This book is a heartfelt, emotional story that weaves together history, love, and loss in a really touching way. Set in Seattle, it follows Henry Lee, a Chinese American man who, in 1986, comes across a piece of his past when he learns about belongings found in the old Panama Hotel—items left behind by Japanese American families sent to internment camps during World War II. This discovery brings back memories of his childhood, especially his friendship (and first love) with Keiko, a Japanese American girl.

The story jumps between the 1940s and the 1980s, showing young Henry dealing with racism, family pressure, and the heartbreak of being separated from Keiko. At the same time, older Henry is trying to come to terms with his past and figure out what it all meant. The writing is simple but really effective, and Ford does a great job of making you feel the emotions of the characters.
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While some parts of the story are predictable, the book has a lot of heart. It’s bittersweet, just like the title suggests, and it sticks with you long after you finish. If you like historical fiction with strong emotional depth, this is definitely worth a read.

Get the book at the library! Or if you prefer, download the eBook or audiobook with your SPL card.

​Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

I went into this expecting a boy-and-his-dog story, but it turned out to be so much more. At its heart, it’s about a boy who idolizes his late grandfather. His father walked out, his mother is struggling with a back injury that’s led to opioid addiction, and they live in extreme poverty. He’s doing everything he can to keep their hardships hidden from others, fearing intervention from protective services, while desperately trying to hold onto the property his grandfather left him.

An incredible read.

Want to read it? Click here to reserve! Or if you prefer, get the eBook with your SPL card.

​Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

It's 1348, and the Black Plague is decimating Europe. In France, a disgraced knight rescues a girl from a grim fate among the dead. She claims the plague is just the beginning; Lucifer and his fallen angels are preparing to wage war on Earth. She's headed to Avignon (where the Pope resided at the time) because destiny calls. The knight's intrigued – will he join her and act as her protector? They also pick up a drunken priest along the way. The girl herself… is she delusional, or is she truly a voice of God?
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Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman is fantastic. It's a rich blend of fantasy, heavy on religious symbolism, with a touch of horror and historical fiction. It crosses genres so effectively, and I highly recommend it.

Click here to reserve the audiobook for download with your library card. Prefer a physical copy? Ask us to interlibrary loan one!

Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate is a sweet, thoughtful story about kindness, friendship, and standing up for others. The story is told from the perspective of Red, an old oak tree that has been a part of the neighborhood for centuries. Every year, people tie their wishes to Red’s branches, hoping for good things to come. But when a new family moves in and isn’t welcomed by everyone, Red and its animal friends decide to help in their own special way.

Applegate’s writing is simple but powerful, making this a quick read that really sticks with you. It’s got a great message about inclusion and community, reminding us all to be a little kinder. Some schools have banned it because of its themes of diversity and acceptance, but honestly, that just makes it even more important to read.
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If you love heartfelt stories with a bit of magic and a lot of heart, Wishtree is definitely worth picking up. Reserve the book here. You can also get the eBook or audiobook with your SPL card.

Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

As always, Paul Tremblay delivers with his latest book, Horror Movie.

The story shifts between timelines: thirty years ago, a group of young filmmakers set out to create an arthouse horror film that was tragically never completed. The narrator, known only as The Thin Kid (we never learn his real name), was part of the cast and is now the sole survivor of the ill-fated production, which has since become a legend among online cult horror fans. In the present day, a reboot is underway, and the narrative alternates between past and present as we unravel what really happened. Was it real? Supernatural? Madness?

I never knew what to expect, and even now, I’m not entirely sure how I feel. But, wow. What a ride. Tremblay never disappoints.

Reserve the book from the library, or the eBook or audiobook with your SPL card.

Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

The United States of Absurdity is an absolutely ridiculous, yet strangely informative, deep dive into some of the most bizarre moments in American history. Written by Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds, the comedic duo behind The Dollop (one of my favorite podcasts), this book brings their signature mix of humor and historical research to the page in a way that makes you laugh, cringe, and question how half of these events even happened.

The book is packed with short, punchy chapters covering everything from disastrous medical experiments to inexplicably bad decisions by U.S. politicians, all presented in a way that makes history feel less like a dry lecture and more like a fever dream. The writing is snappy, irreverent, and full of the kind of banter that fans of The Dollop will immediately recognize.

Some standout moments include the story of Elmer McCurdy, the outlaw whose mummified body ended up as a carnival attraction, and the absolutely deranged antics of medical quack John Brinkley, who made a fortune implanting goat testicles into men as a cure for impotence. There’s also a healthy dose of absurd sports stories, mind-boggling government missteps, and the kind of historical figures who make Florida Man look like an amateur. My personal favorite was the story of Major League pitcher Rube Waddell.
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If you like your history unfiltered, hilarious, and just a little bit horrifying, The United States of Absurdity is a must-read. It’s perfect for fans of weird trivia, dark humor, and anyone who enjoys learning about the most ridiculous corners of American history.

Reserve the book at the library!

Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

The Fletchers—Step, DeAnne, and their kids—just moved to Steuben, North Carolina. It's the early '80s, and this small town has a big problem: kids are vanishing. Step's a software developer (who, hilariously, thinks PCs are a fad), and they're a devout Mormon family (as is the author), so you get a real feel for their life. They're dealing with their own stuff, too, so they're kind of distracted when their eight-year-old, Stevie, starts spending all his time with his imaginary friends, which was not a great choice. Turns out, those "friends" know way more than anyone realizes. It's a slow burn, but  things get creepy. And get ready to cry—this book will destroy you. Have tissues ready, preferably the whole box. I think about this book years later.

Reserve the audiobook online with your library card. If you prefer a physical copy, contact us about getting one through interlibrary loan.

Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

​Iris Chang’s The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II is one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve put it down. It covers the horrifying events of the Nanking Massacre in 1937, when Japanese forces invaded the city and carried out brutal killings, mass rape, and unimaginable violence against civilians and prisoners. This isn’t an easy book to read, but it’s an important one.

Chang does an incredible job of making sure this piece of history isn’t forgotten. She breaks it down into three perspectives—the victims, the Japanese soldiers who committed these atrocities, and the foreigners who tried to help. This structure makes the book even more powerful, showing not just what happened but also how it was later covered up or denied.

The book has faced some controversy, particularly from those who deny or downplay the massacre, and it has even been banned in some schools. Some argue it's too graphic or politically sensitive, but honestly, history should make us uncomfortable—especially when it involves crimes like this. Banning books like this only makes it easier for history to be forgotten or rewritten.

That said, some historians have pointed out a few factual errors, and the book has been criticized for emotional intensity over academic neutrality. But that’s part of what makes it so impactful—Chang doesn’t just present facts; she makes you feel the weight of what happened.
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This is a tough but necessary read. If you care about history, justice, and making sure tragedies like this aren’t erased, it’s worth picking up. Just be prepared—it’s not something you can breeze through.

Download the eBook with your SPL card. If you prefer a hard copy, talk to us about interlibrary loan.

​Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a raw and emotional coming-of-age story that perfectly captures the struggles of growing up. Told through letters from Charlie, an introverted and observant freshman, the book explores friendship, love, trauma, and self-acceptance. His bond with Patrick and Sam helps him navigate life’s highs and lows, making for a heartfelt and relatable journey.

This book doesn’t shy away from heavy topics like mental health, abuse, sexuality, and drug use—one reason it has been banned in some schools. But that honesty is exactly what makes it so powerful and important.
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While Charlie’s narration can feel overly naïve at times, the book’s authenticity and emotional depth make up for it. If you love coming-of-age stories that make you feel everything, this one is a must-read.

Get the book at the library, or download the eBook or audiobook with your SPL card. The library also has the movie adaptation on DVD.

Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

Midnight in Chernobyl is one of those books that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go. Adam Higginbotham does an incredible job of breaking down the Chernobyl disaster, not just as a nuclear accident but as a story of human error, government failure, and Soviet secrecy gone horribly wrong.

What makes this book stand out is how it focuses on the people involved—the engineers, scientists, and officials who were at the center of it all. Some were heroes, some were just trying to do their jobs, and some made terrible decisions that made everything worse. Higginbotham’s writing makes it all feel immediate and real, like you’re right there in the control room as things start to go south.

Even though it covers a lot of technical and historical details, it never feels boring or overly complicated. Higginbotham explains things in a way that’s easy to understand, and the story moves fast, almost like a thriller. The way the Soviet government tried to cover things up is just as fascinating (and infuriating) as the disaster itself.

If you’re into history, science, or just love a gripping true story, this book is a must-read. It’s intense, well-researched, and honestly hard to put down.

Reserve the book at the library or get the eBook or audiobook with your SPL card.

Aimee Clark, IT Librarian