Capital Area District Libraries’ literary experts have curated a reading list rich with intrigue, insight and unforgettable voices. From tightly woven mysteries to poignant real-life narratives and standout picks for young readers, these books are perfect company from cover to cover.
Adult Fiction
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (July)
A deftly crafted multi-timeline Gothic horror featuring a grad student researching a horror author whose last unpublished manuscript strangely overlaps with stories told by the grad student’s grandmother about encountering witches in her Mexican village.
Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall (June)
A debut mystery from the creator of Broadchurch about murder in a seemingly idyllic coastal English town where secrets seethe below the surface and the deceased knew them all.
The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong (May)
Upon stopping a 19-year-old from jumping off a bridge, an older woman with dementia invites him to become her caretaker, beginning a story of community, caretaking and found family.
King of Ashes: A Novel by S.A. Cosby (June)
Cosby’s latest cinematic crime novel finds a financial whiz seemingly pulled in over his head when he’s called home after his father’s car accident and finds his younger brother in debt to the local crime syndicate.
The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (June)
Stiefvater’s adult debut highlights a little-known story of stateside World War II, when the US government detained Axis diplomats in luxury hotels in the wake of Pearl Harbor. The staff balance loyalties to the hotel and its high levels of service with potentially serving representatives of the people their family members may be leaving to fight.
This is Not a Game by Kelly Mullen (April)
An estranged grandmother and granddaughter must team up to solve a “locked room” murder on Mackinac Island.
Adult Non-Fiction
The Afterlife of Malcolm X: An Outcast Turned Icon’s Enduring Impact on America by Mark Whitaker (May)
Released during the centennial of his birth, this wide-ranging book by Emmy Award-winning journalist and editor Mark Whitaker focuses on Malcolm X’s legacy in the arts, sports, culture and politics, while also telling the story of two men who were accused of and eventually exonerated from charges of his murder.
The Beast in the Clouds: The Roosevelt Brothers’ Deadly Quest to Find the Mythical Giant Panda by Nathalia Holt (July)
Filled with adventure and reflections on hubris, nature and conservation, Nathalia Holt’s newest book tells the story of the 1929 Himalayan expedition of Ted and Kermit Roosevelt, Teddy Roosevelt’s sons, to track the elusive Giant Panda.
A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst (July)
The true-but-reads-like-fiction story of an intrepid couple in 1970s Britain who set out for New Zealand, only to have their boat upended by a breached whale, leaving them struggling to survive at sea.
Monopoly X: How Top-Secret World War II Operations Used the Game of Monopoly to Help Allied POWs Escape, Conceal Spies, and Send Secret Codes by Philip E. Orbanes (July)
Game historian Philip Orbanes brings a lesser-known story from history to life with this book about the use of Monopoly by intelligence services in WWII, including how sets were reconstructed to include escape tools for use by POWs.
Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser (June)
Fraser follows her Pulitzer Prize-winning biography Prairie Fires with this work of true crime that takes an unflinching look at the disproportionately high rates of violent crime and murder in the Pacific Northwest from the 1940s through the 1980s in a region that also contained a high concentration of lead-and arsenic-releasing smelters.
On Muscle: The Stuff That Moves Us and Why It Matters by Bonnie Tsui (April)
Blending science facts with engaging stories and a thread of personal narrative, Bonnie Tsui (the author of Why We Swim) inspires with this book about muscles, strength and the benefits of movement in our lives.
Toni at Random: The Iconic Writer’s Legendary Editorship by Dana A. Williams (June)
Howard University professor and author Dana A. Williams writes about Toni Morrison’s powerful influence on the literary landscape through Morrison’s work as an editor at Random House from 1967-1983, working with numerous authors like Toni Cade Bambara, Lucille Clifton and Angela Davis.
Children and teens
The Burning Season by Caroline Starr Rose (May)
This verse novel is set in New Mexico’s Gila National Forest and follows 12-year-old Opal who is desperately afraid of fire. Wildfire management techniques developed by Indigenous peoples are interspersed in this survival story when Opal must find the nerve to fight a wildfire on her own.
Dan in Green Gables: A Modern Reimagining of Anne of Green Gables by Rey Terciero (June)
In this graphic novel retelling, 15-year-old Dan is an outgoing teen abruptly left with his grandparents in rural Tennessee. Religion, queer identity and family trauma bubble to the forefront in this lively work illustrated by Eisner-nominated artist Claudia Aguirre.
Firefly Song: Lynn Frierson Faust and the Great Smoky Mountain Discovery by Colleen Paeff (June)
This picture book celebrates citizen scientist Lynn Frierson Faust who helped show that synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus) exist in regions of the Appalachian Mountains. Back matter will especially appeal to young naturalists.
The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall by Charis Cotter (May)
This ghost story set in the 1960s features a nervous 12-year-old who reluctantly goes off to a bird-watching summer camp. Her sensitive hearing detects eerie music haunting the woods leading to a Nancy Drew-ish investigation in this adaptation of a Grimm’s fairy tale.
Never Thought I’d End Up Here by Ann Liang (June)
After attending a family wedding, Leah Zhang, a Chinese American teen, is forced to explore her cultural heritage by traveling in China. When her adversary, Cyrus Sui, ends up traveling with her, she discovers she may not loathe him after all. This amusing travel romance may resonate with first-generation teens.
Smoke & Mirrors by Rosalyn Ransaw (June)
In this mystery, 12-year-old Andy is stuck with relatives in Ohio for the summer after his father’s parole hearing is delayed. Held responsible for a barn fire, Andy must help the owner restore a run-down mansion made famous by a murder that occurred after a magic show long ago.
Where the Deer Slip Through by Katey Howes (June)
Michigan-born author Katey Howes (1977-2024) left us with an auditory gem in this poem fashioned into a striking picture book. Teeming with language admiring animal play, multiple readings will be inevitable.
About CADL’s recommendations
With deep knowledge of literature, trends, and reader preferences, CADL’s librarians are equipped to curate a diverse and engaging collection of books for all ages and interests. Visit cadl.org/recommendations for more.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Hot reads for long summer days: CADL literary experts share recommendations
Reporting by Capital Area District Libraries / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
