September 2023

  • A Peek at Peak Picks – October 2023

    Twelve new books are joining Peak Picks in October! FICTION. Amanda Peters debuts with the tale of a a four-year-old Mi’kmaq girl who disappears from the blueberry fields of Maine, sparking a fifty year mystery that will haunt the survivors and unravel a family in The Berry Pickers; Bryan Washington (Lot, Memorial) returns with a… Continue reading

  • The Art of Protest

    With things heating up in labor movements, the increase of book bans, and continued infringements on the rights of BIPOC and queer people across the country, the art of protest is more important than ever. And by art of protest, I mean not just the act of protesting, but the literal art that people make… Continue reading

  • Looking Towards a Fiery Future

    The devastating fire in Maui is the most recent reminder that uncontrolled fires are happening more often, in more places, at a more harmful scale than ever before, and will only continue to do so as climate change contributes to our warming planet. Writers are grappling with these realities, looking back for lessons even as… Continue reading

  • Bisexuality Visibility Day Picks

    Bisexuality Visibility Day Picks

    Bisexuality Visibility Day, celebrated annually on September 23, is a chance to bring awareness to bi people around the world. A diverse and vast community, bi authors create works to educate, entertain, and acknowledge the existence and experiences of this identity. Here are some recent titles to check out! In Robin Gow’s Ode to My First… Continue reading

  • Banned Books for Teens

    Banned Books for Teens

    Unfortunately for us all, more and more books for teens are being challenged in schools and libraries all across the nation. Here are some of the most popular banned and challenged titles, taken from our Books Unbanned project list. In The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta, it seems Mike doesn’t fit in anywhere, or with anyone,… Continue reading

  • Jewish Reads for the High Holidays

    As we move into the High Holiday season, with Rosh Hashanah starting on September 15 and Yom Kippur on September 24, why not try a new book by a Jewish author? These represent many different experiences of Judaism, with some identifying strongly with the religion, others with the culture, and there are as many ways… Continue reading

  • Making friends: creating community as adults

    How do you make friends and cultivate community as an adult? You may have noticed an uptick in studies and reporting about loneliness, social isolation, a widespread breakdown of community. Or maybe you’ve been feeling it yourself. Here are a few books that look past romantic relationships to argue for the importance of friendships in… Continue reading

  • Author Spotlight: T. Kingfisher

    Fall is upon us, and with spooky season right around the corner, I can’t think of a better time to put T. Kingfisher on your radar. T. Kingfisher, aka Ursula Vernon (who writes children’s books under that name), is a prolific writer of humorous and often terrifying works of fantasy and horror. Some of her… Continue reading

  • Fall Recommendations on New Day Northwest

    Fall season is coming soon, which means that it will be the perfect time to cozy up with some great reads. If you need some recommendations, we’ve got you covered! Reader Services librarians Misha and Genesee recently joined Amity on New Day Northwest to share some book recommendations. Misha suggested these three titles, all by… Continue reading

  • New Nonfiction Roundup – September 2023

      September marks the beginning of the fall publishing season, and some outstanding nonfiction will be released this month! Check out these top nonfiction picks. Bestselling biographer Walter Isaacson profiles fascinating and controversial innovator Elon Musk, while Anderson Cooper chronicles another legendary American family in Astor. Jill Duggar reveals the secrets behind the TLC reality… Continue reading

  • New Fiction Roundup, September 2023

    September brings a bumper crop of excellent fiction, including early horror titles, deep explorations of moments in American history, and much more. 9/5: Amazing Grace Adams by Fran Littlewood Grace Adams has hit 45 years old, and she’s losing it. Stuck in traffic one day, she gets out of her car and sets off across… Continue reading

  • Next Chapter Events Coming This Fall

    Kids are headed back to school, but it’s always a great time for adults to jump into a program and learn something, too. This fall, SPL is partnering with community partners to offer a broad set of programs geared for adults who would like to know more about Medicare, end-of-life planning, Social Security and more.… Continue reading