Must Read Books Fall-Winter 2023

I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me

by Jamison Shea

What it’s about: Laure will do anything to prove a Black girl can be a star in the cutthroat world of Parisian ballet, even make a deal with a primordial power she finds in a pulsating river of blood in the depths of the Catacombs. Will the violence and madness be too much for her or will she embrace the role of villain and revel in her monstrousness? And is she the only monster around?

Why read it? This one is not for the faint of heart; it’s a slow burn horror story of gory, visceral transformations, and eldritch gods. There’s mystery and mythology and explorations of the systems and institutions that profit off exclusion while featuring a flawed but compelling main character.

When the Angels Left the Old Country

by Sacha Lamb

What it’s about: In a shtetl so small it doesn’t have a name, an angel and a demon have been Torah study partners for hundreds of years. When a girl they know goes missing on her way to America, they decide to follow, encountering corrupt officials, mob bosses, con men, exploitative factory owners, labor uprisings, and new friends along the way.

Why read it? It’s a multi-award-winning historical fantasy set at the turn of the 20th century that is as deeply queer as it is deeply Jewish and literally laugh-out-loud funny, especially recommended for fans of Good Omens.

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute

by Talia Hibbert

What it’s about: Conspiracy theory content creator Celine and charming star athlete Bradley had a falling out years ago and their old friendship has turned into an academic rivalry. Neither one of them is happy to see that the other is also competing for a scholarship that requires participation in a survival course in the Scottish wilderness, but the circumstances force them to work together, and reluctantly, their feelings evolve.

Why read it? Sometimes you just need a fluffy and fun rom-com about Black British teens going from friends to enemies to lovers written by an expert romance novelist; it’s good for the soul.

TEEN PICKS

This Book Will Make You Kinder: An Empathy Handbook

by Henry James Garrett

What it’s about: The creator of Drawings of Dogs sets out to answer two questions, Why are you kind at all? and Why aren’t you kinder? By exploring the sources and limitations of human empathy and concrete ways to expand kindness—big and small—he shows how we can work toward being our best and kindest selves.

Why read it? “I read this book in less than a week—its subject matter is incredibly interesting and the insights it offers helped me to better contextualize my own life. The author’s illustrations and clear language make it super easy to understand, while also explaining very compelling ideas. This is a great book for anyone who’s interested in an easy read with elements of ethics and psychology that will make them think.”

Penelope (15)

Circe

by Madeline Miller

What it’s about: The daughter of Helios, Circe has the power of witchcraft, which threatens the gods and leads to her banishment on a deserted island. There, she learns to tame wild beasts and encounters famous figures of Greek mythology before choosing her own destiny.

Why read it? “This book is truly like nothing else I’ve ever read. The narrator is Circe, a minor Greek goddess who is mentioned briefly in Homer’s Odyssey, but the writing feels so fresh and gripping you would never be able to tell that it’s based on a story from thousands of years ago. If you like Greek mythology, historical fiction, magic, complex female characters, or you just want a really good read, this is the book for you!”

Jia (15)

Trigger warning: This book includes descriptions of sexual assault and some violence.

Every second Tuesday of the month, you can practice visual storytelling for free at the Library’s Teen Art Salon workshop.

Learn to sketch dynamic designs using reference images, manga characters, and your imagination. Get introduced to drawing fundamentals with the goal of creating original character-driven visuals. Practice your skills by experimenting with shape, line, color, and more.

The goal of this workshop is to inspire self-expression and learn the building blocks of visual storytelling. All levels are welcome! Free sketch journals will be provided to participants while supplies last.

Workshops start at 5:30 p.m. and run about an hour at East New Orleans Regional Library, 5641 Read Blvd. Registration is required.
Visit nolalibrary.co/teen-art-salon to sign up.

Check out the full programming schedule at events.nolalibrary.org to find more free art classes and workshops!

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