Staff Picks
![Lilac Girls book cover, 3 women walking arm in arm](https://plnl.org/wp-content/uploads/lilac-girls.jpg)
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The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson is an intriguing YA book that will transport you into a new world full of Wild Chalkings, mysterious creatures and magic! Recommended by Michele.
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A middle school story about acceptance and tolerance, The Other Boy is truly a wonderful read. We meet Shane, a typical middle school boy who likes hanging out with friends and playing baseball. But Shane has a secret that he is scared will get out to all his friends: he is transgender. When a classmate finds out and threatens to expose him, Shane is pleased to find that some people will love you no matter what your differences. Journey with Shane as he discovers how much courage it takes to be exactly who you are. Recommended by Ty
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At first the book welcomes us with an eerie cover, and as soon as we get into the first story, we know the issue is not so serious. The book is filled with real life ghost stories sprinkled here and there with a sense of humor, irony, and good sense. You won’t feel goosebumps at all but you will be happy to have read it! Recommended by Margarita
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Lo Blacklock, a travel magazine journalist, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. At first, Lo’s stay is nothing but pleasant; however, as the week wears on, Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for, and the ship sails on.
A fast-paced, psychological mystery, that is a pretty quick read with good plot twists. Recommended by Linda.
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Ricardo, at an early age, sees his life-long dream fulfilled: to live in Paris. But an encounter with a past love will change everything. The young girl, adventurer, pragmatic, wicked, calculating, and mischievous, will drag him out of his small world of ambitions. This is the story of the intimate love that occupies more than three decades of Ricardo’s life, and it is also a fascinating tale traveling through Europe, South America, and Japan.
If you have a love for romantic novels in Spanish, and are interested in learning a bit about Peruvian politics, check out this captivating tale recommended by Emy.
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Young Bruce Wayne is the new kid at Ducard Academy, a prep school for gifted middle school students. Bruce finds out pretty quickly that he doesn’t fit in: the faculty seems to not just encourage villainous behavior from its students, but reward it. He makes friends with two other outsiders, farm boy Clark Kent and the regal Diana Prince. The three band together to form a detective squad to find out why all of these extraordinary kids have been brought together at Ducard Academy, and to see just what the faculty is plotting.
If you love DC comics and mysteries, this charming graphic novel combines them both into a wonderfully illustrated read. Recommended by Michele.