Must Read Books Summer 2021

The Casquette Girls series 

by Alys Arden

What it’s about: In book one, Adele Le Moyne just wants New Orleans to return to normal after an incredibly destructive hurricane, but instead she gets caught up in a web of magic and learns more about her family history and heritage as a witch.

Why read it? This is an immersive and atmospheric series set in New Orleans written by a local author and it gets better and better with each book. The combination of history and mythology and magic and Voodoo and vampires and love triangles is wonderful and makes for an absorbing read.

Blackout 

by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk & Nicola Yoon

What it’s about: It’s summer in New York City and a heatwave causes a massive blackout. But in the midst of the confusion, sparks of romance ignite in six interconnected stories.

Why read it? This is the most highly anticipated book of the summer. It’s a collaboration by bestselling authors, all of them Black women who are choosing to resist narratives of struggle and pain and instead celebrate Black joy.

Dancing at the Pity Party: A Dead Mom Graphic Memoir

by Tyler Feder

What it’s about: Tyler’s mother was diagnosed with late-stage cancer right after Tyler’s freshman year of college. This book follows the family during her treatment, her death less than a year after diagnosis, and the aftermath. Beyond a traditional memoir, Tyler uses humor to pay tribute to all the things that made her mom cool, offer tips on how to turn a good cry into a great cry, and give out practical advice she wishes her friends had for dealing with a grieving person. It’s also an honest account of how she is still adjusting to life as a motherless daughter.

Why read it? It’s the type of story that will make you laugh just as much as it makes you cry. This book is for anyone who has lost a loved one and needs to see their experiences reflected to know that they are not alone, but it’s also for those who want an effective guidebook so they can be there for a friend who is grieving.

Luck of the Titanic 

by Stacey Lee

What it’s about: After the death of her father, Valora Luck smuggles herself onto the Titanic to reunite with her twin brother, a Chinese laborer in third class. She uses disguises to get around the rigid class structure of the ship to find her brother, but he isn’t sure of her plan to become acrobats for the Ringling Brothers Circus. Of course, that’s the least of her problems when the ship strikes an iceberg and her priority becomes survival.

Why read it? Stacey Lee writes amazing historical fiction that explores issues of race and class wrapped up in a riveting plot. She was inspired by the recently uncovered stories of six real survivors of the Titanic who were of Chinese descent.

All Our Hidden Gifts 

by Caroline O’Donoghue

What it’s about: During an in-school suspension, Maeve finds a curious pack of tarot cards in a forgotten closet. She soon is climbing her school’s social strata as a sought-after fortune teller. But after her ex-best friend Lily pulls a strange card, they get into a public argument during which Maeve wishes aloud Lily would disappear. When Lily isn’t at school the next Monday, Maeve finds out that she actually vanished and has to find out what really happened.

Why read it? This is the sort of book that blurs the lines between real and unreal, mixing genres to create a mysterious, magically realistic story with a focus on female friendships and a little romance. It’s set in Ireland and masterfully combines elements of Irish folklore with contemporary attitudes and societal issues.

These recommendations were provided by Kacy Helwick, Youth Collection Development Librarian at the New Orleans Public Library.

Make your summer awesome by participating in the
New Orleans Public Library’s annual Summer Fun program.

Kicking off Monday, June 1, this year’s Summer Fun program features dozens of events and activities, reading challenges, and the chance to win great prizes, including creativity baskets and Beats Audio headphones or earbuds. Summer Fun events for teens include beat-making workshops, yarn arts craft circles, discussions on activism, Among Us sessions on Twitch, take & make craft workshops, manga book clubs, and an extra-special Finale Party.

Download the NOLALibrary App or visit nolalibrary.org/events to check out the Summer Fun calendar.

Visit summerfun.nolalibrary.org to register and download your free BINGO card and reading tracker to get started!

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, most Summer Fun programming will be conducted virtually, with the exception of a few in-person outdoor events.