What's New

Summer continues to swelter on, sending us all scampering inside to savor the sweet sensation of … air conditioning. I couldn’t think of another s word. Either way, while you are waiting for cooler weather, here are some new poetry books to help you pass the time.  

Buffalo Girl by Jessica Q. Stark, starts with a warning. Stark aligns being a woman with being Little Red Riding Hood, and society as the Wolf waiting to devour her. But Little Red has much more agency than is realized and holds some dangers of her own. Exploring her mother’s immigration to the U.S. from Vietnam, Stark shows the racism faced by a family just trying to exist, the worst coming from the ones who should have been the most understanding. Oscillating between the past and the present, Stark explores her own upbringing as a part Vietnamese woman, and feeling alienated from it. Both women deal with a world that treats women’s bodies as a commodity and find ways to navigate that world. Stark uses her mother’s photography to create collages in the work to create an almost storybook-like effect, and shows that finding a way out may mean having to find a way in.  

Auto/Body by Vickie Vertiz is an examination of how the expectations on the bodies we inhabit, the lives we live, and the society around us, can sometimes use a tune-up. Growing up surrounded by car culture, Vertiz seeks to understand the inner workings of her youth. Vertiz explores the mechanisms of colonialism and racial violence perpetuated by society, and how even now colonies do not benefit from colonialism. Vertiz seeks to show how in womanhood, there is a lack of ownership of their own bodies afforded to women. But she also finds joys and pleasure in the body and finds community within the queer culture. Society often tells us what is wrong with our identities and our bodies, but what if we were our own mechanics, would we find the same diagnosis? 

Skeletons by Deborah Landau is a fun delve into what hides beneath the flesh. Starting at the beginning of the pandemic, Landau seeks to understand not just the bodies we inhabit, but how they connect to others. She remains impressively upbeat even in the wake of political turmoil and unprecedented public health crisis. Showing the isolation through the lockdown, Landau also shows the inherit loneliness that comes with being alive throughout her series of poems entitled “Skeletons.” Interspersing her “Skeletons” poems, the “Flesh” poems seek to uncover an understanding into our desires and the intimacy we find with others. Diving deep into what defines us, Landau seemingly finds what sustains us when the outside world ceases to make sense.  

Enjoy these books and more at A.K. Smiley Public Library, and let’s hope for some cooler weather soon. 

Teens, on a scale of comforting to ultra-freaky, how disturbing do you like your reading materials? Are you more likely to pick up a book with cotton-candy on the cover, or say, a pool of blood? If your tastes fall closer to the crime scene end of the spectrum, you’re in luck…one of the following YA titles may have your name—and your future fingerprints—on it.

“Murder Among Friends: How Leopold and Loeb Tried to Commit the Perfect Crime” by Candace Fleming is nonfiction; this book is about a real murder, and the wealthy teenagers who plotted it. The year was 1924 and Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb looked like they had it all. They were both born into millionaire families, they were both supernaturally smart, and by many accounts, they both appeared to be charming, attractive, and well-mannered—if not slightly quirky—intellectuals.

So what made them carefully plan and carry out the murder of an innocent 14-year-old neighbor? Teens, I’m not going to tell you. Read the book yourself. From now on, just give me cotton candy! If bingeing true crime podcasts and documentaries is your idea of a good time, this real-life thriller—featuring a possible psychopath, an ice-cold homicide, and an explosive court trial—is for you.

Now that we’re traumatized by reading about a real crime, let’s learn how to solve them with Bridget Heos’ “Blood, Bullets, and Bones: The Story of Forensic Science from Sherlock Holmes to DNA.” You’re probably already a crime scene analysis expert from all the episodes of “CSI,” “Criminal Minds,” “Cold Case,”  “NCIS”, “CSI: Miami,” “CSI: New York,” AND “CSI: Cyber,” you’ve watched, but maybe this book will offer something extra.

“Blood, Bullets, and Bones” explores the long history of crime scene investigation, dating back an astonishing two thousand years (CSI: Ancient China?) to today, and sheds light on the modern crime-solving techniques that have perpetrators shaking in their microscopic bad guy fibers. Although this nonfiction work will once again immerse you in real-life criminal activity, this time you’ll be empowered with your new-found knowledge of blood spatter analysis and forensic anthropology.

Teens, these and more chilling true-crime tales await you in Teen Underground at A.K. Smiley Public Library. Come check them out…no need to cover your tracks. And it’s not too late to get in on our Teen “All Together Now” Summer Reading Program…we’d love to have you join us for our free Teen Makers Open Hours event Wednesday, July 26, from 3-5 p.m. in the Assembly Room at A.K. Smiley Public Library. The event features a teen-led discussion on representation in YA Lit, bracelet-making, button-making, other-stuff-making, and more. Visit www.akspl.org/teens for more details and drop in if you’re interested!

Kristina Naftzger is a Youth Services Librarian at A.K. Smiley Public Library, where her book selections often give her uncomfortable pits in her stomach, leading to a longing for a literary future filled with cotton candy instead of crime scenes.

I confess that I have a preference for reading non-fiction books. I like real stories, and I like to learn something and experience adventures undertaken by others, especially in natural surroundings. So here are a few of our new books you might like if you have the same reading preferences.

“Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon,” is authored by science journalist Melissa Sevigny. She recounts how Lois Jotter and Elzada Clover stood up to the misogyny of the times to become botanists. They underwent great risks running the Colorado River to be the first to survey and catalog the plants in the Grand Canyon. The women were truly trailblazers in their determination during the summer of 1938 to take on the dangerous 600 mile, 43-day boat expedition through the Grand Canyon, collecting and preserving 500 plant specimens. A map and photographs enhance this intriguing selection.

“The Last Ride of the Pony Express: My 2,000-Mile Horseback Journey into the Old West,” is a chronicle of Will Grant’s modern-day ride retracing the old pony express route. Readers who like American history, horses, and westerns will enjoy being an armchair adventurer in this narrative. Grant spends five months on his ride retracing the mail route from Missouri to California, as opposed to the grueling 10 days that the Express riders endured. His partners on the trail were two horses that he thoughtfully and carefully chose, Chicken Fry and Badger. He vividly describes the landscape, people, and animals he meets, and juxtaposes old West with the modern-day, including the hazards then and now.

If you read and enjoyed Lawrence Anthony’s “The Elephant Whisperer,” and Francoise Malby-Anthony’s bestseller, “An Elephant in My Kitchen,” then you will want to check out, “The Elephants of Thula Thula.” Francoise and her late husband founded the Thula Thula game reserve in 1998 in South Africa. She continues to run and expand the reserve and wildlife rehabilitation center and consequently has more stories of happiness and heartbreak to share about the elephant herd and other animal inhabitants and their caretakers.

“Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt’s Ancient Temples from Destruction,” chronicles the life and accomplishments of a little-known French archaeologist. Lynne Olson brings Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt out of the shadows of history for her courageous efforts that saved many of Egypt’s ancient monuments from ending up underwater when the Aswan High Dam was built. Her childhood fascination with Egyptology culminated in a distinguished career of preserving and keeping many Egyptian treasures from leaving the country. Most notably, she led the international campaign that financed and accomplished the difficult task of dismantling many fragile temples and moving them up the Nile to be rebuilt on higher ground.

“Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind” – Seals & Crofts

In this week’s What’s New at Smiley Library article, I will be taking you all on an unofficial tour of Fire Island, New York. I know what you are thinking, “Shannon, how are you going to take all of your dedicated readers to the glitzy Fire Island? Did you win the lottery or something?” Unfortunately, no, I did not: I will be taking you all there through the art of the written word! The three books that are featured in this article all take place on Fire Island. So, pack your proverbial bags and let’s go!

Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum is our first book that features our destination spot, Fire Island. Every summer, friends Jen and Lauren, along with their spouses, descend upon the island and start their usual summer routine of gossip, backstabbing, and manipulation until their usual summertime antics get thwarted by a dead body. I don’t know about you all, but this may throw a wrench in our vacation. Let’s see what the second book entails.

Kismet by Becky Chalsen is our second stop on our tour of Fire Island. Twin sisters Amy and Jo Sharp pack their bags and head to Fire Island for a whirlwind weekend of celebrations. Like with most gatherings involving family and friends, secrets are revealed and friendships are put to the test.

Ok, we have made it to our final destination on Fire Island, which by chance happens to be the title of the last book featured in this article. On Fire Island by Jane L. Rosen is told through the perspective of 37-year-old book editor Julia Morse. Julia dies and instead of “crossing over” she decides to spend her last summer watching over her family at their vacation home on Fire Island. This book isn’t as sad as it sounds, I promise.

I hope you all enjoyed our tour of Fire Island as much as I did.

Shannon Harris is a library specialist who dreams of living on an island one day.

With the dog days of summer upon us, it’s the perfect time to check out a few dog-themed fiction and nonfiction titles. Of course, we have classics like “James Herriot’s Favorite Dog Stories,” “Travels with Charley” by John Steinbeck, and the popular “Marley and Me” by John Grogan. We’re always adding new books to our collection, too. Here are some of our latest; I’m “paws-itive” you’ll find something you like.

Best-selling author of “A Dog’s Purpose,” W. Bruce Cameron’s most recent novel is “Love Clancy: Diary of a Good Dog.” Cameron has a way of capturing the character and spirit of dogs in his novels and this one is no different. Clancy, a yellow Lab, and the narrator of our story, offers insight into the life of his person, JayB, who recently lost his job and is figuring out his next move. Our canine companion keeps us informed with entries from his very own diary. You’ll come across a host of quirky characters, both human and furry, like JayB’s romantic interests, Odin, the older neighbor’s dog, and that pesky cat, Kelsey. Needless to say, the dogs are the stars in this humorous and touching read.

“The Year of the Puppy: How Dogs Become Themselves” by Alexandra Horowitz is a wonderful observation on the early development of a puppy throughout a year. Horowitz documents the day-to-day development of her own puppy, Quid, starting as a newborn and follows her as she becomes part of the Horowitz household, replete with three humans, two dogs and as Horowitz puts it a “wary cat.” How do puppies see and smell; what shapes their personalities? How do they socialize with people and other animals? This scientifically researched book is quite engaging and you’ll come away knowing a great deal about animal growth and behavior.

Murder mystery fans will enjoy the latest addition in David Rosenfelt’s K Team series, “Good Dog, Bad Cop.” Corey Douglas and his K-9 partner Simon Garfunkel join forces again to try and solve a cold case for Paterson Police Department. This time it involves someone quite well known to Douglas, his former mentor, Jimmy Dietrich. Dietrich, along with Susan Avery, were found dead, shot in his boat floating in the ocean outside of Long Island Sound. Was this really a murder-suicide? Perhaps it’s connected to the earlier execution-style killing of Danny Avery, Susan’s husband, who was also a former Paterson detective. Can you solve the mystery?

Be sure to stop by the display case near the circulation desk this July through August 15th on your next visit to the Library. You’ll see pictures of famous authors with their dogs and get to peruse new and classic books available for check out. Don’t forget to grab a FREE dog bookmark while supplies last. I’m sure you’ll find them quite fetching.