Library staff read a wide variety of books this month, and we're here to tell you about our favorites! Get out your library card and get ready to place some holds.

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The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius

"This book captures the life lessons from all the people Marcus Aurelius met and how he applied those lessons to his life. Even though this was written a long time ago, the ideas are still relevant today. This book is the antidote to always wanting more and more and never being happy."-Scott

A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci

"This book goes back to the Civil Rights era, when I was a tween, yet it's so timely right now. It's like we went in a full circle, and it's heartbreaking that we're here again."-Helene

How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks

"I am going to buy this book and read it again. It has so much information! It covers how to be with people in difficult situations, like death or depression. How to ask questions. How to be a friend."-Helene

Ocean's Godori by Elaine U. Cho

"This is a sci-fi adventure set partly in Korea and partly in space. The first half of the book is slice-of-life on the spacecraft (I thought the comparison to Becky Chambers is a good one). But then midway through we have space pirates who quote Shakespeare and car chases-except with spaceships. This was really fun to read!"-Stephanie

The Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

"The Hunger Games are what got me into reading in the first place, so I was excited to read this book. It was fun to follow Haymitch as a character. I loved it."-Allyson

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

"I'm from Nicaragua, where access to the TB vaccine was limited when I was growing up. That's why I was very interested in reading this book. This was the first time I've read a book by John Green in English-I had previously read his work in Spanish. In English, I'm familiar with him through his Crash Course YouTube videos, and while reading, I could really sense his personality and voice coming through in the writing."-Allyson

Camino Island by John Grisham

"Going in I thought this was a heist book but then it went in an unexpected direction. It's about a young novelist going undercover on an island with a bunch of successful, gossiping authors to recover F. Scott Fitzgerald's stolen manuscripts."-Scott

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

"This has been popping up on the literary side of BookTok and for good reason! Without giving too much away, it's about a young woman among a group of women who are held captive underground. One day, their guards leave, and the women are able to escape. What follows is a survival story, of a sort, but so much more than that. If you need a book to answer all the questions it raises, this book will frustrate you, but if you like to consider questions, you'll love this one. So much to think about!"-Rachelle

Actress of a Certain Age by Jeff Hiller

"If you love the HBO show Somebody Somewhere like I do, you'll enjoy this memoir by the actor who plays Joel. It's about his path to becoming an actor, his struggles with health and body image, coming out, and so much more. It's both heartwarming and affirming, and I recommend it!"-Rachelle

Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

"How do you make memories and keep them? This book was a little heavy but good."-Constance

North Woods by Daniel Mason

"The audiobook for this is great because it uses an ensemble cast of narrators. I would describe North Woods as a literary ghost story that follows a piece of land and a house through 200+ years. It's a good yarn and it invites you to think about what came before you and what will remain after."-Rachelle

Swept Away by Beth O'Leary

"This is a romance set on a houseboat that is intended to stay tied to its moorings but that gets swept out to the North Sea."-Constance

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

"Hilarious! This one made me laugh out loud. It's about a disparate group of older people who try to save a community center. It reminded me of The Thursday Murder Club."-Constance

Hunger's Bite by Taylor Robin

"This is a graphic novel about two teens who are best friends until they each want different things for their life: he wants to sail on the SS Lark forever and she wants to see the world. But the new owner of the cruise ship threatens both their dreams. With his arrival the art style changes, which is really interesting. The book touches on a lot: colonialism, labor issues, rich vs. poor … It's really smart and fun to read, too."-Stephanie

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

"I started reading the book, then put it down to watch the movie and realized the movie left out a lot about why Bernadette is the way she is! If you watched the movie but didn't read the book, I recommend picking it up."-Helene

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson

"This is an introduction to astrophysics for people who aren't astrophysicists. Really digestible and interesting."-Scott

Picture Books

I Am the Subway by Kim Hyo-eun

"A poetic picture book that follows a subway on its daily journey through the city. Each passenger carries a different story, a different weight, a different destination. The subway doesn't ask or judge-it simply rides with them, quietly offering space and time. A gentle meditation on empathy, acceptance, and the quiet power of being there for others."-Yvonne

What the Crow Saw Below by Robert Tregoning

This is a gentle story about seeing the world in new ways. It shows how traditions can sometimes keep us from noticing all the small, wonderful things around us. This book encourages kids to stay curious, explore, and remember that fear can be replaced with understanding and joy."-Luog

Penguin on Vacation by Salina Yoon

"Sometimes even penguins need a vacation. In this vibrant story we follow Penguin on their summer vacation to the beach, where they encounter a place that is quite different from the wintery climate they call home. While vacationing Penguin encounters Crab, and they strike up a heartwarming friendship. Even though all vacations must come to an end, the friends we make along the way will continue to flourish after the vacation is over."-Derek

Browse all July staff picks right in the catalog.