CORALVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF PICKS - Winter Adult Reading Month 2020
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CORALVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF
PICKS
Winter Adult Reading Month 2020
story about young love, a big secret in a
small community –and the things that
ultimately haunt us most. [F B471, LP, CD
book, ebook, eaudio]
The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg—A
group of friends starts a monthly supper club
that turns into a confession club that meets
weekly. The club offers them the kind of
support they need to make some difficult
decisions. [F B493, Playaway, ebook]
The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes—
During the Depression, Harper finds a key to
a house that opens to other times, although
it comes at a cost. Harper must kill the
shining girls: young, bright women with
loads of potential. That is, until 1989, when
one of his victims somehow survives and,
with the help of a homicide detective, begins
to hunt him back. [F B566, CD book, ebook,
eaudio]
"Reader" by Scott Billings is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
2.0 The Black God’s Drums by P. Djeli Clark—In
F
an alternate New Orleans, where airships
ICTION rule the skies, a street kid bargains for a
chance at a better future, with information
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik about a Haitian scientist and a mysterious
Backman—A quirky book that is weapon that threatens New Orleans. At 111
sad and funny. Ove tries several pages this quick read will take you on a wild
times to kill himself but life keeps
adventure in a warmer climate on a winter’s
getting in the way. A great book. [F B126, CD
evening. [F C594, ebook]
book, ebook, eaudio]
Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell—A series of
The Mothers by Brit Bennett—A dazzling vignettes of life in a small, rural English town in
debut novel, The Mothers is a surprising the mid-1800s centered on the town’s women,2
especially two middle-aged, spinster sisters and a Jemisin’s short stories are a great place to
younger frequent visitor from a nearby city who start. [F J49, ebook, eaudio]
narrates. The episodes revolve around the minor
tragedies and victories experienced by townsfolk, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K.
the friendships and cooperation between women, Jemisin—After the death of her mother,
and lots of mostly good-natured gossip. Sweet, Yeine Darr is summoned to the kingdom’s
but not even close to saccharine, and often quite capital by her estranged grandfather, the
funny. [F G248, eaudio] king. The capital, Sky, is a city of wonders
that floats high above the earth using the
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah—I’m a divine power of gods who were long ago
sucker for a story that takes place in captured and enslaved by the royal family.
Alaska—the harsh weather, and sparse
Yeine soon finds herself named a possible
population is such a great setting for
heir in a deadly, three-way struggle for the
someone in turmoil. Everyone in Alaska
seems to have past they are trying to get throne while the captive gods craft their own
away from and this story is no different. inscrutable plans for her. [F J49, ebook,
Filled with interesting characters, it’s a eaudio]
heartbreaking tale of love—both between a
couple and between a parent and child—and A Brightness Long Ago by Guy Gavriel Kay—
the lengths people will go to protect those we Like most of Kay’s books, Brightness is a
love, even if it means others we love get hurt. sorta-historical kinda-fantasy. This one is
And there’s redemption! [F H243, LP, CD focused on the rising conflict between two
book, ebook, eaudio] city-states in a land reminiscent of
Renaissance Italy. No one gets more deeply
Sea Prayer by Khaled Hosseini—A short, into the heads of characters to make them 3-
powerful, illustrated book written by beloved dimensional and real than Kay does, even
novelist Khaled Hosseini in response to the marginal ones that appear for just a few
current refugee crisis, Sea Prayer is pages before drifting off or dying. Again as
composed in the form of a letter, from a usual, this is a mix of action and multiple
father to his son, on the eve of their journey. character studies. [F K23, ebook]
Watching over his sleeping son, the father
reflects on the dangerous sea-crossing that Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin—
lies before them. It is also a vivid portrait of The next phase of the Song of Ice and Fire
their life in Homs, Syria, before the war, and series, which continues with The War of Five
of that city’s swift transformation from a Kings. While Westeros is dealing with the
home into a deadly war zone. [F H829, continued fallout of King Robert’s Death, the
ebook] Stark Children are scattered, the dead are
walking, and Daenerys Targaryen is dealing
How Long ‘til Black Future Month? By N.K. with her own issues across the sea. I’m
Jemisin—A short story collection by an recommending this book because it was my
African American author containing science favorite of the series, there’s a lot going on
fiction with main characters who are but in all the best ways. [F M381, CD book,
ebook, eaudio]
primarily African American. If you have
never heard of the Afrofuturism genre, N.K.
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The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather reach international success and ultimately to
Morris—Based on a true story of Lale who their final show and how the band breaks
tattooed the prisoners. He used his apart as quickly as it began. This book is the
privileged position to exchange jewels and classic "sex, drugs, and rock & roll" story told
money from murdered Jews for food to keep through an utterly unique narrative of
his fellow prisoners alive. He falls in love interviews that show how memories differ
with a young girl he has to tattoo. After and how complex relationships can be. I
being released he finds her and marries her. highly recommend listening to the
[F M876, CD book, ebook, eaudio] audiobook; it is a full cast recording and
unfolds as though you were listening to a
Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris—Based podcast or a documentary. Another staff
on an actual person who was in The Tattooist member writes, “Love this book! It’s a rock
of Auschwitz. Cilka is a sentenced to a Soviet and roll story, a love story and a sibling
gulag in Siberia as punishment for sleeping story. It’s about the power of art and the
with her Nazi captors. She is subjected to power of words, and the various ways we
rapes at the gulag also. She does manage to alternately save and destroy those who mean
survive and helps her fellow prisoners. [F the most to us. It’s told in an interview
M876, CD book, Playaway, ebook, eaudio] format, each chapter is given to a different
character, and it works so well. It’s a
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens— reminder that there are many sides to every
This is the book you don’t want to end. And story.” [F R358 CD book, ebook, eaudio]
can’t wait for the movie. [F O97, CD book,
Playaway, ebook, eaudio] Vicious by V. E. Schwab—Victor and Eli
started as friends in college. They were both
Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce—Emmaline lonely, brilliant boys who shared a desire to
becomes an accidental advice columnist develop their extraordinary, unusual
while trying to do her bit to help the World superpowers. But things went terribly
War II effort in London. Charming. [F P359, wrong. This is a dark, thrilling story of
CD book, ebook, eaudio] friendship, of revenge, and of the
The Overstory by Richard Powers—An extraordinary. [F S389, CD book, ebook]
ambitious and profound novel with an urgent
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore by Robin
environmental message. Spanning multiple
Sloan—A young man adrift in the world
time periods and including numerous
after recently losing his job finds work at a
narrators, it tells the story of a group of 24-hour bookstore. The store while
activists who are called to protect the last mysterious isn’t quite as unusual as its
three percent of redwood trees on earth. [F eccentric owner. Secret Societies, what more
P888, CD book, ebook] can be said. I’m recommending this book
because I was told to read it because it make
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins you love reading again, it’s a short read with
Reid—Told through interviews of band an interesting mystery. [F S634, CD book,
members, friends, acquaintances, and eaudio]
smaller interactions through the years, this
book follows a rock band in the 1970s as they
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Y
The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling—On OUNG ADULT FICTION
Gyre Price’s downtrodden planet the fastest
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth
way to make the money needed to fly off-
Acevedo—One of the best new YA
world is, ironically, down below. Lone scouts
books of the year. This book is
explore winding caverns to map out precious
about Emoni, a teenage mom in
deposits for mining corporations.
her senior year of high school trying to
Unfortunately, the reason they go alone is balance schoolwork, work and being a mom.
because the creatures that live in the deep The only place she can let go is in the
seem to be drawn to groups of humans. kitchen—where she adds a little something
Double unfortunately, what should have magical to everything she cooks. It’s a
been a team of handlers on the surface heartwarming read about a girl with talent,
remotely managing the systems in Gyre’s pride, and a drive to feed the soul that keeps
suit is, instead, a lone woman who seems to her fire burning bright. (I highly recommend
care more about completing the expedition the audiobook, as the author narrates it!)
than Gyre’s health and safety. Triple [YA A174, CD book, ebook, eaudio]
unfortunately, Gyre lied about her
credentials when applying for this job. [F What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam
S795, CD book, ebook, eaudio] Silvera—Told in two voices, when Arthur, a
summer intern from Georgia, and Ben, a
native New Yorker, meet it seems like fate,
but after three attempts at dating fail they
wonder if the universe is pushing them
together or apart. This will-they-won’t-they
love story is a joy to read! [YA A333, CD
book, ebook, eaudio, Playaway]
Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody and
Joanne Rendell—A science fiction retelling of
Les Miserables, this book follows Theo the
street thief with a secret and a desire to
leave the planet Laterre in order to see the
stars again, Marcellus, a young officer being
groomed to take over his grandfather’s
position in the military, and Alouette leaves
the safety of her refuge to help the poor and
injured but risks exposing the last of the free
knowledge to the destruction of the
revolution. [YA B864, ebook, eaudio]
The Naming by Alison Croggon—Centers
around a young girl name Maerad, a slave
who discovers she is the lost heir of a dead
"Reader’s park..." by sha_junglii is licensed under CC BY-ND
2.0 kingdom. She escapes and with her new
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mentor sets out to learn about her past and school bully, or well anyone. Because, boys
defeat an evil that has infiltrated her don’t knit (except he does). [YA E13, ebook]
new world. I’m recommending this book
because it’s a great adventure story, with Descendant of the Crane by Joan He—After
fantastic world building. [YA C941, ebook] Princess Hesina’s father dies, she
commits treason by seeking the guidance of a
I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver— sooth who informs her the death was not
It’s just three words: I am nonbinary. But natural or accidental. Now she must run the
that’s all it takes to change everything. kingdom in her father’s place, deal with
threats both inside and outside the palace,
When Ben De Backer comes out to their
and try to stop a massacre from happening,
parents as nonbinary, they’re thrown out of
all while searching for justice. [YA H432,
their house and forced to move in with their
ebook, eaudio]
estranged older sister, Hannah, and her
husband. At times heartbreaking and Dread Nation: Rise Up by Justina Ireland—
joyous, I Wish You All the Best is both a In this alternate history, the Civil War ended
celebration of life, friendship, and love, and a when the undead rose from battlefields to
shining example of hope in the face of turn the living. North and South reunite to
adversity. [YA D85, Playaway, ebook, fight them, legislating a somewhat different
eaudio] form of slavery - all “Native and Negro” boys
and girls, including mixed-race teenager
A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos— Jane, are required by law to train as zombie
After the destruction of the world left fighters. There’s enough zombie action to
humanity on floating islands, keep things moving briskly, but the real
ancestral spirits have gifted their families horror here is the pervasive and unrelenting
with special powers. Ophelia can read the racism and misogyny that Jane must face
history of objects simply by touching them. and overcome. It all makes for an intense,
When she is engaged to Thorn, a cold- thought-provoking, and sometimes
hearted young man from another ark, she unsettling story. [YA I65, CD book, ebook,
has to leave her home and try to survive the eaudio]
balancing act of family rivalries, political
scandals and death threats, all without You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali
knowing who she can trust. Her only way out Perkins—A glimpse into the inner life of a
is her tenacity and and inner strength. [YA multi-ethnic family, this story is relatable
D115, ebook, eaudio] even to those whose identities don’t cross
cultures. It is a beautifully written tale of the
Boys Don’t Knit (In public) by T.S. Easton— Das family and their experiences
Ben has to take an extracurricular activity immigrating to the United States, told in
as part of his probation. The choices are not alternating perspectives of the female
great; at least the knitting teacher is hot. characters. I like that it is both a look at a
But, it turns out Ben is good at knitting, culture unfamiliar to me, as well a reflection
really good, and he enjoys it. He just can’t of universal themes of love and family. Most
let his friends find out, or his father, or the importantly, the family is a welcome
reminder that our nation has always been
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renewed by the cultures, talent, and passion on an epidemic of ghosts, creating a world
of newcomers. [YA P449, CD book, ebook, with strict curfews and set ways of how you
eaudio] may part with your loved ones. Psychic
Investigations Agencies keep the ghosts at
Young Warriors: Stories of Strength edited by bay, as we follow the story of the employees
Tamora Pierce and Josepha Sherman— of the small, independent Lockwood and Co.
Young Warriors is a short story collection Agency. I loved this whole series, impressed
inspired by warrior traditions and myths as each book drew you in more. Each book
from around the world. I especially liked this has a few small cases with short plot arcs
collection of short stories because I never along with a larger plot of the individual
book, but overall the entire 5 book series also
knew where the next story would take me
has a huge, overarching plot that keeps you
whether an African village, an Australian
guessing until the very end. [YA S925, CD
hunting camp, or a ship at sea, each story is book, ebook, eaudio]
rich in location and lore. [ebook]
Sadie by Courtney Summers—A mystery
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson— told partially in the form of podcasts—
This is a book for library loving bibliophiles! sounds wacky, but it works, and helps the
It’s a stand-alone YA fantasy book based story unfold in tense and empathetic way.
around magical libraries. In this world, Sadie is a dark and wonderful character.
magical books created through [YA S955, CD book, ebook, eaudio]
sorcery (called grimoires) are dangerous and
the librarians carry swords as they protect
grimoires and knowledge. Elisabeth must
pair up with her enemy, sorcerer Nathaniel
Thorn, to save these libraries from a
unknown evil force. This book is so
thoroughly entertaining and absolutely
beautifully written! [YA R731, CD book,
ebook, eaudio]
Dear Martin by Nic Stone—Justyce is a star
student with a bright future, but he’s also
black. He grapples with some intense,
racially-charged situations as he writes
journal entries to Martin Luther King Jr.,
wondering if his teachings are still relevant
today. [YA S879, CD book, ebook, eaudio] “thoughts....lost in them” by sha_junglii is licensed
under CC BY-ND 2.0
The Lockwood and Co. Series by Jonathan
Stroud—A wonderfully delightful, page-
turning, and engaging YA series. In an
alternative reality of our current world, set
in England, the past 50 years have brought
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N
ONFICTION The Food Network, whose website & blog are
going gangbusters, and who is a successful
Palaces for the People by Eric ranch owner, operator of a hotel and
Klinenberg—A fascinating look restaurants, and home goods designer. In her
at the important role physical latest book, life is changing for her family as
buildings and spaces play in the kids leave for college and she confronts a
communities—libraries, museums, public need to change her own eating habits. There
parks. Klinenberg suggests that the way are various low carb recipes as well as
forward out of this time of deep divisions in recipes using new kitchen technology such as
our country is through the way we develop Instant Pots. Categories of recipes include
and use spaces. He came up with this idea by breakfast, lunch, snacks and starters, drinks,
studying the great heat wave that hit chicken, beef and pork, seafood, meatless,
Chicago in July of 1995 which killed 739 sides, small sweet bites, and desserts. Bon
people. While researching it for a different ppetite, readers! [641.5 D795]
project he found that certain neighborhoods
had higher death tolls than others, and while Apollo 8: The Thrilling Story of the First
some of the statistics made sense, there were Mission to the Moon by Jeffrey Kluger—
neighborhoods that were incredibly similar Recounts the bold but dangerous mission to
economically and racially but that had vastly secure America’s position as the first nation
different numbers of community members to reach the moon, revealing the dangers
that died because of the heat. When he endured by its crew and the ways the
looked into why that was, he found that the mission brought renewal to a country
neighborhoods that had public spaces for ravaged by assassinations and war. Apollo 8
people to gather were the ones with the least takes us from Mission Control to the
amount of casualties. Why? Because in those astronaut’s homes, from the test labs to the
spaces connections were made, community launch pad. This fast pace narration follows
was strengthened, and those connections Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders
turned out to be life-saving. Where people as they become the first humans to ever see
know each other, they look out for each the far side of the moon. [628.4540 CD book,
other. He traveled the world finding ebook, eaudio]
examples of this. It’s a really good read and
pretty inspiring. [307.76 K65, ebook, eaudio] #SAD!: Doonesbury in the Time of Trump by
Gary Trudeau—As a tween, I read old
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: the New Frontier; Doonesbury comic books and learned a lot
112 Fantastic Favorites for Everyday Eating about the 70s and recent history. This newer
by Ree Drummond—I’m not much of fiction book actually begins during the 2016
or mystery series reader, unless my book elections and goes through Trump’s first 500
club forces my hand. (Yes, I know, it’s days in office. Some of the comics satirically
supposed to be good for me!) But I adore portray Trump in office, while the rest show
nonfiction and personal narrative books. the perspective of how ordinary Americans
What better combination then but to devour are coping with the unpredictable POTUS. It
the latest combined cookbook/memoir by Ree gives the feeling that Trudeau, much like
Drummond—better known as The Pioneer many of the rest of us, didn’t really think
Woman. Whose cooking shows are a hit on
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Donald Trump would actually win, and is Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the
now a bit shell-shocked. [741.5 T866] Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain—
A great book for those interested in home
Love Poems: (for Married People) by John cooking or the culinary world in general.
Kenney—So funny! Hilarious poems about Meandering stories at times, but a quick fun
relationships! [811.6 K36, ebook] read containing lots of ‘colorful’ anecdotes
from the big city chefs. After Anthony’s
Love Poems (for People with Children) by passing a year and a half ago I felt a sense of
John Kinney—This is a small book of short loss having loved his shows. It was fun to
poems about parenting that literally made find a way to connect again with his wide
me laugh out loud. I think all parents will ranging knowledge and sharp wit. [B B768
immediately relate to it. Sometimes it is Bourdain, ebook, eaudio]
better to laugh than to cry. [811.6 K36,
ebook] Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate
Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms,
How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Mayhem, and Other Things That
Alexander Chee—In addition to being an Happened... by Allie Brosh—From 2009-
award-winning novelist, Chee has lived a 2013, recluse Allie Brosh wrote a hugely
fascinating life. These essays explore his life popular web comic/blog about her childhood
as the gay son of Korean immigrants who and personal life. She turned a few of her
settled in Maine, his time as a cater-waiter blogs and some new stories into a book. The
for some of the richest (and most pictures are very rudimentary, drawn in MS
homophobic) people in New York City, his Paint, and each chapter reads like a short
time as an activist with ACT UP during the story, but it really resonates. It is painfully
AIDS crisis in San Francisco, and his years honest, often hilariously silly, and sometimes
at the Iowa Writer’s Workshop. [814.54 very dark. I laughed until I cried at parts.
C515, ebook, eaudio] Other sections, including “Adventures in
Depression,” are heart wrenchingly familiar
The Collected Schizophrenias by Esme to anyone who has suffered through it. [B
Weijung Wang—Wang’s book of essays, B874 Brosh, ebook]
which won the Graywolf Nonfiction Prize
No Walls and the Recurring Dream by Ani
last year—deal with what she calls “the
Difranco—If you began listening to Ani as a
schizophrenias”—all the psychiatric
college student in the 1990s—or if that’s the
disorders characterized by psychosis. As a
era of her music you love—then this book is
woman diagnosed first with bipolar disorder
for you. Containing the story of her childhood
and later with schizoaffective disorder who
and the details behind many of her albums
worked for years in the Stanford psychiatric
and songs for the decade from 1990 to 2000,
clinic conducting extensive psychiatric
it’s an Ani fan’s treasure trove of anecdotes
research interviews, she is uniquely qualified
and trivia, all told with the trademark Ani
to give us a window into what it is to lose
folk-punk attitude. [B D569 DiFranco, ebook,
one’s mind and what it means to operate as
eaudio]
such a person in a society that simply labels
you crazy. [ebook]
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Heavy by Kiese Laymon—Laymon, whose rereading offers the pleasure of fascinating
How to Slowly Kill Yourselves and Others in new discoveries and increased enjoyment—
America laid bare what it was like to be a respected author Simon James at his best!
black college professor from the deep south [E J29 JAM]
operating at an elite northern college here
The Miscalculations of Lighting Girl by
delves into his past, his complicated yet
Stacy McAnulty—A lighting strike left Lucy
enduring relationships with his mother and
with superhuman math skills and a need for
grandmother, the women who raised him,
very rigid routine. After years of
and his relationship with his own body as a
homeschooling, this is the story of her
black man in America. Laymon’s lyrical,
attempt to reconnect as her grandmother
sometimes raunchy, sometimes searing prose
forces her to try middle school for one year.
is the perfect vehicle for the story of his life
[jF M478 McAn, CD book, ebook, eaudio]
so far. [B L427 Laymon, ebook, eaudio]
Planet Earth is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos—
While foster families and teachers dismiss
Nova as severely autistic and nonverbal,
Bridget understands how intelligent and
special her sister Nova is, and all that she
can’t express. As the launch of space shuttle
Challenger draws near, Nova’s new foster
family and teachers begin to see her
potential, and for the first time, she is
making friends without Bridget. Don’t let
this being a "children’s" book sway you from
reading this beautiful story about sisters,
neurodiversity, and space! [jF P197, CD
book, ebook, eaudio]
"Readers II: Lleno por favor" by Fran Simó is licensed
under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica
Townsend—A cursed child destined to die on
C
her eleventh birthday is rescued, whisked
HILDREN’S BOOKS (still away to a secret realm called Nevermoor,
good for adults!) and given the chance to compete for a place
in a prestigious organization called the
Mr. Scruff by Simon James—Mr. Wundrous Society. This first book in a
Scruff joyously presents loving new fantasy series is a perfect read-alike for
bonds between dogs and their Harry Potter fans. [jF T748, CD book, ebook,
humans plus characteristics of both, some eaudio]
pairs with perfectly matched traits, some
not. The best picture books invite repeated Moth by Isabel Thomas—The extraordinary
readings, and Mr. Scruff does cover to the last page of Moth, young
so splendidly. Spare, simple text, yes, but children through octogenarians are sure to
be fascinated by the evolution of the
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peppered moth throughout the last 200 Good Talk: a Memoir, in Conversations by
years. Lots to learn and contemplate about Mira Jacob—Jacob’s honestly and
adaptation and natural selection, ideal compassionately answers her half-Indian,
for budding scientists or anyone looking for half-Jewish son’s questions around race in
an exceptional true story. [j595.78 T457, this beautiful graphic novel memoir. [ebook,
ebook] eaudio]
Y
A GRAPHIC NOVEL
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen
Yang—Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, rages
against his fellow deities for not taking him
seriously despite his accomplishments. A
young boy named Jin Wang, accustomed to
the cultural acceptance that came with living
near San Francisco’s Chinatown, now
struggles being the only Chinese-American
student in his new school. An older boy,
"Book reader" by @Doug88888 is licensed under CC BY-NC-
SA 2.0
Danny, has his comfortable social existence
A
threatened when a Chinese relative,
DULT GN embodying every negative stereotype, comes
to visit. With these three threads, Gene Luen
My Brother’s Husband Volumes Yang weaves together a story about
1 & 2 by Gengoroh Tagame— outsiders, culture, and being true to oneself.
Yaichi is a work-at-home [YA-GN Yang]
suburban dad in contemporary
Tokyo; formerly married to Natsuki and
father to their young daughter, Kana. Their
All images in this year’s Staff Picks were found
lives suddenly change with the arrival at
via Creative Commons (creativecommons.org),
their doorstep of a Canadian named Mike
which, like the Internet Archive (archive.org),
Flanagan, who declares himself the widower
shares with libraries the goal of making art,
of Yaichi’s estranged gay twin, Ryoji. Mike is
on a quest to explore Ryoji’s past, and the information, and entertainment freely
family reluctantly but dutifully takes him in. accessible. Creative Commons also has as its
If you have never read a manga before I mission to make it possible for writers, artists,
highly recommend starting with My and content creators of all kinds to share their
Brother’s Husband. [GN Tagame v. 1 and v. work in ways that allow others to use it freely.
2] We are grateful to those photographers who
have given their work Creative Commons
licenses, thus allowing us to use them here.
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