My Perfect Read

Join Arthur Conan Doyle on his quest to commune with the other side. Along the way learn all about the spiritualist movement in the late 19th century. Prepare for spectral knocking, ectoplasm hands and other weird and wonderful surprises.

Seventeen-year-old Cas Lowood travels around the country, searching out the most dangerous, murderous ghosts and sending them on their way. Then he comes up against a beautiful, vengeful ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, and nothing will ever be the same again.

A boy finds himself drawn to an abandoned, eerie house. Upon entering, he decides to climb the creaky old stairs. Up there he discovers a room full of people all sitting in chairs around a table with one empty seat left. Once he is seated, the stories begin. After a while the room begins to empty, and the boy realizes that it is now his turn to tell his tale. A spooky book filled with ghost stories!

The creepy ghost of Mr. Wilkerson haunts Jack and his grandma, refusing to rest in peace until he eats the perfect pumpkin pie. This picture book is a delightful combination of spooky and silly.

Amazing, thought-provoking graphic novel with a very innovative mixed-media style. This is a fast read, but there is so much to discuss. It's a perfect first graphic novel for adults new to the genre. And a universally relatable story about growing up as a first generation Indian-American, and parenting in a mixed-race family.

A powerful, intimate and relatable graphic novel memoir--for anyone who has ever been uprooted against their will whether to a new town or a new country. Amazing story and artwork.

Jane wants to become a famous author like her hero Jane Austen. She sneaks into a library writer talk and gets stuck there during a hurricane with the writer's snobbish son. Funny and charming book about finding your own voice with many elements from Jane Austen.

Two girls, one black and one white, live in segregated neighborhoods separated by a fence. They aren't allowed to cross the fence, but with a little ingenuity, they just might find a way to be friends all the same.

An easily-readable history chronicling the construction of the "Overseas Railroad" from Miami to Key West. The seemingly impossible task was completed after weathering three hurricanes, but 23 years after completion it was destroyed by the "storm of the century" in 1935.

Madeline Usher is slowly being driven insane by the very house she lives in. The House of Usher is very possessive of its residents, and so far none of them have gotten out alive. Will Madeline find a way to destroy the House and escape? Or will the House take her down with it?

When rich American oil tycoon Hiram C. Hopgood buys an ancient Scottish castle and moves it Texas, just to please his daughter, he isn't expecting the ghosts that haunt it to make the move, too. Add some fiendish kidnappers and the ghost of a severed hand to the mix, and you have a fantastical, funny adventure story you won't be able to put down.

This simple story about the changing of seasons is made special by its vivid colors and gorgeous illustrations. Available as a talking book!

A saga stranger than fiction: thriller author Preston befriends an Italian journalist who is an expert on Italy's infamous serial killer. While investigating, Preston & the reporter become police targets themselves. This book is a disturbing window into the dysfunctional Italian criminal justice system as also seen in Amanda Knox's memoir "Waiting to be Heard" (the prosecutor headed both cases).

When true-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is accepted into the prestigious Ellingham Academy, she is overjoyed. She plans to solve the famous missing persons case that happened decades earlier at the academy. She doesn't expect to be thrown into a present-day murder mystery just as confusing and deadly as the cold case she is determined to solve.

Boarding school friends Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong start their own Detective Society and solve crimes, like Holmes and Watson. Only, who is Watson and who is Holmes? A fun, light and entertaining series.

Fast-paced, easy-to-follow mystery series with large type and great illustrations written by a 10-year-old girl! Fun and inspiring.

In this lyrical debut memoir, Díaz charts her upbringing in Puerto Rico and Miami Beach and the role of her troubled parents and loving grandmother in her path to adulthood.

This bilingual collection of short essays accompanied by graphic illustrations was created by young adults who immigrated to Washington DC. Some are growing up without parents, some had perilous journeys to get here, some struggle to learn English or to do deal with traumatic events from their past. But all are hopeful. Teens, practice your Spanish or English and be inspired by these courageous and creative young writers.

What would you do if you had the power to reach through time and space and retrieve anything you want, including your mother, who is no longer living (in this universe, anyway)?

Second-grader Flaca investigates three mysteries—what happened to her flip-flop? Who put something she is allergic to in her lunch? And why can't she seem to dance salsa? Charming and fun bilingual early reader.

An interesting window into a world most of us usually only see in movies or on TV. Grunenwald's writing is funny & relatable as she navigates a very unfamiliar new work environment at a men's minimum-security prison.

Cel's new night job as a live-in archivist at the Logan Museum, cataloging medical photographs, isn't the calming life she was looking for after her mental breakdown. For one thing, it's too early to tell if the resident ghost helping or hurting her.

Elizabeth gets an after-school job at an unusual library in New York—a library for magical objects like seven league boots and Snow White's stepmother's looking glass . But suddenly magical objects start disappearing and Elizabeth and her friends have to find out why. Fun and suspenseful.

'Tricia Ann is incredibly excited to be traveling across the city all by herself to her favorite place in the world. Her joy is diminished by the unfriendly Jim Crow signs and faces she sees along the way. Will she decide it is worth it to keep going to the very special place?

Lots of great advice for navigating academics, logistics and living skills for new college students. Also a great resource for high school seniors preparing for college.

The best YA novel of the year, imo. Frank and his friend Joy hatch a plan to fake-date to throw off their respective parents who would not approve of their dating choices. This is a layered and nuanced story about racism and classism, about families and love. Some will love it, some hate it but everyone will be talking about it. Honest, smart, moving and unpredictable! If you like Nicola Yoon, Rainbow Rowell, John Green: you'll love this author. Adults will enjoy this as well.

Kat sees dead people. It started on the day she turned thirteen, and she’s not very happy about it. Just being a teenager is hard enough. When encounters the spirit girl just her age who needs help that only Kat can give, however, Kat finds that she can’t refuse, even if it will make life more difficult – and frightening. This is the first book in the Suddenly Supernatural series.

When Aaji was a girl, she wasn't allowed to go to school. Now there is a school just for grandmothers, and she's excited to learn to read and write! This empowering story is based on a real school in Phangane, India.

This is a book that will help you understand the economics of migration and the motivations behind it: why people leave their families to take jobs in other lands. Focusing on the story of one Filipino family, it illuminates many of the benefits and sacrifices of immigration.

"Think of all we stand to gain
If we speak with one voice."
Clara Lemlich flees a pogrom in Russia and makes it to America. As a garment worker, she and girls like her are locked into the work floor, harassed by the managers and fired if they complain. In verse, we join Clara's battles for a voice and justice for her fellow workers.

Lorraine, age 9, tells the story of her father's participation in the 1968 sanitation strike in Memphis, including the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Poetry, prose and bright, bold paintings give a personal look at a time of great action and change in a struggle for respect and safety.

The true story of a young immigrant girl who led the largest strike of women workers in U.S. history. Beautiful artwork and a simply told, moving story make this a perfect introduction to Labor Day for kids.

After British forces claimed New York at the beginning of
the Revolutionary War, the Culper Spy Ring was formed to get information out of
New York City and into Washington's hands. Their covers were so well kept that one spy, known only as Agent 355, has still not had their identity discovered!

Did you like the Alex Rider series? Then you are sure to like Robert Muchamore's Cherub series. Set at a government spy school for teens in London, this series is realistic and action-packed.

Was Josephine Baker not only a groundbreaking dancer, but also a spy for the French resistance? Josephine comes to life in verse and vibrant illustrations. Follow her through segregated America to a Broadway where she still can't enter through the front door. Everything changes in Paris, where she is the toast of the town. When the war breaks out, what will Josephine do to help the city and country that welcomed her with open arms?

Can you spot these experts of animal disguise? Discover dozens of fascinating animal spies and the habitats where they hide.

This thought-provoking examination of the meanings of fairytales and their enormous impact on childhood development won the National Book Award for nonfiction.

Echo Alkaev has a pretty safe, secure life until her father goes missing in the woods. In an attempt to find him, she encounters a strange talking wolf who agrees to trade her life for her father's. She is to remain a prisoner in his magical underground home for one year and her father will be free. This magical story weaves elements from "Beauty and the Beast," "East of the Sun West of the Moon" and "Tam Lin" into a delightful adventure.

n a magic kingdom where your name is your destiny, 12-year-old Rump is the butt of everyone's joke. But when he finds an old spinning wheel, his luck seems to change. Rump discovers he has a gift for spinning straw into gold. His best friend, Red Riding Hood, warns him that magic is dangerous, and she’s right. With each thread he spins, he weaves himself deeper into a curse.

Cinderella as you've never seen her before – dreaming of becoming a ship mechanic in space!

Adventure, humor and toil along the Appalachian Trail. In this 1998 classic, Bryson writes about his hiking attempts and the rich history & ecology related to the trail.

Follow along with Amy & Roger as they cross the country (with a few detours along the way).  A fabulous road trip story, sprinkled with romance and perfect for summer. 

Age: 11 Name: Alex Petrosky Plan: Launch a rocket loaded with recordings of life on earth into space Execution: Not quite as planned Outcome: New friends, tears, a lost dog, an epic road trip and a better understanding of the world around him.

Yasmin, a feisty and creative 2nd grader from a Pakistani-American family goes on an adventure in her neighborhood after learning about maps. Early readers will love Yasmin. Full color pages with gorgeous illustrations!

Morie Sawataishi brought home an illegal puppy and changed the course of his entire life. Dog Man tells the story of the unusual life Morie and his family live in order to preserve Japanese Akitas and the wonderful and unique dogs they love along the way.

Andie has her summer all planned out until a political scandal costs Andie her summer pre-med internship, and lands both she and her Congressman Dad back in the same house together for the first time in years. Suddenly she’s doing things that aren’t Andie at all—working as a dog walker, doing an epic scavenger hunt with her dad, and maybe, just maybe, letting the super cute Clark get closer than she expected. Her friends tell her to embrace the chaos, but can she really let go of her control?

Salma works the blueberry fields in the Maine town where Lily resides. The pair bond over a dog and spend a summer building a lasting friendship.

Rescue works hard training to be a service dog while Jessica tries to recover from leg injuries. Inspired by a true story, this charming team up is a must read.

A funny and jaunty exploration of the weirdness and eccentricities of the Sunshine State.

A classic camp story with gorgeous artwork. A fresh and honest and emotionally intense story about friendships, cliques and growing up.

When Stephanie Edgley inherits her uncle's estate, she doesn't expect to be pulled into a world of sorcerers and magic, or that she will be teaming up with a walking, talking, fireball-throwing skeleton detective to save the world. Note to readers: Skulduggery Pleasant and Scepter of the Ancients are both titles referring to the first book in the series. The first book was originally published as Skulduggery Pleasant and the title was later changed.

As a young girl leaves her sandcastle behind at sunset, a light turns on in one of the windows! This stunning wordless book will have your family working together to tell the story.

Part personal narrative, part history, this is a humorous look at one of America's favorite pastimes.

Join a pack of wild girls in this lovely graphic novel series that takes place at a traditional summer camp with some not-so-traditional magical beings getting in their way. Friendship to the max!

Eleanor thought she would love summer camp but it isn't anything like she expected. This series written in verse is sweet and fun with great line drawings. A 4th grade favorite!

Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee, head off on a camping trip. Everything is perfect - the views, the fresh air, the hot dogs and roasted marshmallows. But as they are falling asleep, a bear with poor eyesight and a sharp nose shows up, following the wonderful. sweet scent of marshmallows. This silly, rhyming book is sure to tickle your funny bone.

Astronaut Scott Kelly takes readers on his journey to become a Naval aviator, test pilot and finally astronaut on the space shuttle and International Space Station.

In the future, people have evacuated the severely damaged Earth in order to preserve it and now live on an orbiting space station, where the wealthy live on the highest, brightest levels. Mitsu has recently graduated from junior high and has just become a window washer, a dangerous job that allows him, from his precarious vantage point outside the space station, to glimpse the stories of other people's lives.

After a boring night at Flower Scouts, Avani is accidentally abducted by Star Scout Mabel, opening up a universe of Scout fun and alien friends.

Binky is a space cat – an intrepid adventurer. He works tirelessly to protect his family and home from alien invasion. This graphic novel will make readers laugh out loud as they discover the truth behind brave Binky's adventures.

Dive into the start of the 20th century and the life of Grace Humiston for a fascinating tale of how the New York lawyer and detective solved a famous cold case.

Orphan Mary Quinn is about to be hanged for theft when she is whisked away to The Scrimshaw Academy for Girls. The Academy turns out to be training for The Agency, an all female investigative group. Can Mary infiltrate a wealthy home to uncover fraud? Nothing is as it seems, but, it turns out, neither is Mary...

A big old mysterious house with lots of hidden treasures, smugglers, role-playing games, thieves, a winter storm, and a locked-room, Agatha Christie-style mystery! Suspenseful and fun.

Kayla's dog King helps her to solve mysteries in this series for beginning readers. In this first book in the series, Kayla has baked treats for her friend's new puppy, but some of them mysteriously vanish. Also available as an ebook through OverDrive.

An illustrated guide to the monsters that are part of our collective psyche. Check out the podcast and streaming TV show, too!

Zombies vs. Unicorns - who will win? You decide by reading this fun anthology chock-full of stories featuring brain-hungry zombies and glittering, magical unicorns

Pip can talk to magical creatures, but sometimes it's more trouble than it's worth. But then the fuzzles start spontaneously combusting around town and setting fire to things, and Pip might be the only one who can figure out why.

Discover what happens when you start training in your 50s to become a nationally competitive tennis player by the time you are 60.

Ryoma Echezen is a tennis prodigy who's just won four consecutive U.S. Junior tournaments. Now he's determined to make a name for himself in Japan. Does he have what it takes to retain the title "Prince of Tennis"?

When Candice moves to Lambert, South Carolina for the summer, she discovers a mysterious letter. Using clues from the letter, Candice and her friend Brandon try to find a forty-million-dollar fortune. Along the way, they learn about racial injustice in the town's past, and why a long-ago tennis game might hold the key to the treasure.

Althea is nothing but trouble! Everyone thinks so, her parents, her neighbors - even her teacher. But once she gets a tennis racquet in her hands, everything begins to change. This is a true story about a girl from Harlem who became a world-class tennis champion.

Rachel, recently married and new to Chicago, seeks the best friend she needs with humor and commitment.

Moving true story about a pen pal friendship across continents that changed many lives. It will make you cry and inspire you!

Ravi is newly moved to the U.S. from India; Joe has learning disabilities. Both are outsiders, and they unite to take on a common enemy: the biggest bully in school.

What makes Sheep happy? It starts with the letter F. It's not fish. Or fans. And it's definitely NOT turnips. That doesn't even start with the letter F!

John Elder Robison recalls the joys and challenges he faced as a dad with Asperger's raising a son with the same diagnosis. From marking his infant son Cubby with Sharpie to avoid a hospital mix-up to dealing with the ATF raiding Cubby's chemistry lab at 16, Robison shows us his world and all the neurodiverse people in it from a unique perspective.

Sal used to think he had everything in check: his relationship with his adoptive father, his friends, and even his school life. Suddenly things are changing, and maybe Sal does not have a firm understanding of who he is after all.

Meg's father is a scientist who does secret work for the government. When he disappears, Meg, her friend Calvin and her little brother embark on a perilous journey across space and time in order to find him.

Graphic Novel version

Zuri's fabulous hair has a mind of its own, but when she needs a special 'do for a special occasion, Daddy is determined to step up to the challenge.

A classic work of feminist scholarship examining the intersectionality of racism and sexism as it pertains to black womanhood.

Sunny, an American, experiences culture clash when she and her Nigerian-born parents move back to Nigeria. There, she discovers she has latent magical abilities. With a murderer on the loose, she will have to learn to use those abilities fast if she's going to save herself and her new friends.

"With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I'm delivering," This fast and furious free-verse novel features twin basketball stars who experience serious challenges on and off the court.

When five-year-old Sulwe's classmates make fun of her dark skin, she tries lightening herself to no avail, but her encounter with a shooting star helps her understand there is beauty in every shade.

In this charged collection of fifteen essays and speeches, Lorde takes on sexism, racism, ageism, homophobia, and class, and propounds social difference as a vehicle for action and change.

Sentient AI helps a teen whose family is on the run from her abusive father. Hilarious scene where teens hack a sex education robot to provide GLBTQ positive information in the classroom

Twelve-year-old Mattie navigates drama with her friends, both onstage and off, including brilliant, pretty -- and British! -- Gemma. Is it possible to have a crush on both boys AND girls?

Julian wants to dress as beautifully as the ladies he sees on the subway. He makes a costume from items in Abuela's house. But what will she think of the accidental mess he makes? And more importantly, of how he sees himself?

Poet Gay - who also narrates the audiobook - spent a year chronicling the many ordinary things (among them nicknames, airplane rituals, and hummingbirds) that delight him.

Historical, swashbuckling, bisexual, crush-on-your-best-friend European adventure that reads like your favorite fanfic? Yes, please!

Kids fighting for freedom during the Civil War, talking to dinosaurs telepathically, and Channie Waites narrating the nonstop action with awesome dino sounds - what are you waiting for? First in a series

Dahl's classic Matilda comes to life with an excellent narration by Kate Winslet

Phoebe Robinson (half of Two Dope Queens) gives hilarious insights on everything from the hottest member of U2 to the racist microaggressions that come with being a black woman in America

Forget everything you know about about the Tudors as you join sixteen year old Lady Jane Grey and a colorful cast of characters in her attempt to rob King Edward of his throne. Sometimes history gets it all wrong.

Wacky, surreal satire with a fast-paced, escalating plot. Light and funny with a serious message about protecting the environment.

Mercy Watson, beloved pet pig, is on the loose! Full of action-packed hijinks, this book is sure to make readers laugh out loud.