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Must-Read Books September 2024 |
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| The Volcano Daughters by Gina María BalibreraIn an El Salvador led by a cruel dictator, sisters Graciela and Consuelo are born into an Indigenous community, but are taken away for different reasons. After a 1932 massacre, the sisters, each believing the other is dead, flee, traveling to France, New York, and California, all while followed by ghosts of their friends, who narrate this sweeping, vibrant debut novel. For fans of: The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James. |
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| Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-AknerThis witty and insightful novel takes place 40 years after wealthy Carl Fletcher was kidnapped. His wife paid the $250,000 ransom and he survived, but no one in the family has dealt with their trauma, and now their money is running out. Read-alikes: What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jiménez; This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper; Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson. |
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| It's Elementary by Elise BryantSingle mom Mavis Miller teams up with a handsome elementary school psychologist to investigate after an overzealous PTA president behaves suspiciously just as the new principal goes missing. With vibrant characters, humorous narration, and a smart look at timely topics, this fun series starter will please fans of The Expectant Detectives series by Kat Ailes and Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon. |
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| Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha CoryellWhen true crime-obsessed thirtysomething Hannah writes to accused serial killer William, she unexpectedly falls for him, despite not knowing -- and maybe not caring -- if he's innocent. Twisty, scathing, and darkly humorous, this thriller boasts a narrator as fascinating as she is unreliable. |
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| Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel FordhamIn 1903 Iowa, Sadie West labors in a feather duster factory to send desperately needed money home. Living in an abandoned building, she is discovered by reclusive composer Otis Taylor, the last of his wealthy family, who's finally come home after being exiled by his father due to physical scars. Finding acceptance from Sadie, Otis takes risks that'll change his life in this moving Christian romance. Read-alike: Julie Klassen's The Sisters of Sea View. |
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| A Pair of Wings by Carole HopsonBessie Coleman, the daughter of a former enslaved woman, navigates discrimination to become the first Black person to obtain an international pilot's license, leading to her becoming a famous barnstormer in this inspiring, well-researched debut novel written by a pilot and vividly depicting the world of early flight. Read-alikes: Paula McLain's Circling the Sun; Maggie Shipstead's Great Circle. |
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| The Pairing by Casey McQuistonWhen bisexual exes Kit and Theo accidentally book the same European culinary tour, they challenge each other to a hookup competition to prove they're over their relationship in this "hedonistic delight" (Booklist) from bestselling author Casey McQuiston (Red, White & Royal Blue). Try this next: Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun. |
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| Black Butterflies by Priscilla MorrisIn 1992, rumors of war fly in cosmopolitan Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. While her husband and mother go to England, 55-year-old artist Zora stays, convinced it'll all end quickly. But as the siege of her city drags on for years, Zora must connect with others to survive. Published in the United Kingdom in 2022, this immersive debut was inspired by the author's family. Read-alikes: Steven Galloway's The Cellist of Sarajevo; Stef Penney's The Beasts of Paris. |
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| The Truth According to Ember by Danica NavaExhausted after being turned down for dozens of jobs, Chickasaw woman Ember Lee Cardinal falsifies her application, identifying as a white woman with an accounting degree. Forced to keep up the charade when she lands the job, she finds herself drawn to her coworker, fellow Native Danuwoa Colson, even though her workplace strictly prohibits inter-office dating. Will juggling so many lies prove to be too much? Try this next: Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong. |
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| She Who Knows by Nnedi OkoraforIn this newest science fantasy by award winner Nnedi Okorafor, teenage Najeeba must contend with her burgeoning powers known as The Call -- something traditionally only men experience -- on a trip with her family to mine salt at the Dead Lake. Infused with West African culture and filled with Okorafor’s immersive worldbuilding, this novella will appeal to both existing fans of her work and fans of African-influenced genre fiction such as Moses Ose Utomi's The Lies of the Ajungo and C.T. Rwizi's Scarlet Odyssey. |
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| Agony Hill by Sarah Stewart TaylorIn 1965, former Boston cop Franklin Warren navigates a new job with the Vermont State Police's Bureau of Criminal Investigation and adjusts to small-town life. Things start hot when a suspicious fire and death on a remote farm has him wondering if the unpopular farmer was murdered. This richly detailed, character-driven mystery paints a fascinating picture of American life as the Vietnam War ramps up. |
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| Pixel Flesh: How Toxic Beauty Culture Harms Women by Ellen AtlantaBeauty industry insider Ellen Atlanta's impassioned debut examines the impact of toxic beauty culture practices, offering a "thoughtful consideration of physical female beauty and how it's dictated and judged" (Booklist). Further reading: Over the Influence: Why Social Media Is Toxic for Women and Girls -- and How We Can Take It Back by Kara Alaimo. |
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| Circle of Hope: A Reckoning With Love, Power, and Justice in an American Church by Eliza GriswoldBeginning in 1996, Circle of Hope offered an alternative approach to Christian Evangelicalism. But by 2023, internal divisions and societal shifts caused them to crumble. Pulitzer Prize winner Eliza Griswold utilizes years of investigation in this complex "inquest into the death of a church" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America by Amanda JonesIn her inspiring and incisive blend of memoir and manifesto, Louisiana middle school librarian Amanda Jones details her fight against censorship at her local public library, which led to death threats and social media smear campaigns. Further reading: Burning the Books: A History of the Deliberate Destruction of Knowledge by Richard Ovenden; On Censorship: A Public Librarian Examines Cancel Culture in the US by James LaRue. |
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| A Passionate Mind in Relentless Pursuit: The Vision of Mary McLeod Bethune by Noliwe RooksHistorian Noliwe Rooks thoughtfully chronicles the trailblazing career of educator and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955), who worked tirelessly to obtain voting rights, economic independence, and educational opportunities for Black Americans throughout her life. For fans of: Madam C.J. Walker: The Making of an American Icon by Erica L. Ball. |
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| Death at Morning House by Maureen JohnsonMarlowe gives tours at Morning House, the historic summer home of a wealthy family and the site of tragic deaths in 1932. The mysterious drowning of another tour guide makes Marlowe suspect there’s ongoing danger. Fans of author Maureen Johnson’s Truly Devious series will devour this suspenseful standalone mystery. |
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| We Are Big Time by Hena Khan; illustrated by Safiya ZerrouguiStarting 9th grade at an Islamic school, Aliya joins the struggling basketball team. As the all-hijabi team improves, they have to face the pressure of the spotlight as well as their everyday problems. Full-color art brings extra energy to this graphic novel. Read-alikes: Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas; Jason Reynolds' Track series. |
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| I'm Sorry You Got Mad by Kyle Lukoff; illustrated by Julie KwonThrough multiple drafts of a teacher-assigned apology letter, readers discover why Jack knocked over Zoe's block castle -- and that he really is sorry about it. Relatable emotions, a gentle tone, and humorous illustrations make I'm Sorry You Got Mad enjoyable as well as enlightening. |
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| Such Charming Liars by Karen M. McManusFormer stepsiblings Kat and Liam find each other at a billionaire’s birthday party. Kat’s there to steal jewelry; Liam’s father is trying to con an heiress. Things take a deadly turn, forcing Kat and Liam into a cat-and-mouse game with a killer. Read-alikes: Tess Sharpe’s The Girls I’ve Been; Kayvion Lewis’ Thieves’ Gambit. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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