RPL Staff Picks: From Saskatchewan Cooking to Thrillers

There are many great new books coming out in May and June, so thought I would highlight a few of my most anticipated reads.  

For children, We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly follows three siblings in the seventh grade as they deal with their own personal anxieties on the eve of the Space Shuttle Challenger. In Doodleville by Chad Sell, the author of Cardboard Kingdom, the characters confront the consequences when their doodles come to life.

For teen titles, I’m most excited for Patrick Ness’ new title, Burn, a historical fantasy set in 1950s America about a girl, a dragon, and a prophecy. Another dragon story, House of Dragons by Jessica Cluess, is about five royal houses vying for the throne, and word is that it has a definite The Breakfast Club vibe set in a fantasy world.  

Since I was a teen, I’ve always loved a good thriller. There is nothing better than a story with a lot of twists and turns and best of all an ending that makes you say, “well I didn’t see that coming”!  Here are three thrillers for adults that I have on my summer reading list. The Return by Rachel Harrison is about a group of friends who reunite after one of them has returned from a mysterious two-year disappearance in this edgy and haunting debut. In Lucy Foley’s The Guest List a wedding celebration turns dark and deadly in this deliciously wicked and atmospheric thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie. Finally, Home Before Dark by Riley Sager is a spine-tingling story about a woman who returns to the house made famous by her father's bestselling horror memoir. Is the place really haunted by evil forces as her father claimed? Or are there more earthbound—and dangerous—secrets hidden within its walls?

In the mood for nonfiction? Here are some must-reads just out that have caught my attention. Fire In Paradise: An American Tragedy is a comprehensive account of the devastating wildfire that completely destroyed the town of Paradise, California in November of 2018 and killed at least 85 people. 

I’m a history buff, especially when it comes to World War II, and these two look really interesting. Inge’s War is being called a wrenching family saga as a young woman uncovers her grandmother’s heartbreaking story of love and survival and the secrets that were kept across generations. The Women With Silver Wings is the true story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP, as they became known. This looks like a must read for fans of books like Hidden Figures and Radium Girls.

And two fun ones that I can’t leave out are Flat Out Delicious, the new definitive guide to Saskatchewan’s food culture, and The Office, a behind-the-scenes oral history for the beloved sitcom. I’m re-watching The Office right now, so I can’t wait to dig into this one.

Happy reading!

Cerys - Collections