Staff Recommendations
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The celebrants : a novel
by Rowley, Steven, 1971-
Reviewed by: Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch LibraryNovember 20, 2023
Two weeks before their college graduation, a group of friends, who have become family during their college experience, must attend the funeral of one of their own. Alec has died of an apparent drug overdose and it shakes them all, Craig, Jordan, Jordy, Marielle, and Naomi, to their cores. Alec’s death causes them to question everything they know on the eve of venturing out into the “real world” as adults. In response to their collective pain and confusion at the loss, Marielle suggests “the pact”: at any time in the coming years when they feel that they need it, any member of the... Read Full Review
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Midnight at the Houdini
by Dawson, Delilah S.
Reviewed by: Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch LibraryNovember 13, 2023
Call Number: e-Audiobook
According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, magic is: 1) the use of means (such as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces, and 2) the art of producing illusions by sleight of hand. In her new novel, Midnight at the Houdini, Delilah S. Dawson tells a tale filled with both types of magic referenced by Merriam-Webster, plus a few more just for good measure, and the results are themselves magical.
For Anna Alonso, magic became irrelevant when she was 10 years old. After attending a princess themed birthday party that... Read Full Review
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Seed to plate, soil to sky : modern plant-based recipes using Native American ingredients
by Frank, Lois Ellen
Reviewed by: Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & FictionNovember 7, 2023
Call Number: 641.63 F828
Lois Ellen Frank is the Chef and owner of Red Mesa Cuisine, where she cooks and works with Chef Walter Whitewater. In this book she highlights basic indigenous foods: corn, beans, squash, chiles, tomatoes, potatoes, vanilla and cacao as starting points for scrumptious modern recipes. She refers to these ingredients as “the Magic Eight, [that] were given to the world by Native Peoples of the Americas. Part of Red Mesa Cuisine’s mission is to provide Indigenous foods and cultural education. We like to call it Native American Cuisine with a modern twist.” Pause for more... Read Full Review
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The Shadow Glass
by Winning, Joshua
Reviewed by: Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch LibraryOctober 30, 2023
The line between artistic genius and madness is razor fine and artists often madly dance along, and across, that line while they are working to manifest their vision. Jack’s father, Bob Corman, was no exception. Bob put everything he had into The Shadow Glass, an epic fantasy film done entirely with puppets. When the film was released in the mid-80s, it was a financial failure and Bob never quite recovered. He spent the rest of his life pursuing and promoting his masterpiece, often ignoring any/everything that wasn’t related to The Shadow Glass. This included Jack, who used to... Read Full Review
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A Season of Monstrous Conceptions
by Rather, Lina
Reviewed by: Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch LibraryOctober 24, 2023
Sarah has always known she is different. Her parents never missed an opportunity to remind her. They never faltered in telling her how she was one of the children being born in England who were monstrous, with claws, too many eyes, or mouths, or with fur, tales, or scales, or any number of “differences.” Sarah’s anomaly was easily removed shortly after she was born, so she has been able to “pass” for someone “normal”. But Sarah has never felt able, never been allowed, to fit in.
After the sudden and unexpected death of her husband, Sarah moved to London. She hoped... Read Full Review
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The Getaway
by Giles, Lamar
Reviewed by: Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch LibraryOctober 16, 2023
Karloff Country is a marvel. Modeled on Walt Disney World in Florida, Karloff Country is a slightly smaller theme park/resort complex with a similar number of theme parks as Walt Disney World, but also includes: planned communities for all of its employees, a power plant, vertical farms to provide the food necessary for both resort operations and for the residents, and an airfield. All of this is surrounded by a wall, which protects both the employees and guests from the crime, chaos, and food shortages that exist outside. When Jay’s parents get jobs working at Karloff County, he... Read Full Review
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The Road to Roswell
by Willis, Connie
Reviewed by: Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch LibraryOctober 10, 2023
Call Number: SF
UFO, the mere mention of this acronym (unidentified flying object) conjures images of flying saucers and beings, ranging from short to tall, who are slender, with large dark eyes and green or gray colored skin. Sometimes they wear shiny silver jumpsuits!
Since 1947, when debris from the crash of an unidentified object was spread over several acres of a local ranch and collected by authorities from Roswell Army Air Field, Roswell, New Mexico has become nearly synonymous with UFOs, big-eyed aliens, and tall tales about encounters and abductions by both. And in her... Read Full Review
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Daughters of Latin America : an international anthology of writing by Latine women
Reviewed by: Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & FictionOctober 3, 2023
Call Number: 808.8 D2385-2
Sandra Guzmán has compiled a monumental collection of writing by women, whom she designates as Latine, the gender-inclusive form of “Latino” and “Latina.” She states, "This is a journey into a luminous universe of texts that navigate across time and space, genres, styles, languages, and traditions. The Daughters gathered in this groundbreaking international anthology span five centuries of the written word, containing the wisdom, memory, and DNA of oral traditions more ancient than time itself.” Included are “140 Daughters of Latin America, recent and past, from 50... Read Full Review
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Mister Magic : a novel
by White, Kiersten
Reviewed by: Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch LibrarySeptember 25, 2023
Val has lived on the ranch for as long as she can remember. In fact, she has no memories of when she wasn’t living here, in rural Idaho, with her father. She teaches riding to the locals, but rarely leaves beyond supply runs to a local town. Her entire life is built around her father and a few regular ranch hands. Everyone else is transitory, staying just long enough to learn what they need.
When Val’s father dies, she is faced with a future that is not only unwritten, but it is unconsidered. Val has never contemplated a life anywhere other than the ranch. Her... Read Full Review
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Asada: The Art of Mexican-style Grilling
by Lopez, Bricia
Reviewed by: Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & FictionSeptember 18, 2023
Call Number: 641.76 L864
Bricia Lopez and Javier Cabral lay out the facts, “Carne asada is not just a taco . . . in millions of backyards across Southern California, asada means family, friends, memories, great music, cold drinks, good times, and the community you’ve built.”--in all its multivarious forms.
This is a cookbook that is a feast for all your senses, from the book’s cover (original font), end papers (day-glo lime green); illustrations that are single or double-spread color photographs of Los Angeles, and of ingredients and finished dishes; and informative and personal anecdotes... Read Full Review
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Chita : a memoir
by Rivera, Chita
Reviewed by: Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & FictionSeptember 11, 2023
Call Number: 812.092 R6194
Years ago, there was an advertisement for fur, “What Becomes a Legend Most?” For Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero Anderson, best known as Chita Rivera, this razzle-dazzle memoir/autobiography is far more becoming than all the high-end luxury goodies that money can buy. Hardworking, full of energy and talent, she cut a big wide swath in the entertainment world: predominantly live theater, but also movies and television. There are a few basic facts about her theatrical career and contritubtions that need to be acknowledged. In the following musicals Chita was the original... Read Full Review
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The circumference of the world
by Tidhar, Lavie
Reviewed by: Daryl M., Librarian, West Valley Regional Branch LibrarySeptember 5, 2023
Call Number: SF
A mathematician, a rare book dealer, and a gangster search for a rare science fiction paperback named Lode Stars. They each have their reasons (some bordering on obsession) and their searches will cause their paths to cross, alter their destinies, and, quite possibly, transform our understanding of reality.
In his latest novel, award winning writer Lavie Tidhar takes readers on a wild, mind-bending adventure that is an exercise in extremes. It is deeply personal and... Read Full Review