Category: Library news

Slice-of-Life Graphic Novels

- Stephanie Leave a comment

If you’re looking for a cozy, emotional, and feel-good read, I recommend you try a slice-of-life graphic novel. These graphic novels tell the stories of everyday moments, the small moments and realistic routines that are relatable to readers. Below you will find a list of juvenile slice-of-life graphic novels. As of this writing, all of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. Descriptions are provided by the publishers.

Almost Sunset written and illustrated by Wahab Algarmi

It’s almost sunset, and Hassan has been dreaming about eating since the sun came up. The month of Ramadan has begun, and not eating until sundown intensifies his already busy days full of homework, soccer, and gaming. And since his teachers and friends at school barely understand Ramadan and its traditions, it’s easier to just…not mention it.

As the month stretches on, Hassan’s family and community grow closer together. They wake up before sunrise every morning, feast when the sun goes down, and attend mosque in the evenings. Can Hassan balance it all during the hectic holy month—faith, tradition, school, and fun, too? – HarperAlley

Band Nerd written by Sarah Clawson Willis, illustrated by Emma Cormarie, lettering by Lor Prescott

For twelve-year-old Lucy Carver, music isn’t just a way of life, it’s an escape from homework and home life with her alcoholic father. When Lucy starts seventh grade at Windley School of the Arts, with its high academic standards and even higher artistic expectations, it becomes much harder to keep everything in tune.

As things spiral out of control with her parents and her schoolwork, Lucy grows desperate for a win and focuses all her energy on beating snobby Tolli Claybourne for first chair flute. But just when she thinks she’s hitting all the right notes, an accident leaves Lucy unable to play, and her mother threatens to withdraw her for poor grades. Now Lucy must choose: sabotage Tolli or give up on her dream. – Harper Alley

Carousel Summer by Kathleen Gros

With her best friend away at camp, tons of chores to do, and her dad always on her case for being such a tomboy, Lucy is dreading summer. That is, until Milforth’s plan to revive an old carousel for the town’s 150th anniversary brings artist Ray and her daughter, Anaïs, to town.

Anaïs is smart, funny, and easy to talk to, and Lucy—who’s used to being judged for her looks and interests—finally feels at ease in her own skin. And she thinks she may feel something for Anaïs, too.

Leading up to Milforth’s big birthday, tensions begin rising with locals, thanks to a shifty development company trying to overrun the town. Things also come to a breaking point at home, when Lucy butts heads with her dad over how she wants to express herself as a girl.

Can Lucy find the courage to be true to who she is? She’s got the whole summer to find out… – Quill Tree Books

Chickenpox written and illustrated by Remy Lai, color b Ninakupenda Gaillard

This hilarious and heartwarming contemporary middle-grade graphic novel is about eldest sister Abby, who is sick of being trapped at home with her FOUR younger siblings as they all suffer from the chickenpox.

All big sister Abby wants is to spend more time with her friends, far away from the sticky fingers and snooping eyes of her annoying brothers and sisters. But when a case of the chickenpox leaves the Lai kids covered in scratchy red spots and stuck at home together for two weeks of nonstop mayhem, Abby thinks this might be the end . . . of her sanity. Yet she feels responsible for the situation since her best friend was Patient Zero and brought chickenpox into their home.

Will the itch to escape her siblings overwhelm Abby or will she realize being a big sister isn’t all bad? Full of heart and hijinks, Chickenpox showcases what gets us through good times and bad: family. – Henry Holt and Co.

Dear Jackie written by Jessixa Bagley, illustrated by Aaron Bagley

Jackie and Milo have been best friends since they were born. Whether they’re reading comic books in their tree house hideout, playing video games, or spying on their neighbors using walkie talkies and code names, it’s always been the two of them versus the world. But in middle school, things are changing. Milo joins the soccer team and starts hanging out with a new crew. Jackie gets taken under the wing of Adelle, who wants to give her a total makeover and find her a crush. Suddenly, it seems like there are certain acceptable ways to be a girl or a boy, and Jackie starts to feel like everything about her is wrong.

In an effort to get Adelle and her new friends off her back, Jackie sends herself an anonymous love letter. But her plan backfires, and soon Jackie’s secret admirer is all anybody at school can talk about. Now she’s wondering: Dear Jackie, how are you going to get out of this? – Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Don’t Cause Trouble written and illustrated by Arree Chung

Twelve-year-old Ming Lee hopes middle school will be the fresh start he needs.

But stepping into school with the same bowl haircut his mom insists on giving him, and wearing the extra-discounted thrift shop clothes she buys him doesn’t quite make for the first day of his dreams. Things only get worse when he’s placed in an ESL class despite English being his first (and only) language. The journey ahead is full of awkward, painful, and downright embarrassing moments.

Ming’s dad always tells him, “Get good grades! Don’t cause trouble!” But with two new friends by his side, and a few tricks up his sleeve, Ming is determined to make some changes.

Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Jerry Craft, Don’t Cause Trouble is a funny, warmhearted graphic novel that will resonate with readers who are looking for a place to belong. – Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks

Dream On written by Shannon Hale, illustrated by Marcela Cespedes, colors by Lark Pien

Something is missing from Cassie’s life.

Her parents don’t have much money, she has to share her bedroom (and bed!) with her sisters, and her family never seem to have time for her. To make matters worse, her best friend Vali is always busy with a new friend.

When Cassie gets a letter from a magazine sweepstakes with the words “YOU’RE THE WINNER” stamped on the front, she thinks it’s the answer to all her problems.

She could buy new furniture to replace their shabby old sofa. Or maybe a car so her family doesn’t have to take two trips to go places. Or maybe she can make Vali her best friend forever by taking her on a fabulous vacation. The possibilities are endless, like an all-you-can-eat buffet!

But will prizes really solve Cassie’s problems?

And what will she lose if she doesn’t win anything at all?

With bright and charming illustrations by Marcela Cespedes and coloring by Lark Pien, Dream On is a joyful story filled with imagination, big dreams, and wonder. This book is perfect for readers who want to enjoy a gentle and accessible story, as well as anyone looking for SEL themes about empathy, kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.

This story also features children experiencing high sensitivity, big emotions, and feelings of sadness, making it a helpful tool to spark conversations and connections with young readers. – Roaring Brook Press

Fresh Start written and illustrated by Gale Galligan, color by K Czap

Ollie Herisson’s dad is a diplomat, which means her family moves around a lot. She has already lived in Singapore, Korea, France, and the United States. When Ollie starts at a new school, she doesn’t worry about making a good impression because she knows that when her family inevitably moves again, she’ll get a fresh start somewhere else. A complete reset. It doesn’t matter if her classmates think she’s weird for pretending that she lives in the world of an imagined anime, or if she makes an enemy out of the most popular girl in her class, or ifshe does something hugely embarrassing! And it definitely doesn’t matter that all her mom wants is for Ollie to be more of a proper Thai daughter.

But after moving from Germany to Virginia and having a mortifying first day at her new school, Ollie is shocked to learn that her parents are going to buy a house so that Ollie and her sister, Cat, can finish grade school in one place. Can Ollie figure out how to both be herself and make real friends when she can’t run away from her life? – Graphix

Miss Camper written and illustrated by Kat Fajardo, color by Jose Garibaldi and K Czap

Sue is heading to Camp Willow this summer! She’s looking forward to hiking, archery, and making comics in the fresh air. She’s especially excited about LARPing (live-action role-playing) and can’t wait for the freedom of being away from home. But she won’t be far from family because her big sister, Carmen, is a camp counselor and her little sister, Ester, is a fellow camper and won’t give her any space! All Sue wants is to make memories with her friends, but they’re assigned to only a few of the same activities. To make matters even worse, her best friend, Sam, has a best camp friend named Marisol? And Sue’s good friend Izzy has a crush on Sue?! This summer isn’t at all going as planned! – Graphix

Mixed-up written by Kami Garcia, art by Brittney Williams, lettering by Comicraft’s Tyler Smith

Stella knows fifth grade will be the best year ever. Her closest friends, Emiko and Latasha, are in her class and they all got the teacher they wanted. Then their favorite television show, Witchlins, announces a new guidebook and an online game!

But when the classwork starts piling up, Stella struggles to stay on top. Why does it take her so long to read? And how can she keep up with friends in the Witchlins game if she can’t get through the text-heavy guidebook? It takes loving teachers and her family to recognize that Stella has a learning difference, and after a dyslexia diagnosis she gets the support and tools she needs to succeed.

Bestselling author Kami Garcia was inspired to write this special book by her daughter’s dyslexia journey; her own neurodivergent experience; and the many students she taught over the years. With subtle design and formatting choices making this story accessible to all readers, Mixed-Up shows that our differences don’t need to separate us. – First Second

Winging It written by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter, with color by Dominique Ramsey

Twelve-year-old Luna never wanted to move from California to Virginia, even if it is near historic Washington, DC, and no matter how excited her dad is to introduce her to the area where her late mother grew up. And she definitely doesn’t want to live with a very formal grandmother she barely knows. But during a visit to the National Museum of Natural History, the rarely seen luna moth for which Luna was named sparks her curiosity. Using her mother’s old naturalist notebooks as a guide, Luna, who has always preferred the indoors, endeavors to see a real luna moth with her own eyes. Learning more about nature just might help her make a new friend, figure out how to feel at home in her new life, and understand the mother she never got the chance to know. – Graphix

Online Reading Challenge – March

- 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 March, we will be reading books that commemorate the role of women in history and society. Our main title for March is Code Girls: The Untold History of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy. Here’s a quick summary from the publisher:

Recruited by the U.S. Army and Navy from small towns and elite colleges, more than ten thousand women served as codebreakers during World War II. While their brothers and boyfriends took up arms, these women moved to Washington and learned the meticulous work of code-breaking. Their efforts shortened the war, saved countless lives, and gave them access to careers previously denied to them. A strict vow of secrecy nearly erased their efforts from history; now, through dazzling research and interviews with surviving code girls, bestselling author Liza Mundy brings to life this riveting and vital story of American courage, service, and scientific accomplishment. – Grand Central Publishing

Looking for some other books that commemorate the role of women in history and society? Try any of the following.

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

New local author titles, July-December 2025

- Beth Leave a comment

Dozens of titles were added to our Local Authors collection during the second half of 2025. These are books written by authors born or living in Scott County, Iowa, or Rock Island County, Illinois. In most cases, the items were donated to the Davenport Public Library by the authors themselves. All Local Author items are available for checkout from our Fairmount branch.

Don’t forget — Zines are being added to the local author collection. Zines (pronounced “ZEEN” and short for “fanzine” or “magazine”) are small, independently produced publications. Zines are often created and photocopied by hand. Zines cover a wide range of topics, including art, politics, music, and personal experiences. If you are the creator of a zine (or zines) and are interested in donating to The Library, please drop off a copy at any Davenport Public Library branch. Please include a detailed synopsis along with the author’s contact information. Zines do not need an ISBN number or barcode.

My wicked hometown: the hidden history of Davenport, Iowa by D. Ezra Sidran, Ph. D. — A sordid history of Davenport, Iowa, as told using newspaper clippings going back to the 19th century. This book describes Davenport’s infamous Bucktown and how the archbishop of Davenport called the city, “The wickedest city in America.” Also included are photographs and reports from the Iowa DCI investigation into the collapse of 324 Main Street on May 28, 2023. When the building collapsed there were 74 open housing violations, 2 orders to vacate and a declaration from the Fire Marshall that it was a public hazard. Three people died when the building collapsed. A fourth had her leg amputated in the rubble.

I should’ve cheated by Isis. Robin Richardson swore she’d never be that woman — the one who gave her heart to a man who broke it a thousand times. But when it came to Saxon Anderson, she was addicted. Robin clung to the hope that one day he’d finally choose her. Enter Keontae Adams. Smooth, patient, and dripping with talent, Keontae gave Robin everything Saxon denied her. For the first time, Robin tasted real love — the kind that didn’t come with lies, games, and betrayal. Now Robin is caught between the man who’s owned her heart for years and the man who’s teaching her what love really means. The streets are watching and one wrong choice could cost her everything. Will Robin finally break free from the chains of her toxic past, or will Saxon’s pull drag her back into the chaos?

Escape on the Silk Road by Dan Moore — The thrilling adventure of four people who survive an airplane crash in the desolate reaches of western China. Fritz and Betta, German clothing designers, and Tegh, a Mongolian Uighur student, are expelled from China under suspicion of anti-government activities. Steve, an American forced to leave his NGO work by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, is on the flight by happenstance. Thrown together by fate, the four strangers find themselves traveling the hazardous route of the ancient Silk Road as they head west, hoping to elude the Chinese officials who have declared them fugitives and find safety in Kazakhstan, more than 2,300 miles away.

Death and the dragon by David Hankins. After Lucifer played fast and loose with the Rules governing soul management–after he stole Abigail’s soul without Judgement–Grim storms into Hell to have words with the Lord of Lies. But one does not just waltz in demanding to speak with the Dragon. There are receptionists to battle, forms to complete, and minotaurs to charm. Oh, and a coup by Nigel the Demigod to stop. But what happens when Hell’s new leadership starts pulling the living into Hell before their time? When they bypass Death and threaten premature Armageddon? For Grim, there is no greater sin, and he will tear Hell apart to set thingsright, even if it costs his soul. Death is coming, and Hell will never be the same.”

To dwell in shadows by Avalon Griffin. Samael and Selene’s journey continues into the sinister depths of the Underworld, where Sam’s search for redemption becomes a battle between duty and desire. When Selene left her dull life in the human world to be with her demon mate, she was determined to thrive on her own terms. Selene was ready to build a life with Samael in the realm of Aurelia, free from the expectations of others. Yet, she soon realizes that being the fated mate of a demon comes with more than passion, as a trip to the Underworld forces her to question everything. After decades of loneliness, Samael is ready to heal from his traumatic past. With Selene at his side, he is certain that a reunion with his parents in the Underworld will bring only joy and closure.

Eerie April: a compilation of hauntings by April Crowder. Step into the world of Eerie April, where you will experience ghostly tales of the unexplained.

Silence chases miracles … the extraordinary true story of defying limits, rewriting futures, and finding healing in unexpected places by Dara and Mitch Dietrich. the extraordinary true story of Dara and Mitch, two individuals who defied diagnoses, defied expectations, and found healing not only in medicine and determination but in each other.

Read about Italy during the Winter Olympics

- Beth Leave a comment

The Olympic Winter Games take place in Milano Cortina, Italy, from February 6-22, 2026, with the Paralympic Winter Games taking place March 4-15, 2026. What a great excuse to read books that take place in Italy! As you watch the Games, you may spot the setting of your current read. Below you will find a list of books that take place in Italy, all owned by the Davenport Public Library. Descriptions are provided by the publishers.

The Dogs of Venice by Steven Rowley. After months of planning a romantic holiday getaway in Venice, Paul is blindsided when his five-year marriage suddenly unravels. Fueled by heartbreak, Paul endeavors to take the trip alone. Soon after arriving in Italy, he notices a small, scruffy, self-assured dog trotting alongside a canal with the confidence he so desperately wants for himself. When their paths cross again, Paul feels compelled to learn how his new four-legged friend thrives on his own. Amid the food, sights, and welcoming people of Venice, Paul’s journey culminates in a magical encounter that leads him to feel real connection — to a dog, to a foreign city and, most importantly, to himself.

Murder in Chianti by Camilla Trinchieri. Set in the heart of Tuscan wine country, this mystery introduces Nico Doyle, a former NYPD homicide detective who’s just looking for space to grieve when he finds himself pulled into a local murder investigation. Mourning the loss of his wife, Rita, former NYPD homicide detective Nico Doyle moves to her hometown of Gravigna in the wine-soaked region of Chianti. Half-Italian and half-Irish, Nico finds himself able to get by in the region with the help of Rita’s relatives, but he still feels alone and out of place. Early one morning, he hears a gunshot near his cabin and walks out to discover a dead body in the woods, flashily dressed in gold tennis shoes. Salvatore Perillo, the local maresciallo, enlists Nico’s help with the murder case. It turns out more than one person in this idyllic corner of Italy knew the victim, and with a very small pool of suspects, including his own in-laws, Nico must dig up Gravigna’s every last painful secret to get to the truth.

May the Wolf Die by Elizabeth Heider. Nikki Serafino is enjoying the sunset from her boat in her beloved port city of Naples, Italy, when she discovers the body of a man in the warm waters of the bay. An investigator working as the liaison between local police and American troops, Nikki is certainly no stranger to violence and organized crime, but this case grows complicated when the victim turns out to be a U.S. Navy captain stationed at the nearby military base-and the autopsy reveals foul play. As she delves into the case, another body is found and Nikki must face connections linking the murders to her own complicated history as a daughter of Naples.

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack. All that bestselling author Eleanor Dash wants is to get through her book tour in Italy and kill off her main character, Connor Smith, in the next in her Vacation Mysteries series — is that too much to ask? Clearly, because when an attempt is made on the real Connor’s life — the handsome but infuriating con man she got mixed up with ten years ago and now can’t get out of her life — Eleanor’s enlisted to help solve the case. Contending with literary rivals, rabid fans, a stalker — and even her ex, Oliver, who turns up unexpectedly — theories are bandied about, and rivalries, rifts, and broken hearts are revealed. But who’s really trying to get away with murder?

Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker. Max happens to look exactly like Sofia Kristiansen, the youngest female prime minister in Europe. Sofia is powerful, beautiful, and unfortunately, someone is trying really hard to assassinate her. Her security service wants to outsmart the bad guys by employing a body double during the prime minister’s annual Italian holiday. Physically speaking, Max is an outrageously convincing doppelgänger; surely no one will spot the difference. No one can know about Max’s new job — no one except Sofia and a few intelligence officers, including Flynn, the handler assigned to Max’s case. Flynn, who’ll instruct her how to act like a prime minister in public. Flynn, who has an unexpected history with Max — from another sun-drenched summer years and years ago. Now he’s instructed to stay in Max’s suite to protect her as old passions and assassins collide.

There are four books in the “Meet me in Italy” series by Jennifer Probst, but each stands alone.

Our Italian Summer features three generations of Ferrari women who need to heal the broken pieces of their lives…and one trip of a lifetime through Italy.

The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti is about a secret romance that sends three estranged sisters to the Amalfi Coast to follow clues about their mother’s past and challenges them to a whole new future.

A destination wedding in Italy’s Lake Como brings three best friends back together to face the secrets of the past in A Wedding in Lake Como.

And in the newest edition to the series, To Sicily with Love, a lonely woman meets the big Italian family she never knew about during a life-changing summer.

Better than the Movies by Lynn Painter

- Stephanie Leave a comment

“Sometimes we get so tied up in our idea of what we think we want that we miss out on the amazingness of what we could actually have.”
― Lynn Painter, Better Than the Movies

First in series, Lynn Painter’s Better Than the Movies is a fun romp through classic romantic comedies as experienced by a hopeless romantic high school senior trying to win over her childhood crush. Liz Buxbaum’s childhood crush, Michael, has moved back to their hometown! Convinced that he is her soulmate and determined to make him her prom date, she enlists the help of her next-door neighbor, Wes, to grab his attention. Wes may be her nemesis, but he’s friends with Michael. Having grown up watching many classic romantic comedies, Liz hatches a fantasy plan straight from one of her movies involving Wes that will hopefully lead Michael to become her prom date. Downside: she’ll have to spend a lot more time with the boy who has tormented her since childhood. Upside: she discovers that spending time with Wes isn’t actually that bad. Has she misjudged him? Her feelings about this whole situation are changing and she isn’t sure what that means for her, Wes, or Michael.

Better Than the Movies was absolutely adorable. Liz is obsessed with her first love, Michael, but her relationship with Wes had me squealing as they grew closer and closer. I also loved the romantic comedies that Liz, the hopeless romantic, has been obsessed with since she was little. It was something her mom loved before she died, so Liz frequently watches the same movies that her mom enjoyed. Liz talks about many of the movies throughout this book, which I enjoyed (and want to watch again!).

Movies series

  1. Better than the Movies (2021)
  2. Nothing Like the Movies (2024)

Interested in this book? Better than the Movies is the February See YA Book Club pick. We will be discussing this book on Wednesday, February 4th 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.

Wednesday March 4th session will be meeting in the Story Room.

February 4 – Better than the Movies by Lynn Painter

March 4 – The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

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

Local Authors section is adding zines to the collection!

- Beth Leave a comment

The Library is adding Zines to the Local Authors collection. If you are the creator of a zine (or zines) and are interested in donating to The Library, please drop off a copy at any Davenport Public Library branch. Please include a detailed synopsis along with the author’s contact information. Zines do not need an ISBN number or barcode.

Davenport Public Library considers a local author a person native to or currently residing in Rock Island or Scott counties. All Zine materials will be shelved in the Local Author area at the Fairmount branch of the Davenport Public Library.

Zines (pronounced “ZEEN” and short for “fanzine” or “magazine”) are small, independently produced publications. Zines are often created and photocopied by hand. Zines cover a wide range of topics, including art, politics, music, and personal experiences. They are often created as a way for marginalized groups to share their perspectives, and as a way for people to express themselves and connect with others who have similar interests.

If you have any questions, please email the Local Authors librarian Beth Paul at bpaul@davenportlibrary.com.

She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran

- Stephanie Leave a comment

“Who am I but someone others define? It’s easier to be a stereotype. It hurts when you are yourself.”
― Trang Thanh Tran, She Is a Haunting

Trang Thanh Tran’s debut novel, She is a Haunting, is a young adult gothic fantasy and mystery with ghosts, colonialism, and queer themes. Honestly I don’t know what I expected, but I was pleasantly surprised by this novel with the exception of the bugs. There are SO MANY bugs in this novel that I found myself having to take a break to make sure there weren’t any crawling near me. *shiver* Let’s get into the book!

Jade Nguyen wants to go to college, but her parents’ relationship is making things hard. Her parents have been separated for the last four years. Her father left the family and went to Vietnam to start a business, leaving Jade, her mother, her younger sister, and her younger brother behind. When Jade discovers that she isn’t eligible for loans, she strikes up a deal with her father. If she spends the summer with him in Vietnam fixing up an old house that he plans to turn into a bed and breakfast, he will pay for a year of her college. Sounds like a pretty easy deal to her, but as soon as she shows up in Vietnam, everything feels off.

Jade has never quite fit in – in America she’s not American enough, while in Vietnam she’s not Vietnamese enough. After a falling out with her best friend, Jade isn’t sure if she’s straight enough anymore. In Vietnam, Jade isn’t impressed with the decaying French colonial house that her family used to work in and that her father has chosen to restore, but when she believes she can make it the five weeks to get her tuition money. Quickly though, things start falling apart. She has paralyzing bad dreams, is visited by ghosts, and is certain there are bugs crawling around her. Her father and sister don’t believe her, leaving Jade with no choice but to stage some hauntings of her own. The downside is the house isn’t a fan of her meddling and has decided to make its presence known. Jade and her family are in danger, but she isn’t sure what to do to break the hold.

Interested in this book? She is a Haunting is the January See YA Book Club pick. We will be discussing this book on Wednesday, January 7th 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.

Wednesday March 4th session will be meeting in the Story Room.

January 7 – She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran

February 4 – Better than the Movies by Lynn Painter

March 4 – The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

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

Online Reading Challenge – December Wrap-Up

- Stephanie Leave a comment

How did your reading go this month? Did you read any historical fiction in December? This is our last month of the 2025 Online Reading Challenge! Are you finishing strong or do you still have some months to catch up on? Share in the comments!

I read our main title: Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. This novel was a gut-wrenching, but necessary, read that sent me down a rabbit hole of research into the events described within.

Told through alternating timelines, readers follow Civil Townsend in 1973 fresh out of nursing school and decades later after her career is established. In Montgomery, Alabama in 1973, Civil has a job at the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, eager to help women make their own choices for their bodies and their lives. Her first patients out in the community are two young sisters, ages 11 and 13. Civil is shocked to learn that the clinic has decided that the girls need to be on birth control, given that they haven’t even kissed a boy and one hasn’t even started bleeding. Growing more concerned by the day, Civil discovers that something concerning is happening at the clinic and that those in power may be running an experiment similar to the Tuskegee Syphilis Study that ran from 1932 and 1972.

Her two patients are young, black, and poor, like many of the clinic’s patients. They may not understand the consequences of what they are agreeing to, given that many of them cannot read and are placing blind trust in the clinic staff and the government people. Civil wants to help so she spends time with her two young patients, growing closer with their family. One day she shows up at their house to discover that the unthinkable has happened. The consequences of what has happened will reverberate for decades through the community and through Civil’s relationships with family and friends.

Flash forward decades later and Civil has a grown daughter and an illustrious career. Called back to Alabama, she finds herself reliving her past on the cusp of retirement. She must not forget her past, even though it may make her uncomfortable.

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez is a historical fiction novel that I wish was required reading. Every part of this story had me yearning for justice: unregulated drugs were being given to women without proper knowledge, women and their families signed forms under duress, medical professionals decided amongst themselves who should or shouldn’t have children, and the government was using family planning clinics to sterilize people of color and minors without their consent. This isn’t even all the issues that Civil was fighting against in this story. While this story isn’t real, the events that happened within were actually happening to people in the past and still today. If you’re doubting whether reproductive injustice or medical racism exists, give Take My Hand a read.

Next month, we will be starting a brand new online reading challenge for 2026! I’m so excited to share the new challenge with you!

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!

Kick off your New Year’s Reading Resolution with the 2026 Winter Reading Challenge

- Christine Leave a comment

A bean waves from in front of a fireplace. Text says "Read with Benny Winter Reading Challenge."

Is your New Year’s Resolution to read more in 2026? We have a great way to help you kick things off in January! From January 1 – 31, 2026, Davenport Library patrons are encouraged to Read with Benny (the bean) as part of the 2026 Winter Reading Challenge.

To participate, you can either log into Beanstack online or download the app to your phone or tablet. If you have participated in one of our online challenges before, log into your account. If you haven’t, you’ll have to create an account first. Once you have done so, search for Davenport Public Library challenges. You’ll see the “Read with Benny Winter Reading Challenge” logo that matches the one up above. Click on that, and you are entered!

What next? Read! Whether you like fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, audiobooks, or magazines, the library has something to help you meet this challenge! If you are looking for inspiration, check out the 2026 Online Reading Challenge or some of our recent blog posts about new materials in the library: New Memoirs and Biographies, Winners of the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards, or Straight Off the Shelf.

People who complete the challenge will be entered into a prize drawing. Prizes are determined by age group:

  • Children’s Prize (0 – 11 years old): Enter to win a Tonies Bundle, including a Toniebox and assorted audiobooks and interactives to go with it!
  • Teen (11 – 19 years old): Enter to win a $75 gift card to The Atlas Collective and a YA Romance Book Bundle!
  • Adult (19+ years old): Enter to win a $100 Hyvee gift card along with a shopping tote and cookbook for inspiration!

Online Reading Challenge – December

- Stephanie Leave a comment

Welcome Readers!

This month the Online Reading Challenge is focusing on historical fiction. Our main title for December is Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. Here’s a quick summary from the publisher:

Inspired by true events that rocked the nation, a searing and compassionate new novel about a Black nurse in post-segregation Alabama who blows the whistle on a terrible injustice done to her patients, from the New York Times bestselling author of Wench

Montgomery, Alabama, 1973. Fresh out of nursing school, Civil Townsend intends to make a difference, especially in her African American community. At the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, she hopes to help women shape their destinies, to make their own choices for their lives and bodies.

But when her first week on the job takes her along a dusty country road to a worn-down one-room cabin, Civil is shocked to learn that her new patients, Erica and India, are children—just eleven and thirteen years old. Neither of the Williams sisters has even kissed a boy, but they are poor and Black, and for those handling the family’s welfare benefits, that’s reason enough to have the girls on birth control. As Civil grapples with her role, she takes India, Erica, and their family into her heart. Until one day she arrives at their door to learn the unthinkable has happened, and nothing will ever be the same for any of them.

Decades later, with her daughter grown and a long career in her wake, Dr. Civil Townsend is ready to retire, to find her peace, and to leave the past behind. But there are people and stories that refuse to be forgotten. That must not be forgotten.

Because history repeats what we don’t remember.

Inspired by true events and brimming with hope, Take My Hand is a stirring exploration of accountability and redemption. – Berkley

Looking for some other historical fiction titles? Try any of the following.

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