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Teens, I wanted to surprise you and spice things up this October by NOT writing about spooky, creepy, freaky Halloween-related books, but that required inspiration for a fresh theme. I typed “October Holidays” into my search bar, clicked a link, and rubbed my hands together when I saw the long list. This was going to be easy! “National Black Dog Day,” “CD Player Day,” “Virus Appreciation Day,” “National Transfer Money to Your Daughter Day” (I hope my parents are reading this), “I Love Yarn Day,” “National Hug a Drummer Day,” “Change a Light Day,” “International Day for Failure,” “Spreadsheet Day,” “World Egg Day”…all of these sacred holidays are celebrated in October! And this was only the tip of the iceberg. This article was going to write itself! It was time to head to the Young Adult (YA) shelves for my material…

Long story short, I’m writing about witches.

Kamome Shirahama’s YA manga graphic novel series “Witch Hat Atelier” is perfect if you love great illustration, action, and daydreaming about witchy shopping malls. When Coco accidentally unleashes dark magic by copying a seal from a mysterious book of spells, things quickly turn grim (translation: Coco messes up the world) and there’s no way she can undo this alone. Qifrey (a witch), takes Coco under his wing, where she will train at his atelier, along with a cast of other apprentice witches. Meanwhile, dark forces are working against Coco…which side will prevail? (No pun intended.)

In Lizzie Ives’ YA novel “Fat Witch Summer,” Thrash is a plus-sized, acne-prone sixteen-year-old witch whose mother is the total opposite; her mom practically glitters with slim witchy perfection and power. After accidentally stumbling upon her own aptitude for magic, Thrash discovers she will receive a special, supernatural Gift: Glamour, Growth, or Sight.

The problem? Gifts are chosen by mothers, and Thrash fears her mom is going to select the Gift that will make Thrash her mom’s mirror image. But Thrash likes herself the way she is, and thus, she goes on the run, joining forces with a coven of teen witches, who are determined to steal their own Gifts and self-actualize the witches they want to be. After a wild and witchy road trip, which Gift will Thrash end up with? (Of course, again, no pun intended.)

Katrell talks to dead people. In “Bad Witch Burning,” by Jessica Lewis, sixteen-year-old Katrell leverages her paranormal conversational powers to make money for her financially unstable family, but it’s never enough. When Katrell learns she can do more than just talk to the dead, things start getting serious. She realizes there is a lot more money to be made, but she receives a warning from the spirit world that she is treading into treacherous territory and needs to stop. Which voices will Katrell listen to? (Again, this word choice is purely coincidental).

Teens, I hope you will stop in to the library this October and read something witchy or anything else that casts a spell on you.

And, of course, I’m also wishing you the happiest and healthiest “World Egg Day.”

Kristina Naftzger is a Youth Services librarian at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes before a book makes its way into your hands, or onto your reading device?

Literary agents play a major role in that process, yet their influence on the publishing world and literature often goes unnoticed. Laura B. McGrath’s Middlemen: Literary Agents and the Making of American Fiction, takes readers behind the scenes to explore how literary agents have shaped American literature form the 1950s to today.

McGrath’s research examines the roles agents take on in the publishing world, such as advocating for authors, acting as intermediaries between writers and publishers, and navigating the balance between artistic value and the business demands of publishing conglomerates. She also explores other aspects of the profession, including how agents find their first clients, the importance of foreign rights, how literary value is determined, and the influence agents have over an author’s success.

While reading the chapter “The Lunch,” I was surprised to learn that Joseph Heller became the first client for the highly influential literary agent Candida Donadio after his manuscript for Catch-22 was rejected by editors. Donadio helped get the novel published launching her illustrious career and playing an important part in Heller’s success. This is just one example of how much influence an agent can have on an author’s career, and the books that become part of American literature.

Readers interested in a detailed account of literary agents and their impact on American literature and the publishing industry will enjoy this read while gaining valuable insight into both fields.

Next, we have a book that centers on the relationship between readers and reading. Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books by Hwang Bo-Reum (translated by Shanna Tan) is filled with fifty-three short essays that touch upon some of our shared experiences as readers such as, not finishing reading a book, forgetting what we just read, and deciding what books to keep on our bookshelves when decluttering.

She offers advice on how to expand how we read, and shares her perspective on a variety of literary topics such as eBooks, book clubs, library visits, and indie bookshops. As you read the essays, you will encounter book titles relevant to each essay’s topic. For example, the essay, “Read Big Books” mentions Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, and describes reading it as feeling like a breathtaking hike. Nonetheless she enjoyed every moment.

Bo-Reum’s book is an easy read, but more importantly, she efficiently communicates her thoughts and perspectives on a variety of literary topics while establishing shared experiences that readers will find both relatable and refreshing.

Finally, we have a memoir by Oliver James, Unread: A Memoir of Learning (and Loving) to Read on TikTok. James shares his experience on how childhood learning disabilities and educational neglect led him to graduate from high school while being illiterate. At the age of thirty-two, James was motivated by his dreams and committed himself to learning how to read through books, audiobooks, voice-to-text, the support of others, and singing on TikTok Live, where he needed to read song lyrics in order to sing as an online audience cheered him on. Shortly after, he began reading live online to hundreds of people, many of them educators, who supported him by reading along and helping him along the way.

James shares his reading challenges and victories and introduces a fundamental book in each chapter that shaped and informed his reading journey. He also gives us glimpses into how illiteracy and literacy have impacted his personal life.

His story serves as an opportunity to reflect on the reality that, while reading may be commonly perceived as a skill many possess, today there are adults who continue to strive for literacy, and encourages us to cheer on those who are working toward improving their well-being.

Keep on reading and visit A.K. Smiley Public Library to find a book that resonates with you.

Celina Lozano is a library specialist at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

 

As author L.M. Montgomery says in Anne of Green Gables, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” I absolutely adore the month of October, especially Halloween. So, in celebration of my favorite time of year, here is a list of books and movies to get you in the mood for some Halloween fun.

Classic Halloween Haunts

The Exorcist

Friday the 13^th

Poltergeist

An American Werewolf in London

The Shining

Frightful Family Fun

Hocus Pocus

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Stranger Things

Beetlejuice

Gremlins

Cozy Halloween Reads

The Hocus Pocus Handbook by Ann Aguirre

Some Kind of Haunted by Hazel Beck

Demons and Diplomacy by Megan Frampton

Meet Cute Magic by Morgan Elizabeth

‘Tis the Season to be Scary by Vicki Delany

Scary Reads

Portrait of a Witch Undone by K.S. Shay

The Brides by Charlotte Cross

Dead First by Johnny Compton

When the Night Come Knocking by Katherine Daniel

Dark is When the Devil Comes by Daisy Pearce

Non-fiction titles

Food to Die For: Recipes & Stories from America’s Most Legendary Haunted Places by Amy Bruni

How to Build a Haunted House: The History of a Cultural Obsession by Caitlin Blackwell Baines

A History of Horror, Fear, and the Uncanny

Shannon Harris is a Halloween lover and library specialist at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

Hispanic Heritage Month is here, and at A.K. Smiley Public Library, we have plenty of new books for you to read by Latinos across the wide spectrum of genres.

Daisy Hernandez’s “Citizenship: Notes on an American Myth” explores the culturally relevant topic of citizenship in the United States through the lens of watching her parents own “lucky” paths to citizenship. The idea of citizenship in the United States has a storied history, historically used to deny personhood and humanity to many people of color and immigrants, from slaves and their children to Chinese immigrants and many more. This book explores the meandering waves of citizenship and how it has yet again found itself on the national stage with ideas like repealing birthright citizenship. Hernandez herself brings up the process of applying for Colombian citizenship, unsure of what the future holds in the United States. It’s an interesting exploration of a topic many Latinos may find relevant.

“Chancla: Healing our Families, Ourselves, and Our Culture Through Nonviolent Parenting” by Leslie Priscilla will make some readers squirm as they come face to face with some cultural practices that many people still defend. Priscilla asks questions that look at some of the harder topics of parenting that can exist in many Latino families. Not every Latino grew up with corporal punishment as the norm, but for many, the chancla, cinturon, or a branch were all a very difficult reality, and an example of violence becoming tangled with cultural identity. How many times do you say to yourself, “Well, I turned out fine” or “ they did it because they loved me”? But was it necessary? And is it still a necessary practice to carry into the future? Reader, be warned: you may be confronted with harsh realities. Even those with no children of their own may find help healing broken and streaked smatters of their own childhoods with this book. Parents fighting demons of cultural practices past and present may find this helpful in finding their own parenting styles.

“PFKNR: How Bad Bunny Became the Global Voice of Puerto Rican Resistance” by Vanessa Díaz flows easily from one topic to the next, connecting conversations about Bad Bunny’s personal history and how it connects to the grander story of Puerto Rico. PR might stand for Public Relations because this book feels very much like a love letter to Bad Bunny! Whether you like his music or not you’ll definitely have a kinder view of the artist after this. It highlights Bad Bunny’s humble appreciation and admiration for the Boricua artists that came before him. As well as providing context for his advocacy and for the Puerto Rico he grew up in. The combination of austerity measures, extensive debt, and American financial colonialism all created a Puerto Rico that found itself in dire straits. The book follows the historical context that raised Bad Bunny without feeling like a sticky history textbook that bogs you down in unnecessary details. Highly recommended for fans of his music as well as people invested in the story of Puerto Rico. ¡También está disponible en español!

“Cocina Puerto Rico” by chef Mia Castro offers up rich and easy-to-follow recipes from Castro’s home, Puerto Rico. She has worked under the likes of Wolfgang Puck and received praise from Gordon Ramsay himself. The recipes are rich in her personal history and spice and offer a beautiful culinary insight into Puerto Rican food, an underrated culinary giant in itself. The pictures are beautiful and mouth-watering, colorful and vibrant recipes just like the culture that inspired them. It starts with lots of basic information on ingredients and moves on to how to use them. Highly recommended for anyone wanting a basic introduction to Puerto Rican food!

“Cooking the Borderlands” highlights chef Claudette Zepeda’s culinary journey as someone raised between Mexico and the United States, who experienced the cultural meld of the people who live along the border. Food isn’t just Mexican or just American; it’s a combination that parallels the culture and the people. We can’t label them as just one thing or just another, separated by an invisible line made visible by the Treaty of Hidalgo Guadalupe. The book starts off with basics that can be found on many a Mexican family’s table: tortillas, salsas, arroz y frijoles. Zepeda invites readers to use her recipes as outlines for their own, replace, substitute, and make what makes you happy and what you will eat. Full of delicious recipes, homey pictures, and a wonderful story of two worlds becoming one, this book is highly recommended for anyone who enjoys Mexican-American cooking.

There’s plenty to choose from this Hispanic Heritage Month at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

Ruth Aguilar is a library specialist at A.K. Smiley Public Library and is proudly Mexican-American.