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A Peek at Peak Picks – November & December 2026
We’re adding twelve new titles to Peak Picks in November and December! In fiction, Ian Rankin returns with The Heights, a razor-sharp, twisty standalone thriller that exposes the lives of the 1% in London’s most exclusive high rise; Jon Scalzi’s latest, Monsters of Ohio, is a heartfelt exploration of a tentacular solution to the struggles… Continue reading
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Book Groups: What to Read Next, Part Two
Welcome back to part two of a semi-regular series that answers the question: what should my book group read next? The titles below were chosen for their complexity and ability to sustain a discussion; and for their copy count, having enough copies at the Seattle Public Library as of this writing for a book group… Continue reading
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5 Fresh & Creepy YA Horror Novels
The famous horror director Wes Craven once said, “Horror films don’t create fear, they release it.” Similarly, horror fiction at its core helps to shed light on the fears we already hold, whether that’s a fear of not belonging, of betrayal, of losing someone close, or even the fear of losing ourselves. These 5 brand-new… Continue reading
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Learn to Read: Decodable Books
Is your child learning to read? You can practice together with decodable books! The school year is well underway, and many elementary school students are learning to read. It’s an exciting – and challenging – time! There’s a growing understanding that reading does not come naturally to humans in the same way as learning to… Continue reading
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A Peek at Peak Picks – late September/October 2026
We’re back, with NINETEEN new Peak Picks coming your way over the next few weeks! In fiction, YA novelist Ríoghnach Robinson’s magnetic, undeniably clever debut for adults— perfect for fans of Sally Rooney and Emily Henry—captures the tender ache of two people caught between criticism and connection in Bad Words; Emily St. John Mandel (Station… Continue reading
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Adult Fiction for Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15, celebrating the achievements, contributions, and perspectives of folks from Hispanic and Latina/o/e backgrounds. There are so many incredible recent books by Hispanic authors, including some in translation, and here we offer a small selection for your enjoyment. We Are Green and Trembling by Argentinian author… Continue reading
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Fiction for National Translation Month
September is National Translation Month, a time to highlight the works and contributions of authors from around the world, and the translators who make their work available to more readers. Check out this taste of recent fiction in translation. Delicious Hunger by Singaporean author Hai Fan uses the author’s background as a guerilla fighter in… Continue reading
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Book Bingo NW 2026: Soothing
Book Bingo is a great time to be intentional about reading books you may have been putting off or exploring new titles that may become new favorites. If you are at the point in your Book Bingo journey where you have been reading many exciting and interesting books yet need a moment to catch your… Continue reading
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Book Bingo NW 2026: Horror
Summer beach reads don’t always have to be light. Sometimes, a horror novel can be just as fun. Horror novels have the power to pull you in and make your heart race; they can make you laugh, grimace, see the world in a new way, or all of the above. If you’re still working on… Continue reading
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Book Bingo NW 2026: Animal
About this time every year, with less than 30 days until the end of Book Bingo season, I carefully plot my last few squares, sometimes reframing how I interpret a category. Take, for instance, the “Animal” square. Earlier this summer I made a list of books about animals I’d long been eyeing, but I couldn’t… Continue reading
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In the Weeds
By August, my early season enthusiasm for a tidy garden has waned. Leafy greens have bolted and lean rangily against each other. Vetch curls up potato stems and launches its seeds in tiny explosions. Lemon balm is everywhere. Grasses at the edge of the lawn are tawny and arching, and I pick a couple of blackberries whenever I… Continue reading
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Back to School Fiction for Teens
Maybe you’re not ready for school to start, or maybe you’re excited to see your friends again. Either way, who can resist a great story that happens to take place at school? GN = graphic novel MS = middle school In Band Nerd, by Sarah Clawson Willis, Lucy’s dedication to playing the flute for the… Continue reading
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Book Bingo NW 2026: Outer Space
We hear from readers all the time that they read to escape, and what can be a bigger escape than an out-of-this world read? From nonfiction exploring the universe to science fiction on an interstellar ship, the Book Bingo Outer Space category lets you expand your reading to another dimension. Adina, the protagonist of Marie-Helene… Continue reading
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Freedom, flintlocks, and fantasy!
This year our nation reached a milestone anniversary – 250 years since we declared our independence, an act of defiance against one of the most powerful nations of the day. As we reflect on the courage, vision, and determination required to engage in a conflict against an empire for a future uncertain, one might start… Continue reading
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Book Bingo NW 2026: Unplug
This year’s Book Bingo Unplug category can certainly be used for a physical book read distraction-free, as the board says, but since we like to make categories as broad as possible, here are some other ideas for books that play with the “unplugged” theme: hands-on hobbies, off-the-grid living, and fostering in-person connection and attention. One… Continue reading
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Mid Summer Staff Book Bingo Recommendations
It should come as no surprise that library staff love Book Bingo as much as patrons do. Many of us also read along during the summer, seeking out great titles to fill each category. In that spirit, I asked staff for some of their favorites so far this summer. You can find a full list… Continue reading
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Book Bingo NW 2026: HEA/HFN
‘Happily Ever After’ or ‘Happy For Now’, HEA/HFN, might make you think of romance, but it doesn’t always have to be. It can be the calm at the end of a horror book, a biography where a person details finding contentment, or even the end of a dystopian novel where the big bad has been… Continue reading
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New Nonfiction Roundup – July 2026
Welcome to July! This month is typically quiet for nonfiction publishing, but there are some excellent releases to consider for your TBR pile in addition to this month’s Peak Picks. In current events, Ben Wikler details how to end America’s meltdown and save democracy in This Is the Plan while Brian Tyler Cohen shows how… Continue reading