Recommend by Ashley

Newsies

the Soundtrack

Newsies is a 1992 live-action musical that tells the tale of a turn-of-the-century labor uprising among New York City’s newsboys (Newsies). One of the most famous actors who sang in this Musical is Oscar winner Christian Bale.

Tiger's Voyage

After Ren’s memory loss following his rescue in Tiger’s Quest, Kelsey must work to make the prince fall in love with her all over again. The only problem is that Kelsey is starting to have feelings for Ren’s brother Kishan. Things get more complicated when Mr. Kadam unravels the next portion of their journey: retrieving Durga’s mystical pearl necklace located in the mysterious Seventh Pagoda. The journey will become increasingly more risky, especially with the evil wizard Lokesh, who would stop at nothing to have Kelsey for his own.

Recommend by Carol

Michigan Memories

This is volume number one of Larry Massie’s tales and memories of Michigan’s past. You will recognize many familiar places around West Michigan and the State as he talks about Native Americans, fur trading, birch bark canoes, and more. So sit down and start your dig into Michigan’s past right in the comfort of your living room.

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter

While Abraham Lincoln is widely lauded for saving the Union and freeing millions of slaves, his valiant fight against the forces of the undead has remained in the shadows for hundreds of years. This is until Seth Grahame-Smith stumbled upon The Secret Journal of Abraham Lincoln and became the first living person to lay eyes on it in more than 140 years. Is it true? Or not! Vampire lovers can really sink their teeth into this one.

Heidegger's Glasses

The Third Reich’s obsession with the occult has led them to create the Compound of Scribes. Concealed in a converted mineshaft complete with rose-colored cobblestone streets and a continuously shifting artificial sky, the Scribes’ sole mission is to answer letters written to the dead – thereby preventing the deceased from pestering psychics for answers and inadvertently exposing the Final Solution.

Rin Tin Tin the Life and the Legend

He believed the dog was immortal. So begins Orlean’s sweeping, powerfully moving account of Rin Tin Tin’s journey from orphaned puppy to movie star and international icon. This is the story of a dog who was born in 1918 and never died. If you grew up watching Rin Tin Tin on TV like I did, you will want to read this book.

100 Crochet Projects

Need something to keep you busy on those long cold winter nights? Pick up a needlework project from one of our many craft books. This one is on crocheting and there are items to wear, accessories, afghans, potholders and more. If you want to learn how to crochet, join our Stitching for Peace group the second Saturday of each month and someone would be happy to get you started.

Recommend by Christina

Organizing from the Inside Out

Veteran professional organizer Morgenstern has spent years honing the principles of organization into a simple and universal system. Organizing from the inside out--developing a plan tailored to each individual's psychological needs--ensures, once and for all, a system that won't break down.

Personal Budget

Overview

Okay, you are finally ready to get your finances in order. Good for you! But what exactly do you need to do? How do you find out where your money is going anyway? Relax, the answers are here in Barnes & Noble Basics^TM  Personal Budgeting.

The Secrets of College Success

Overview

If you’re currently a college student, or plan on being one, you need to check out this book. Written by award-winning professors Lynn Jacobs and Jeremy Hyman, it’s loaded with insider information that only professors know—but few are willing to reveal. There are over 600 tips in this book. The tips are quick and easy-to-use, and the advice is friendly and supportive. It’s as if you had your own personal professor guiding you on the path to college success.

Recommend by Rhonda

Stealing Buddha's Dinner

Synopsis:  Bich Nguyen’s family leaves Saigon for Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1975 when she is a baby.  Nguyen is passionate about American food and each chapter combines her love of food with her memories of growing up.  She tells of the conflicts of growing up in a Vietnamese Buddhist household, going to an American school, having a Latina step-mother and uncovering the mystery surrounding her unknown birth mother.

The Dry Grass of August

Synopsis: If you enjoyed reading The Help, you will enjoy this book.  Jubie Watts is a 13 year-old girl who lives a comfortable life in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jubie has a close relationship with the family maid, Mary Luther, a black woman who is full of wisdom and encouragement.  Jubie, her mother, older sister, younger sister, little brother and Mary embark on a road trip to Florida to visit her mother’s brother. Along the way Jubie becomes aware of the racial tension that is building in the South due to the integration changes that are on the horizon.  The trip takes a tragic turn and Jubie has to face many challenges involving her family and her own personal convictions.

The Lost Quilter

Synopsis:  This book’s is part of the Elm Creek Quilt novels by Jennifer Chiaverini, but it can be read on its own.  The book takes place in 1859 and follows the flight of an escaped slave, Joanna, from a plantation in Virginia.  She is aided by the Underground Railroad.   Her escape is short-lived, but she leaves an infant son in the care of the Bergstrom family in Pennsylvania.   Joanna is a quilter and dreams of being reunited with her son.  She creates a quilt to help her remember the landmarks she passed on her journey North so she can find her way back to The Bergstrom’s farm.

Lizzie Bright and Buckminster Boy

Synopsis:  This is a Newbery Honor book and is written by a Michigan author.  Turner Buckminster is not happy to be in Phippsburg, Maine, and he is not happy being the son of the town’s new minister.  But he meets Lizzie Bright, a sassy girl who lives on nearby Malaga Island, a poor community founded by former slaves.  They begin a friendship that is not accepted by the Phippsburg community.  To complicate matters the town elders and Turner’s father want to force the people of Malaga Island to leave so they can build a resort to attract rich tourists.  This story is based on the true event of an island’s destruction in 1912. 

Recommend by Vicki

Everybody Sees the Ants

Ask a stupid question, what happens?  It gets you in trouble. Question:  If you were going to commit suicide, what method would you use? This question puts 15 yr. old Lucky Linderman in the hot seat at school. But this is just one part of Lucky’s problems.  He’s bullied and his grandfather never returned from the Vietnam War. The author draws a parallel with Lucky being bullied and the torture of his grandfather in Vietnam. Realistic and amazing characters fill this book.  Can you see the Ants??

Hound Dog True

Matttie Breen has one more week before school begins at yet another new school.  Things are a bit different at this school, her uncle "Potluck" is the janitor and she is the custodian in training.  At least that is what the shy Mattie hopes, so she doesn't have to eat lunch in the lunch room.  But when the neighbor's niece comes to stay, Mattie just might have to have a friend.  Another great book with a wonderful main character by a great author.

Dead End in Norvelt

Grounded for the summer!  Spewing blood!  Dead bodies!  Young Jack lives in a small rural town and has the strangest and funniest luck and experiences.  Wonderful characters, well written, and winner of the 2012 Newbery Award for the best contribution by an author to children’s literature.