. But Juliette can’t afford any distractions because the bodies keep dropping, and Juliette is tee-d up to take the blame. If she doesn’t uncover Warren’s killer soon, the thing that was supposed to secure her future might just be the thing that ends it.

Jenny Elder Moke’s twisty mystery rom-com blend will delight readers with its outrageous characters, laugh-out-loud jokes, and opposites attract romance. – Minotaur Books

Definitely Maybe Not a Detective by Sarah Fox (book 1 in The Wyatt Investigations Mysteries)

In this delightfully charming rom-com mystery, a woman becomes accidentally entangled in a murder investigation (and with a handsome stranger) when her fake detective agency is enlisted to solve a real homicide.

Emersyn Gray is definitely not a detective.

Really, she’s an unemployed twenty-eight-year-old raising her beloved niece in the only place she can afford after her ex-boyfriend ran off with her life savings: a run-down, seniors-only apartment complex that was desperate for tenants. But never fear—her wild best friend has the perfect plan to get Emersyn back on her feet and stick it to her thieving ex: scare him into returning her money by hiring a private investigator to prove he stole it. Only, there won’t be an actual detective, just a fabricated business card from Wyatt Investigations . . . and a ridiculously hot stranger, who steps in to play the part—a stranger whose name is, coincidentally, Wyatt.

Emersyn can’t help but notice the real-life Wyatt is capital H-O-T hot, even though she’s wary of his intentions. But her ex does seem flustered, and if she can get her money back and regain control of her life, maybe it’ll finally prove to her parents that she can be a responsible caregiver to her niece.

But the day after they set their plan in motion, the superintendent of Emersyn’s apartment building winds up dead, and her neighbors turn to her fake detective agency for help after finding one of the phony business cards. With so many eyes on them—or maybe just their eyes on each other—Emersyn and Wyatt agree to take on the case. Now the question is, Can they solve the murder without getting tangled up in their own fictions—or each other? – Bantam

He’s to Die For by Erin Dunn

Brooklyn 99 meets The Charm Offensive in this sparkling romantic murder mystery: it’s murder cute in the first degree when a detective finds himself falling for the lead suspect in a career-making case.

At 29, Detective Rav Trivedi is the youngest member of the NYPD’s homicide squad, and his future looks bright. He may be a bit of an outsider in the department—an ivy-league educated gay Brit with a weakness for designer suits—but his meteoric rise and solve rate prove he belongs.

So when his CO assigns him lead on the high-profile murder of a record executive, Rav is ready for action. He won’t be distracted by TV crews, tabloids, or what’s trending on social media, nor by the ridiculously hot rock star with a clear motive and no alibi.

This is it, his shot, and he is not going to screw it up—certainly not by falling in love with his number one suspect… – Minotaur Books

A Killer Getaway by Sierra Sharpe

Falling in love can be murder…

No one in Lily Lennox’s life can understand why, for each of the past five summers, she has left her successful business behind to work a lifeguarding job at the exclusive Riovan Wellness Resort on a sun-soaked Caribbean Island.

Fortunately for her, they also aren’t aware of the mysterious deaths that occur on the island every time she’s there. You see, Lily has a secret. She’s determined to make toxic people pay for the damage they do – and she’s very good at getting away with it.

But this summer, there’s a problem in the form of a very attractive guest, Daniel Black, who is asking a few too many inconvenient questions. Hoping to lead him off her trail, Lily decides to keep her enemy close, but as their attraction grows into something much deeper, Lily’s plans start to unravel. Because Daniel is set on finding the murderer – and Lily plans to get away with it – no matter what. – Sourcebooks Landmark

A Killer Kind of Romance by Letizia Lorini

Scarlett Moore doesn’t do romance.

She’s made a name for herself narrating gritty crime fiction on a local podcast. But when her boss hands her the reins to the network’s romance show, Scarlett finds herself neck-deep in swoony love stories on top of her usual murder plots.

Then someone begins reenacting the chilling crimes she discusses on air, down to the last twisted detail.

Determined to protect her small town, Scarlett launches her own investigation. But the line between reality and fiction blurs even more when Rafael Gray—the brooding bad boy who disappeared five years ago—unexpectedly returns. Suddenly, her life reads like a romance novel filled with every trope she used to mock, with Rafael playing the dangerously irresistible lead.

He’s perfect in every way…except last time, he broke her heart, and now he’s the prime suspect in the string of brutal murders.

Will this be the love story she never saw coming, or is it a killer kind of romance? – Gallery Books

Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson

A laugh-out-loud rom-com wrapped in a whodunit, this high-seas adventure proves that sometimes the best love stories start with a little murder.

Penelope Mae Dupont has one superpower: keeping her cool. Which is essential when you’re the personal assistant to renowned mystery author Hugh Griffin. But when Pip organizes a luxury book cruise featuring The Fabulous Seven–a glittering cast of seven bestselling authors known for both their brilliance and their drama–her trademark composure starts slipping. One boat. Seven egos. Hundreds of fans. What could possibly go wrong?

Well . . . murder, for starters.

On day two, Hugh is found dead–and the cruise security team proves to be utterly incompetent. Stranded in the middle of the Atlantic with no help in sight, Pip realizes if anyone’s going to solve the case, it’ll have to be her. And so, with her friend and ally Nash, the dreamy Western author who’s just as rugged as the cowboys he writes about, she puts her amateur sleuthing skills to the test.

As Pip and Nash navigate an ocean of secrets, shocking twists, and one too many red herrings, she’ll have to decide whether she’s meant to stay behind the scenes–or finally step into the spotlight . . . and maybe, just maybe, find love along the way.

In the world of mystery and love, sometimes you have to risk going overboard to find the truth. – Thomas Nelson

New Children’s Fiction

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The term ‘children’s fiction’ covers a large variety of books. This includes classics all the way to modern popular titles. In this section, you will find fantasy, mysteries, animal stories, fairy tales, and so many other types of children’s fiction that teach important lessons. Below you will find a small sampling of what was published in 2025. As of this writing, all of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. Descriptions are provided by the publishers. This is not a complete list of all of the new children’s fiction.

Busted by Dan Gemeinhart

When 12-year-old Oscar Aberdeen decided he would do anything to save the only home he’s ever known, he didn’t realize that anything would include theft, trespassing, gambling, a broken nose, grand theft auto, a federal prison, and a police chase. He had no idea it would be so dangerous…or so fun.

Oscar Aberdeen is a bit of an oddball. He’s an ace at playing bridge, loves Frank Sinatra, and attends a whole lot of funerals. He’s also the youngest resident of Sunny Days retirement home by more than a half-century—and he wouldn’t have it any other way. So when his grandpa’s suddenly served an eviction notice that threatens their place at Sunny Days, he needs to find some cash. Fast.

Enter Jimmy Deluca, a shady elderly man with a reputation for being bad news, who makes Oscar an offer he can’t refuse. He’s got the drop on riches hidden away on the “outside” and he’ll share the loot with Oscar on one condition: he busts him out of Sunny Days.

In this humdinger of an adventure, the ultimate odd couple, along with an uninvited stowaway, go from high-stakes escape to rollicking escapade as they search for the secret stash—and forge an unlikely friendship along the way. Will Oscar succeed in saving the only home he’s ever known? Or will he have to fuggedaboutit and return a failure? – Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

This title is also available in large print and playaway audiobook.

Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina

A sea ghost, a mortal boy, and a dangerous enchanted harpoon . . . A Newbery Medalist takes us far beneath the waves in this extraordinary foray into fantasy.

In the deepest recesses of the ocean, Graciela—once an ordinary girl—now makes sea glass and assists her friend, Amina, as she welcomes newly awakened sea ghosts from their death sleep. Though Graciela’s spirit is young, she has lived at the bottom of the ocean for more than a hundred years. Meanwhile, in the mortal world on land, twelve-year-old Jorge Leon works in his family’s forge. He’s heard of the supernatural spirits living beneath the ocean’s waves—tales that do nothing to quell his fear of the water. But when Jorge discovers a hand-wrought harpoon with the power to spear a sea ghost, he knows he must destroy it any way he can.

When the harpoon is accidentally reunited with its vengeful creator, unlikely allies Graciela and Jorge have no choice but to work together to keep evil spirits from wreaking havoc on both the living and the dead. If only the answer to saving what they care about didn’t lie within the depths of the abyss . . . Newbery Medal winner Meg Medina and illustrators Anna and Elena Balbusso have crafted a thoughtful tale infused with magic and high-stakes adventure that will leave readers wondering what power lies in the depths of the ocean—and inside each of us. – Candlewick

This title is also available in large print.

The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick Barnes

In the small town of Great Mountain, Mississippi, all eyes are on Henson Blayze, a thirteen-year-old football phenom whose talents seem almost superhuman. The predominately white townsfolk have been waiting for Henson to play high school ball, and now they’re overjoyed to finally possess an elite Black athlete of their own.

Until a horrifying incident forces Henson to speak out about injustice.
Until he says that he might not play football anymore.
Until he quickly learns he isn’t as loved by the people as he thought.

Overnight, Henson’s town is divided into two chaotic sides—those that support his decisions, and those that don’t—when all he wants is justice. Even his best friends and his father can’t see eye to eye. When he is told to play ball again or else, Henson must decide whether he was born to entertain those who may not even see him as human, or if he’s destined for a different kind of greatness.

Written for children ages 10 and up, Derrick Barnes’s groundbreaking novel masterfully combines a modern-day allegory with classic-style tall tales to weave a compelling story of America’s obsession with relegating Black people to labor or entertainment. Spanning the 1800s to today, this exceptional novel shows how much has changed over centuries . . . and, at the same time, how little. – Viking Books for Young Readers

This title is also available in large print.

J vs. K written by Kwame Alexander & Jerry Craft, illustrated by Jerry Craft

J and K are the most creative fifth graders at Dean Ashley Public School (DAPS). J loves to draw and his wordless stories are J-ENIUS! K loves to write and his stories are K-LASSIC!! Both J and K are determined to win the DAPS annual creative storytelling contest or at least get in the top five. And when they find out that they are both entering The Contest, it’s the beginning of one of the most intense rivalries the world has ever seen.

It’s artist vs. writer with plenty of shady double crosses as J and K plot their way to the top. This epic match-up from Newbery medal winners Kwame Alexander (The Crossover) and Jerry Craft (New Kid) celebrates comics, creativity, and the magic of collaboration. – Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

The Library of Unruly Treasures written by Jeanne Birdsall, illustrated by Matt Phelan

Gwen MacKinnon’s parents are dreadful. Truly, deeply, almost impressively dreadful. So Gwen’s not upset at all when she’s foisted onto her never-before-seen Uncle Matthew for two weeks. Especially when it turns out he has a very opinionated dog named Pumpkin.

Things take a turn for the weird when Gwen makes a discovery in the local library. A discovery that involves tiny creatures with wings. And no, they’re not birds. They’re called Lahdukan. But why can only Gwen and the youngest children, gathered for storytime, see them?

The Lahdukan insist that Gwen is destined to help them find a new home. But how can a girl as unwanted, uncourageous, and generally unheroic as Gwen possibly come to the rescue? Pumpkin has a few ideas… – Knopf Books for Young Readers

This title is also available in large print and playaway audiobook.

A Little Too Haunted by Justine Pucella Winans

The only thing worse than having ghost hunters for parents is having fake ghost hunters for parents. Luna Catalano would know. Her moms are haunted house flippers who use their home reno skills and pretend psychic powers to turn spooky old houses into ghost-free modern homes. Not only does their job require the family to move all the time–meaning Luna is completely friendless–but the only thing haunting any of those houses is bad decor. For once Luna wishes there was an actual, for-real ghost.

When they move yet again, Luna isn’t expecting much. But this house feels… different. Things start out innocent enough–items not where they should be, strange noises–but soon things turn sinister. Her moms are waking up with cuts and bruises, and disturbing drawings showing them with even worse injuries are being left in Luna’s room. With the help of her next-door neighbors and a mysterious woman who seems to know a lot about the home, Luna starts to piece together what exactly happened in that house before she moved in. But not everything is as it seems. In order to save her moms, Luna will have to get the story right before everything goes completely wrong.

Stonewall Honor-winning author Justine Pucella Winans returns with another middle grade horror with heart about friendship, family, and the stories we tell when real life feels too scary. – Bloomsbury Children’s Books

The Reel Wish by Yamile Saied Méndez

Ballet is Florencia del Lago’s entire world. After years of hard work, she is chosen as Clara in the winter production of The Nutcracker. Not only is she the youngest dancer to receive such an honor but also the first Latina. She’s on track to be recruited by the best ballet companies.

Unfortunately, she suffers a panic attack on opening night–on stage, in front of everyone. And then Selena, Florencia’s best friend, steps right into the role to replace her. Just like that, Florencia’s whole world falls apart–the ballet studio expels her, and her best friend turns on her, tormenting her on social media and in real life.

But even though the one thing she was driven toward has come to an end, therapy and family support help Florencia open up to new experiences. She notices people at school she’s never paid attention to before, and she even stumbles upon an Irish dance school and decides to give it a try. Can a new passion for Irish dance help Florencia find the joy of performing on the stage that she lost that fateful winter night? – Lee & Low Books

Scarlet Morning written and illustrated by ND Stevenson (book 1)

From the powerhouse creator of Nimona comes a breathtaking illustrated novel, the start of a duology, following two orphans who leave the only home they’ve ever known to sail with an eccentric crew of pirates.

Viola and Wilmur have been waiting for their parents for fifteen boring years in the colorless town of Caveat. Their lives are a drudge of salt, trash, pirate stories, and what-ifs . . . until one very stormy night, when Captain Cadence Chase breaks down their door. They cut a deal with the captain: Chase can take their most prized possession, a mysterious book, but only if she takes them, too. After all, if their parents aren’t coming, Viola and Wilmur might as well have a grand adventure to find them.

Setting sail into the treacherous and beautiful world beyond Caveat, the two inseparable friends must uncover the facts behind legend—and the key to saving all of Dickerson’s Sea from obliteration—before the truth tears them apart.

Wickedly funny, deeply emotional, and sharply incisive, Scarlet Morning is a tale of love, betrayal, and the extraordinary lengths we’d go to save a world broken beyond repair. – Quill Tree Books

Looking for Smoke by KA Cobell

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“She’s dancing for our community. For our tribe. For all the other tribes battling the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. She’s dancing for all the stolen sisters out there.”
― K.A. Cobell, Looking for Smoke

In their debut novel, K.A. Cobell, an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation, has crafted a story that dives deep into the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Movement and the accompanying emotions. This was a riveting read that talks about a devastating topic in a sensitive way.

Mara Recette recently moved to the Blackfeet Reservation with her parents, a move that has been hard for her. Her classmates are tight-knit, having grown up together, and aren’t taking too kindly to a new student showing up in the middle of the school year. School has been increasingly difficult for her, but she hopes that she will be able to brush off her emotions and have fun at the local festival. When she is picked to be part of a traditional Blackfeet Giveaway in honor of a classmate’s missing sister, Mara is shocked. Maybe this means she will make some friends now.

Loren is trying to honor her sister’s wishes by including Mara in the Giveaway, but this whole ceremony is hard when her friends have turned their backs on her since her sister’s disappearance three months ago. When someone in her friend group is found murdered at the festival, Loren and three others of the Giveaway group become persons of interest as they were the last to see the deceased person alive. With not much hope that the tribal police will be able to solve this new case, the four turn to their small group to clear their names. It’s a rough experience for them all as they deal with betrayal and loss and the thought that one of them may be the murderer.

Interested in this book? Looking for Smoke is the April See YA Book Club pick. We will be discussing this book on Wednesday, April 1st at 6:30pm at our Eastern Avenue branch. For more information about future See YA book picks, visit our website.

See YA Book Club

Join our adult book club with a teen book twist. See why so many teen books are being turned into movies and are taking over the best seller lists.

Registration is not required. Books are available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Eastern Avenue library. We meet the first Wednesday of the month at Eastern at 6:30pm. Stop by the service desk for more information.

April 1 – Looking for Smoke by KA Cobell

May 6 – If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang

June 3 – Shut Up, This is Serious by Carolina Ixta

Declutter and Clean

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Are you in the midst of spring cleaning? If you are or if you’re looking for the motivation to start, check out this list of declutter and cleaning books! As of this writing, all of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. Descriptions are provided by the publishers.

A Healthier Home: The Room-by-Room Guide to Make Any Space a Little Less Toxic by Shawna Holman

With all the time spent at home in recent years, you probably realize how much the inside of your home contributes to your mental and physical health, for better or worse. But did you know that the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that indoor air is 2–5 times (and occasionally more than 100 times) more polluted than outdoor air?

The good news is that you can control and improve the environment inside your home, and A Healthier Home provides an accessible, room-by-room roadmap for doing just that. Wherever you are on your journey to a healthier home, author and founder of A Little Less Toxic, Shawna Holman, offers realistic steps you can take to maintain a less toxic living environment that aligns with your values. Create a healthy, happy living space with simple swaps and hacks for banning hidden harms in every room:

  • Kitchen: Finding the best cookware, helpful tools and gadgets, safe serving ware and food storage, all about supplements, buying cleaning products, DIY cleaning products
  • Laundry Room: Washing machine and detergent recommendations, DIY spot treatment, whitening without bleach, treating stains, clotheslines, tips and tricks
  • Bathroom: Toiletries, oral hygiene, water (including chlorine and fluoride), self-care, skincare and a few DIY skincare recipes, medicine cabinet, hair training, cleaning (including deep cleaning/going beyond the basics of the kitchen!)
  • Bedroom: Mattress shopping, pillows, linens, all about certifications and materials, condoms and lubrication, pregnancy prevention/fertility, sleeping tips, blue light, hacks and tips for cleaning in the bedroom
  • Living Room: Indoor air quality, air purifiers, filters, furniture and rugs (materials and more), air fresheners (key swaps, essential oil how-tos, and candle info), mold mindfulness, EMF protection
  • Garden: Lawn care, sun protection, insect protection, after-sun care, and grounding

From tackling toxins and revamping your kitchen to making a greener garden and ensuring cleaner laundry, A Healthier Home will aid you in creating a sustainable, safe lifestyle that benefits both your mind and body. Every corner of your home can be made to better serve you and your family—it’s just a matter of getting started! – Fair Winds Press

The Laundry Book: The Definitive Guide to Caring for your Clothes and Linens by Zach Pozniak

Do laundry right the first time with The Laundry Book, the ultimate reference guide for all things laundry.

If you’re like most people, laundry is a never-ending chore that you want to spend as little time, effort, and money on as possible, and no one has ever properly taught you how to tackle this chore. Laundry influencer Zach Pozniak and his father, Jerry Pozniak, owners of the luxury dry-cleaning company Jeeves New York and fabric-care experts break down this tedious task into playful and easily digestible pieces for a straightforward, easy-to-navigate book that can live in the laundry room and make doing laundry even enjoyable.

Zach and Jerry provide authoritative information and advice as third- and fourth-generation dry cleaners on all matters of fabric care, including:

  • Science-backed and -tested tips and techniques​
  • How to save time, money, and the environment by doing laundry correctly​
  • ​An A-to-Z stain removal guide
  • What ingredients to look for when buying laundry products​
  • How to read clothing care labels​
  • How to extend the life of your clothes​
  • When to call in the professionals
  • and much more!​

This guide cuts through the noise and educates you on best practices for clean, vibrant, stain-free, and long-lasting results. – Rock Point

Lifestyled: Your Guide to a More Organized & Intentional Life by Shira Gill

Shira Gill has dedicated her career to helping people gain clarity and activate their best selves, even when they are short on time or capacity. When she realized that almost every one of her diverse clients, ranging from students to CEOs, was overextended, overscheduled, and overwhelmed, she used her signature blend of practical minimalism and organization to design a game-changing framework that works with any lifestyle or budget.

Applying the tools found in LifeStyled, you can transform your life, mindset, and schedule with accessible tips and quick wins—little things you can integrate or practice for quick, transformative results. Chapters cover health, home, relationships, career, finance, and personal development, with actionable prompts to help you:

  • Learn realistic strategies to optimize your sleep, nutrition, and overall wellness.
  • Implement simple habits and routines to create and maintain a home that feels good.
  • Cut the relationship clutter and invest in meaningful connections and community.
  • Redefine success on your own terms and align your financial strategy with your values.
  • Prioritize activities that help you feel energized, engaged, and fully alive.
  • Disrupt unproductive thought patterns and create motivating new narratives.

In LifeStyled, Shira shows readers how to achieve more ease, alignment, and freedom, one tiny step at a time. – Ten Speed Press

Making Home Your Happy Place: A Real-Life Guide to Decluttering Without the Overwhelm by Katy Wells

Are you overwhelmed by clutter, constant mess, and the mental load of daily responsibilities? It’s time to break free from the chaos and create a home that works for you—using a fresh approach to decluttering that will simplify your space, reduce stress, and free up your time and energy.

Katy Wells, mom and host of the top-rated The Maximized Minimalist podcast, transformed her stressful, cluttered home into a calm, organized space where she now has time to relax with her family. In Making Home Your Happy Place, she shares the same proven tools that have helped thousands of busy families simplify their routines, regain control, and live with greater ease.

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll discover how to:

  • Overcome overwhelm with actionable strategies to break through mental and physical clutter, so you can regain control and start moving forward.
  • Declutter with confidence by using proven techniques to tackle your home with clear, actionable steps that will bring immediate results and visible progress.
  • Uncover the deeper roots of clutter by identifying the emotional ties, limiting beliefs, and habits that keep you stuck—and learn how to release them with clarity and compassion.
  • Create effortless systems to maintain a peaceful home that works for you, making organizing feel natural and sustainable in your everyday life.

You can have the peaceful, joyful home you’ve always wanted—a space where you can breathe easier, think clearer, and finally feel the freedom to enjoy more of what you love. Ready to make it happen? – Thomas Nelson

The NEAT Method Organizing Recipe Book: 70 Simple Projects to Take Your Home from Chaos to Composed by Ashley Murphy

In this one-of-a-kind organizing book, there are smart, stylish solutions for every room in the house, including quick wins that can be accomplished in just twenty minutes and larger overhauls that may take an hour or more, including:

  • A “drop zone” for dirty shoes and sports gear at the garage door
  • Compartmentalized drawers for everything from kitchen utensils to makeup to socks
  • A color-coded bedroom closet
  • A playroom kids will actually keep tidy
  • And much more!

The end result is transformative: By implementing solutions that emphasize beauty as much as function, you’ll create a home that’s well arranged, a true place of calm and simplicity. – Artisan

Organize First, Decorate Second: How to go from Clutter to Creativity by Whitney English

Organize First, Decorate Second is the ultimate companion to help you embark on a transformative journey towards a more organized, beautiful, and fulfilling life.

Whitney English breaks down the essence of thoughtful design and organization as tools not just for a prettier space but for a better life—one that smoothly adapts to the inevitable shifts we all face. She shares how balancing a neat look with functional living isn’t always a walk in the park, but the payoff is a space that works just as hard as it charms.

Whitney gets into the nitty-gritty with actionable strategies for putting the house in order. She walks readers through evaluating their spaces, marrying storage with style, and zoning rooms for peak performance. She even helps readers pick out furniture that doubles down on organization and gadgets that aren’t just smart, but genius. Whitney underscores the significance of deliberate design and organization to enhance well-being and adapt seamlessly to life’s ever-changing demands.

Organize First, Decorate Second, establishes:

  • balance between creativity and organization;
  • inspiration coupled with practical advice; and
  • efficiency without sacrificing creativity.

With Whitney’s guidance, practical tips, seasoned advice, and her signature humor, you’re set to transform your living spaces into zones of beauty and effectiveness. Each chapter is a mix of heartwarming anecdotes, practical advice, and innovative strategies. This book isn’t just about making your home look good—it’s about making your home a reflection of your best self. Whitney doesn’t just want you to organize, she wants you to celebrate each step, no matter how small, because perfection isn’t the goal—it’s all about the progress. – Thomas Nelson

Tidying the Abyss: A Practical Guide to Cleaning and Organizing while Exhausted and Overwhelmed by Amanda Stuckey Dodson

A gentle, hands-on resource offering mental health-sensitive, disability-informed advice for those who do not have the privilege, bandwidth, or access to keep their home—and life—in a perfectly-ordered state.

Amanda Stuckey Dodson prided herself on her ability to maintain a peaceful, clean home: there wasn’t any mess that couldn’t be fixed by plastic organizing bins, spreadsheets, and a can-do attitude. When her life was upended by chronic illness, leaving her unable to maintain her elaborate cleaning systems, she learned that the hardest part wasn’t becoming organized, it was staying organized. Facing an unusually messy home, she knew she needed a different approach.

Tidying the Abyss is a gentle, step-by-step guide to keeping house when everything around you is falling apart. Dodson, a clinical social worker turned professional organizer, advocates for the abandoning of perfection to make room for creative, livable solutions. No matter where you fall on the spectrum of being chronically ill, neurodivergent, or hopeless at home maintenance, you need more than just organizational tips- you need a practice. Within these pages you’ll find guidance for:

  • Managing motivation and overwhelm;
  • Addressing your basic needs with systems for trash, kitchen & dishes, and laundry;
  • Creating order in your most-used spaces (think bedroom and bathroom); and
  • Common life complications like pet-related chaos or managing housework as a caregiver or as a parent

When the dishes, the laundry, and the bills mercilessly persist, piling all around, Tidying theAbyss empowers you to face the chaos and define new standards for your home. With a little bit of compassion and patience, any mess can be cleaned up, one piece at a time. – Balance

On Starlit Shores written and illustrated by Bex Glendining

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Bex Glendining has written and illustrated On Starlit Shores, an absolutely beautiful, magical, and achingly sad story on how grief affects people on a day-to-day basis.

Alex and her best friend, Grim, are heading to Indigo Harbour, the place where her grandmother lived and where Alex grew up. Alex hasn’t been back to Indigo Harbour for years. Her memories of the place are scattered and few, but once she arrives, she knows that going back is going to be much harder than she originally thought.

As Alex and Grim begin cleaning out her grandmother’s cottage, she discovers things about her grandmother and Indigo Harbour that she never knew, or that she may have forgot. Alex learns about witches, a woman named Elizabeth, and the local lore surrounding falling stars. Attending a local festival brings everything to a head, forcing Alex to decide if she really wants to learn her grandmother’s history when there’s a chance she’ll forget it all again after she leaves Indigo Harbour. This reconnection to her past is life-changing, but brings more questions than answers for Alex.

This graphic novel affected me way more than I thought that it would. Even though On Starlit Shores has elements of magical realism, readers still deal with heavy topics of grief, love, and acceptance.  On Starlit Shores felt like there were two different story lines: one to do with grief and one about the mysteries of Indigo Harbour. This was still a great read.

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