Staff Picks March 2023

"Smart, warm, uplifting, the story of an out-of-the-ordinary heroine whose deadpan weirdness and unconscious wit make for an irresistible journey as she realizes the only way to survive is to open her heart. Meet Eleanor Oliphant: she struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she's thinking. That, combined with her unusual appearance (scarred cheek, tendency to wear the same clothes year in, year out), means that Eleanor...

"A exploration of opossums, including a guide to opossum anatomy, facts that contradict common myths about oposums, and anecdotes from the author's experience rehabilitating wild opossums"--

Letting go of God is a one-person monologue by Julia Sweeney chronicling her search for God. She rejoins the Catholic Church (the church in which she was raised and for which she is affectionate) and takes a Bible study class, which sends her in a tailspin towards Buddhism, and then various New Age gurus and finally accepting that there is no evidence for God at all. Then she deals with her family's negative reaction to her philosophical change.

An essential reference for every Dungeons & Dragons role player, this text contains rules for character creation and advancement, backgrounds and skills, exploration and combat, equipment, spells, and much more.

Most people want to avoid thinking about death, but Caitlin Doughty -- a twenty-something with a degree in medieval history and a flair for the macabre -- took a job at a crematory, turning morbid curiosity into her life's work. Thrown into a profession of gallows humor and vivid characters (both living and very dead), Caitlin learned to navigate the secretive culture of those who care for the deceased. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes tells an unusual coming-of-age...

French horn virtuoso Elsie Wyatt resents having to join her high school's marching band playing a melliphone, but finally finds a sense of belonging that transcends the pressure she has always felt to be as good as her father, principal french horn player in the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

While searching the woods that used to be their personal sanctuary, twelve-year-old Aubrey recalls the events and incidents preceding their best friend's disappearance and quietly questions their own gender identity.

A child offers advice on starting a rock band, going on tour, and leaving the audience wanting more.

"Snap's town had a witch. At least, that's how the rumor goes. But in reality, Jacks is just a crocks-wearing, internet-savvy old lady who sells roadkill skeletons online--after doing a little ritual to put their spirits to rest. It's creepy, sure, but Snap thinks it's kind of cool, too. They make a deal: Jacks will teach Snap how to take care of the baby opossums that Snap rescued, and Snap will help Jacks with her work. But as Snap starts to get...

"An illustrated guide to embracing your inner ogre and living your truth, mud, farts, and all"--