All the Best Books of 2015

There are hundreds and hundreds of books published every year. By the end of December, when the next year's books are trumpeting their siren call, I'm still gazing backward, wondering what I've missed and trying to catch up. Here are just a few "Best of 2015" book lists for you to double-check when looking for book recommendations:

• Amazon
• Book Riot
• The Clarion-Ledger
• Goodreads 
• The Guardian
• The LA Times
• Lit Hub
• The New York Times
• NPR
• The Wall Street Journal

Reference Staff here at MLC loved these 2015 books. You should probably (definitely) add them to your to-read list as well:

• Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli 
• The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch by Chris Barton and illustrated by Don Tate
• Almost Famous Women: Stories by Megan Mayhew Bergman
• Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman 
• Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
• The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Ryan North and illustrated by Erica Henderson
• Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña and illustrated by Christian Robinson
• Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
• Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
• The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler  

Here's hoping that now have plenty to read, or at least enough to tide you over until 2016. Happy New Year and happy reading!

MS Library Spotlight: Kemper Newton

DeKalb Public Library

Earlier this week, Kemper Newton Regional Library System received a visit from some folks who were definitely in the holiday spirit.

KNRLS Director Meredith Wickham

Meredith Wickham is the new director of the five branch system in eastern Mississippi. She says that each year, Liberty Fuels, a local coal company, donates money to use "for the betterment" of the Kemper County libraries. The company believes in "the importance of reading" and think that it is a key "building block of education."

MLC Director Susan Cassagne

In the past, the libraries have used the generous influx of cash to buy new books, but this year they're considering new carpeting or even tablets with learning apps.

DeKalb Branch Manager Lawson Smith,
MLC Director Susan Cassagne,
KNRLS Director Meredith Wickham

We can't wait to see what they decide to do with their lovely donation from their community partner. Thanks for letting the Mississippi Library Commission be a part of this exciting day!

Collection Development 101

The Mississippi Library Commission has a lot of great programs and events for libraries and librarians that you need to know about. Case in point: for the past several months, some of our super-talented library consultants have been hosting and archiving webinars on collection development. So far, they've presented on fiction, non-fiction, comics and graphic novels, and audiobooks. Each webinar has an accompanying power point and list of materials mentioned. (Check this page for links.) Webinars on picture books, young adult books, and books to watch for in 2016 are in the works, as well as webinars on a slew of other topics. We can't wait for you to try them! Please let us know if you have questions. We hope you have fun adding these new books to your collections.

Happy birthday, Charlaine Harris!

It's our favorite vampire queen's birthday! Happy birthday, Charlaine Harris! You may know her work and not even realize it. Harris is responsible for bringing us all True Blood, y'all. Her novels about the vampire-loving telepathic waitress, Sookie Stackhouse, are the basis for the show. What you may not know is that Harris is a fellow Mississippian! While Sookie lives in small town Louisiana, Harris was born in Tunica, MS and we couldn't be more proud to call her one of our own. Read more about her life on her website here! Harris is perhaps most well known for her Sookie Stackhouse series, but she's the author of roughly 5 other series and several stand-alone novels. Find out more about her novels here.

Join us (and our favorite True Blood short-order cook, Lafayette) in wishing her a happy birthday!

Original image of Harris here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charlaine_Harris.JPG
Lafayette gif here: http://giphy.com/gifs/cheers-toast-true-blood-tqe6TW0g5dxU4

It's A Picture Book Thanksgiving!

It's November, one of our favorite months because, hello! It's Picture Book Month! With Thanksgiving right around the corner, today we're focusing on picture books that are all about family, for which we are ever thankful.

We're thankful for Moms:

The Kissing Hand

written by Audrey Penn

illustrated by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak

And we're thankful for Dads:

Owl Moon

written by Jane Yolen

illustrated by John Schoenherr

We're thankful for Grandmas:

The Patchwork Quilt

written by Valerie Flournoy

illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

And we're thankful for Grandpas:

Grandfather's Journey

written and illustrated by Allen Say


We're thankful for Aunts:

Tia Isa Wants a Car 

written by Meg Medina

illustrated by Claudia Munoz

And we're thankful for Uncles:

 Uncle Jed's Barbershop

written by Margaree King Mitchell

illustrated by James E. Ransome

We're thankful for Sisters:

Outside Over There

written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak

And we're thankful for Brothers:

The New Small Person

written and illustrated by Lauren Child
 

We're thankful for families and we're thankful for picture books. Happy Thanksgiving!

MLC Staff Reads: November 20, 2015

Lemony Snicket wrote in Horseradish that you should, "Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them." Here are a few that you'll find a delight to tuck into your carry-all.

Last Stop on Market Street

written by Matt de la Peña

illustrated by Christian Robinson

picture book

five stars

Last Stop on Market Street is an inspirational and heartwarming picture book about an ordinary Sunday for CJ and his grandma. As they go about their normal routine--church, walk, bus stop, bus ride, walk, soup kitchen--they encounter other people who have more (and less) than they do. Each time CJ asks his grandma why the two of them don't have a convenience that other people do, she gives him an upbeat answer explaining how rich they already are. The bright illustrations perfectly complement the beautiful story.

 Career of Evil

written by Robert Galbraith

(pseudonym of J.K. Rowling)

fiction: mystery

four stars

The third installment in J.K. Rowling’s Cormoran Strike series, Career of Evil is a fast-paced mystery with the added bonus of great character development (and Blue Öyster Cult lyrics, which precede each chapter!). There’s also a perfectly ambiguous cliffhanger ending that will guarantee we’ll be on the edge of our seats until the next book comes out.

 Dispatches from Pluto:

Lost and Found in the Mississippi Delta

written by Richard Grant

nonfiction: Mississippi
four stars

To natives of the state, Mississippi is simply our home. We tend to forget that it is a place of contradictions; Mississippi has given birth to a population who manifests and embraces those seeming differences. Richard Grant has a keen ear for a good story and the Mississippi Delta has stories in spades. While no single book can tell the whole story of any place (especially a place like Mississippi!), Grant's tales of his meetings with wildlife and with humans and of his travels and adventures around the Delta are humorous, insightful, and well-written.

X: A Novel

written by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon

young adult
four stars

X by Ilyasha Shabazz, Malcolm X's daughter, and Kekla Magoon follows the life of a young Malcolm X before he became a great human rights activist. Even though this is a work of fiction, X is based on the real life of Malcolm X and his actions from boyhood until his arrest for theft at the age of 20. This is a great novel that will challenge teen readers while teaching them more about the human rights movement and the work of Malcolm X.

We have these books lined up to read next week:

 

• Nino Wrestles the World
  written and illustrated by Yuyi Morales 
• Stella by Starlight
  written by Sharon Draper
• Hold Tight, Don't Let Go
  written by Laura Rose Wagner
• Inside the O'Briens
  written by Lisa Genova
  
  
  Until next time, happy reading!

Birds of a Feather

As you may know, artist Carolyn Wright is being featured in the Mississippi Library Commission's November-December art exhibit. We think her feather art is awesome, but did you know that there are federal and state laws regulating which feathers can be bought and sold as art?

According to the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, it is illegal to "pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, attempt to take, capture or kill, possess, offer for sale, sell, offer to purchase, purchase, deliver for shipment, ship, cause to be shipped, deliver for transport, carry or cause to be carried by any means whatever, receive for shipment, transportation or carriage, or export at any time, or in any manner, any migratory bird, included in the terms of this Convention...for the protection of migratory birds...or any part, nest or egg of any such bird" unless permitted by regulations. There's a long list of birds covered by the law, meaning that they and their feathers are off limits. (Even if you want to create gorgeous and unique art!)

According to the Wildlife and Fisheries Public Notice 3816-Sale of Game in the State of Mississippi it is lawful for "any part of a wild turkey, expect the meat or a mounted turkey" to be bought and sold. That is why Mississippi artists engaging in this art form often use turkey feathers as a medium. Who knew?!

The art exhibit is open from November 4th until December 19th. There will also be a reception on December 1st from 5:00 pm till 7:00 pm at the Mississippi Library Commission. We hope to see you there.

"Feathers and Film" Art Exhibit

The Mississippi Library Commission (MLC) will host an art exhibition featuring the work of wildlife photographer Joe Mac Hudspeth, Jr. and painter Carolyn Wright. The show will open on November 4th and will run through December 29th. A free public reception will be held on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the Library Commission building at 3881 Eastwood Drive in Jackson (in the R&D Center Complex off Ridgewood Road, across from Mississippi Public Broadcasting).

Purple Gallinule
Joe Mac Hudspeth, Jr.

Joe Mac Hudspeth, Jr. has been photographing Mississippi’s wildlife for over 30 years, and since 1997 his images have graced 36 Mississippi Duck Stamps and Sportsman’s Licenses. His latest book, My Southern Wild features his photographs of deer, ducks, turkey, and Mississippi’s untamed beauty. Hudspeth, a resident of Brandon, is a self-taught photographer whose work has appeared in numerous state, regional and national publications.

 

Turkey on turkey feather
Carolyn Wright

Turkey feathers provide the canvas artist Carolyn Wright uses to paint her stunning creations. Her artistic talents developed early, along with her love for wildlife, while spending summers on her grandparents farm in the Mississippi Delta. Now the primary source of inspiration for her feather paintings is easily found in the woods and lakes surrounding her rural home in southeast Noxubee County.

For more information on this upcoming art exhibition or MLC, visit www.mlc.lib.ms.us or call 601-432-4111.

The Mississippi Library Commission supports innovative programs and initiatives to strengthen and enhance library services for all Mississippians. The agency is funded by the Mississippi Legislature, with additional funding provided through the Institute of Museum and Library Services under provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), offering leadership in library services, advocacy, and training for library professionals and paraprofessionals.

MLC Staff Reads: November 13, 2015

In A Game of Thrones, Tyrion says, "My mind is my weapon. My brother has his sword, King Robert has his warhammer, and I have my mind... And a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." Keep your mind sharp this week with these fun and fascinating books:

This Is Not My Hat

written and illustrated
by Jon Klassen

picture book

three stars

This is a cute little story about how crime doesn't pay. It really, truly doesn't pay. Kids will enjoy the minimalist illustrations and the wild "gotcha!" ending. If you haven't already, introduce your kids to I Want My Hat Back, too.

 Fallout: Lois Lane #1

written by Gwenda Bond

young adult

three stars

Superheroes have been very big for the last several years, which made reading this YA book featuring a high school age Lois Lane so much fun. There's a mind-melded hive presence at Lois's new school and she's determined to find out what's behind it and rescue the kids it's effecting. Lois juggles this mystery with a job at the Daily Planet's new teen paper, her protective general dad and the rest of her loving family, and her online friendship with SmallvilleGuy. A little slow in some points, this was all in all an enjoyable read.

 Mississippi Moonshine Politics:

How Bootleggers & the Law Kept a Dry State Soaked

written by Janice Branch Tracy

nonfiction: politics, prohibition

four stars

Mississippi has always had an awkward love-hate relationship with alcohol and Mississippi Moonshine Politics brought this into sharp focus for us. The book introduces bootleggers and politicians from the Delta to the Gulf Coast, all within the framework of the history of prohibition in Mississippi. (By the way, our new favorite Mississippi politician name is Representative Noah "Soggy" Sweat, replacing longtime favorite Representative Greek Rice.) Tracy intersperses her history lesson with some fascinating stories about our native state that were a revelation to read. If you'd like to try a fictional account of bootleggers in Mississippi when you're done with Mississippi Moonshine Politics, try Tom Franklin and Beth Ann Fennelly's The Tilted World.

Mister B. Gone

written by Clive Barker

fiction: horror

four stars

Mister B. Gone by Clive Barker starts off with a warning: "Burn this book. Go on. Quickly, while there’s still time! Burn it. Don’t look at another word. Did you hear me? Not. One. More. Word." However, you should keep reading because this book is all you would expect from a Barker book. There is humor, horror, and everything in between. It kind of reminds us of an adult version of The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone. We recommend this book to all Clive Barker, Stephen King, and Neil Gaiman fans.

Join us next week when we review these books Mississippi Library Commission staff are reading.

• Last Stop on Market Street
  written by Matt de la Pena
  illustrated by Christian Robinson
  picture book
• Career of Evil
  written by Robert Galbraith
  fiction: mystery
• Dispatches from Pluto: Lost and Found in the Mississippi Delta
  written by Richard Grant
  nonfiction: Mississippi
• X: A Novel
  written by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon
  young adult

Until next time, happy reading!

MLC Reads: November 6, 2015

We do so love to read! We just love to curl up in a nice spot, pull out a good book, and lose ourselves in the printed word. We've spent the last week reading these wonderful books:

 Freedom Summer

written by Deborah Wiles

illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue

picture book

five stars

Freedom Summer is picture book perfection. Jerome Lagarrigue won the John Steptoe Award for New Talent for his illustrations and we can see why. The gorgeous impressionism-inspired pictures pulled us even deeper into this story of the South during the summer of 1964. Deborah Wiles's tale of young Joe and John Henry's friendship is incredibly sweet. Joe, who is white, is noticing the ugly side of the segregated world in which he grew up for the first time. He wants his friend John Henry to be able to experience all the same fun things he does in their small town. The ways in which the two small boys act and react to their town's fight against integration is both heartbreaking and inspiring. This is a must read for pre-schoolers and up.

The Truth About Alice

written by Jennifer Mathieu

YA fiction

five stars

If you've ever attended school with a bunch typical teenagers- hellooo, high school- this book will be a trip down memory lane. If you're still in high school, you may recognize yourself or your friends on these pages. The stories and accusations flying around Alice are shocking, but the untold stories hiding in this high school are equally fascinating. Told from multiple points of view, this short novel is a reflection on stereotypes that will keep you on the edge of your seat to the very end.

Uprooted

written by Naomi Novik

YA fantasy

four stars

Uprooted by Naomi Novik follows the story of young Agnieszka. Every ten years the Dragon, a powerful wizard who defends her village from the corrupting influences of the Wood, comes to Agnieszka’s village and chooses a young woman to take with him. The Dragon inexplicably chooses Agnieszka over her best friend Kasia, who possesses all the charm, beauty and poise Agnieszka does not. Thus begins a story of adventure, loss, friendship, and love. Uprooted is lighthearted and humorous at times but there is also a sense of tragedy and loss that underscores it. While there is a romantic undercurrent to the story, the real relationship at the heart of this book is the honest and moving friendship between Agnieszka and her best friend Kasia.

Meanwhile There Are Letters: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty and Ross Macdonald

edited by Suzanne Marrs and Tom Nolan

nonfiction: letters

three stars

Lovely letters by two master story tellers... From time to time it plodded a bit, but the commentary by Suzanne Mars and Tom Nolan made this a fairly fascinating peek into the lives of Eudora Welty and Kenneth Millar. If you haven't already, be sure to pick up What There Is to Say We Have Said: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty and William Maxwell. (Ms. Eudora knew how to write a right fine letter!)

Next week, we have these books on our plate:

• Mister B. Gone
  written by Clive Barker
• Lois Lane: Fallout
  written by Gwenda Bond
• This Is Not My Hat
  written by Jon Klassen
• Mississippi Moonshine Politics: How Bootleggers & the Law Kept a Dry State Soaked
  written by Janice Branch Tracy
  
  Until then, happy reading!

MLC Reads: October 29, 2015

We love reading a new book. Not necessarily a book hot off the press, but a new-to-us book. Here are a few new-to-us books that Mississippi Library Commission staff read this past week.

In the Woods

written by Tana French

fiction: mystery, thriller

four stars

In the Woods is the debut novel of author Tana French and the first book in the Dublin Murder Squad series. In the Woods is notable for its richly detailed characters and their relationships with each other. What could easily be another run-of-the-mill police procedural is instead a refreshing story populated with compelling and flawed characters. The novel veers away from a neatly wrapped up ending and is immensely satisfying because it does so.

Black Hole

written and illustrated by Charles Burns

graphic novel

three stars

Black Hole is set in the 1970s. There's an STD with crazy, creepy, downright horrific side effects and there's no cure. Those who catch it are shunned and ostracized. It reminded us of the transition from the free love era of the 1960s to the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, and that may very well be what Burns intended. We found it a tiny bit pretentious, but Black Hole's saving grace is it's amazing art. (And really, we had to keep reading to find out what happened. No setting this one aside for later. But the ending--what?!) This is definitely for mature readers. Those who are against nudity, sex, and drugs in their reading material should steer clear.

Modern Romance

written by Aziz Ansari and Eric Klinenberg

non-fiction: sociology, dating, humor

four stars

A sociology study on dating peppered with off-color humor: informative and hilarious.

 She Is Not Invisible

written by Marcus Sedgwick

young adult

five stars

She Is Not Invisible is pretty spectacular. There's a strong female protagonist with plenty of gumption and the writing kept us on the edge of our seat. Bonus: we learned a lot of neat tidbits about coincidence and probability.











Next week, our staff are reading these books:

• Meanwhile There Are Letters: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty and Ross Macdonald
  edited by Suzanne Mars and Tom Nolan
  nonfiction: letters
• The Truth About Alice
  written by Jennifer Mathieu
  young adult
• Uprooted
  written by Naomi Novik
  fiction: fantasy
• Freedom Summer
  written by Deborah Wiles
  illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue
  picture book

Until next time, happy reading!

If There Are Ghosts In Your Library...

Did you know that Mississippi has not one but two reportedly haunted libraries? The Lee-Itawamba Library System, located in Tupelo, Mississippi, is said to be haunted by former U.S. Congressman John Mills Allen. The library building, which was built in 1971, resides on the site of Mr. Allen's home. The library even has some original doors and glass panels from Mr. Allen's home in its Mississippi Room. Mr. Allen's ghost now roams the library knocking books off the shelves and stealing from the book drop.  

The Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library is haunted by either of two spirits. The late Head Librarian, Jeanne Broach, was devoted to the library for over 30 years and is said to still linger in the library causing cold spots and strange noises. She likes to ride the elevator too. Library employees have also reported hearing a crying baby and someone calling out their names. However, there may be another culprit. The library building sits on a plot of land that was originally the personal home of Mr. A. J. Lyons. His wife reportedly committed suicide in that home and could possibly still haunt the grounds where she died. Its also conceivable that both women haunt the library, forever roaming the shelves for that perfect book.

So, if there were a ghost in your library, who would you call?  

The Ghostbusters

-OR-

The Ghostfacers

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=A000134

http://blogs.britannica.com/2007/10/haunted-libraries-in-the-us-massachusetts-missouri

http://www.meridianstar.com/topic/?q=haunted&l=25&sd=asc&app%5B0%5D=editorial&o=25

Celebrating Friends of Mississippi Libraries

It's National Friends of Libraries Week, but do you know what that means? The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word friend as a close acquaintance. We'd like to introduce you to some very special friends of ours, the multitude of Friends of Libraries groups across Mississippi. These groups are integral to libraries. They are our fundraisers, our volunteers, our supporters, and our advocates. They are our friends. Just look at their extraordinary accomplishments just last year in Mississippi.

One neat way you can help Friends groups and Mississippi libraries is to participate in the Mississippi Day of Giving this coming Saturday, October 24, 2015. Many libraries and Friends groups are registered as participating organizations.

Would you like to be involved in the Friends chapter at your local library? Are you interested in learning more about Friends of Libraries groups in Mississippi? Check our website here for the ins and outs of participating in a chapter or starting and running a group.

Existing Friends groups, take note! There is a new grant opportunity, the Margaret Murray Grant, which will "advance library programming and literacy for Mississippi public libraries through activities sponsored by the local Friends of Mississippi Libraries chapters."

We hope you enjoy the 10th annual National Friends of Libraries Week and that you use it to become an even closer acquaintance with your friend, your local library!

MLC Reads: October 16, 2015

As Lemony Snicket said in Horseradish, “Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.” These are the books we carried around with us last week.

Richard Wright and the Library Card

written by William Miller

illustrated by Gregory Christie

picture book
four stars

The words he had read echoed in his ears, colored everything he saw. He wondered if he would act differently, if others would see how the books had changed him.

The meat of this picture book is pulled from an incident in Richard Wright's autobiography, Black Boy. We reread this book for the anniversary of Richard Wright's birth last month (September 4, 1908) and again marveled at the lovely adaptation. Denied books by the Memphis library's segregation policies, Wright borrows a library card from a white coworker and uses it to check out stacks of books. Solid introduction to one of Mississippi's most famous and enduring authors.

 Honor Girl

written and illustrated by Maggie Thrash

graphic memoir

four stars

This coming-of-age graphic memoir swept us back to our own experiences at summer camp: learning new skills, meeting new people, dealing with the "popular" kids, finding yourself, first crush, first love, first broken heart... Read this for a bittersweet blast of nostalgia.

 In a Dark Dark Wood

written by Ruth Ware

fiction: mystery/thriller

five stars

This is the kind of book that will either drive you crazy or lead you to love it and not be able to put it down until you've reached the climatic end. The story flips back and forth between the present and the past. A woman, Nora, wakes up in the hospital. She is all bruised and a police officer is guarding her hospital room door. She has no idea why she is there, but she starts to recall the "hen party" she had attended days before. The mystery of what happened at this two day event is quickly unraveled. Ware has the ability to create a very eerie setting and to keep the reader guessing until the very last chapter. We thoroughly enjoyed this one; it had us reading until late into the night.

 Marketing with Social Media

edited by Beth C. Thomsett-Scott

nonfiction: marketing in libraries

four stars

This is the perfect introductory book for libraries that are just beginning to use social media. It covers many of the basic networking sites, including Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Blogs, Pinterest, YouTube, etc... Each chapter contains one topic area and explains how to get started and how to maintain the site, as well as including case studies, statistics, and a reference section. Highly usable, the only downside to this book is that the fast-changing technologies it profiles change so rapidly that this book will soon be obsolete.

We've got these books lined up for next week. We can't wait to read them and tell you all about them!

• Modern Romance
  written by Aziz Ansari
  nonfiction: sociology, romance, and humor
• Black Hole
  written and illustrated by Charles Burns
  graphic novel
• In the Woods
  written by Tana French
  fiction: mystery, thriller
• She is not Invisible
  written by Marcus Sedgwick
  young adult

Until next week, happy reading!

UFO Sighting in Pascagoula, Mississippi

On October 11, 1973, Charles Hickson and Calvin Parker, Jr. claimed to be abducted by aliens while fishing in the Pascagoula River. The two friends had decided to go fishing after a long day of work. With little luck at several fishing spots, Hickson suggested they try near an abandoned shipyard. Just as they were about to give up and head home, they heard a strange zipping sound. Hickson then noticed that sixty or seventy feet behind them was a blue craft hovering over the ground. The craft was shaped like a football with two windows at one end.

Calvin Parker's sketch of the craft in April 1975

As the space craft hovered, an opening appeared at one end and three beings exited. Hickson and Parker described the them as around five feet tall, wrinkled, neckless, and gray.

This is the completed sketch of the creature described by Hickson while under hypnosis.  

The beings made their way toward Hickson and Parker by moving without their feet touching the ground. Their touch paralyzed both men and made them incapable of speaking. The men were then taken aboard the craft to be examined by a large eye. After a few moments of examination, Hickson and Parker were taken back to the shipyard where Parker seemed to go through a trance of some kind. While Hickson assisted Parker, the beings made their way back to the craft. After another zipping sound and a bright flash of blue light, they were gone. Hickson, however, was left with a telepathic message that said, "We are peaceful; we meant no harm."

Sunday marked the 42nd anniversary of the UFO sighting at Pascagoula, Mississippi, which has since become one of the most notorious alien abductions. For more fascinating details, check out Charles Hickson's book titled UFO Contact at Pascagoula at the Mississippi Library Commission or your local library.

http://www.lib.usm.edu/spcol/exhibitions/item_of_the_month/march-2014.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeBnI-xvJ1U

Staff Reads: October 9, 2015

Every Friday, the staff of the Mississippi Library Commission share a few of the best books and graphic novels we've read in the past week.

Fear Agent, Volume One: Re-Ignition

written by Rick Remender

illustrated by Tony Moore

four stars

This fun and adventurous graphic novel follows Heath Huston, the last Fear Agent, as he discovers an alien's plot to wipe out the human species. Heath must now use his skills as an alien exterminator to save the day. This was a great graphic novel with a retro feel. We recommend Fear Agent to those who enjoy pulp science fiction.

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers

written and illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein

four stars

Philippe Petit is not afraid of heights at all. His 1974 tightrope walk between the World Trade Center's twin towers is captured here in all its marvelous glory. Gorgeous illustrations and illuminating prose by Mordicai Gerstein will have your kids dreaming about the trapeze.

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves

written by Karen Joy Fowler

five stars

First off, don't read anything about this book except the following review: it's good. That's all you need to know. Finding out what the big reveal is will only diminish your reading experience. Trust us when we say this book explores family relationships in an interesting way--one you won't forget.

The World's Largest Man

written by Harrison Scott Key

five stars

Fathers. Families. Funny. Feels. Harrison Scott Key's book about his father is a beautiful, soul-searching, hilarious memoir that you need to read. 

We've got these books on our radar this week:

• Richard Wright and the Library Card
  written by William Miller
  illustrated by Gregory Christie
• Marketing with Social Media
  edited by Beth C. Thomsett-Scott
• Honor Girl
  written and illustrated by Maggie Thrash
• In a Dark, Dark Wood
  written by Ruth Ware

Until next week, happy reading!