#katerecs

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Cat's Eye by Tsukasa Hojo

Stardust Family by Aki Poroyama

Nana by Ai Yazawa

The Scarlet Ship by Claire Grimond

My Life as an Internet Novel by A Hyeon and Yu Han-Ryeo

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono

Rune: The Tale of the Obsidian Maze by Carlos Sanchez

The Mafia Nanny by Violet Matter

Love4aWalk by Nuria Sanguino

Year of the Griffin by Diana Wynne Jones

We were tagged by @prettyasapic for this getting to know you meme. The other post was getting very long, so we're putting our answers on their own to save your dash. (Also, we're a whole team of reader's advisors, so we have a variety of answers for each question!)

Here we go! If you particularly like someone's answers, we've included everyone's individual rec tag in the tags - you should be able to just click it and see what they've recc'd in the past. Oh, and if anyone else wants to do this, consider yourself tagged :)

📖 Currently reading:

Anne: The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter

Jae: Dot Slash Magic by Liz Shipton

Susan: A Fountain Filled with Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming

Robin: Ash by Malinda Lo

Julie: Fela: Music is the Weapon by Jibola Fagbamiye and Conor McCreery

Kate: In Perfect Light by Benjamin Alire Sáenz and The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green (We had to ILL In Perfect Light - don't be afraid to use your library's purchase request service!)

Ashley: The Housemaid series by Freida McFadden. On book 3: The Housemaid is Watching

📺 Last series you watched:

Anne: Percy Jackson & the Olympians

Jae: Percy Jackson & the Olympians

Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say and How to Be an Ally by Emily Ladau

This book gives readers actionable steps to be an ally to the disabled community as well as how to act and what to say or not to say to disabled people. The author describes how to follow these steps in a nonjudgmental way. She realizes that everyone makes mistakes and she informs readers on terminology to use and to eliminate from your vocabulary when it comes to the disabled community.

This is a concise guide to help readers become more educated, empathetic and accepting. I highly recommend reading this book.

The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer

This book focuses on life values that align with my way of thinking, therefore I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The author explains how important it is to focus on gratitude, reciprocity and community. She uses nature based examples to explain how the natural world also lives by these values.

Other books by this author include Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants and Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses. Give this book a try if you enjoy nature and short reads.

The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work by Simone Stolzoff

This book urges readers to reclaim their lives from a work obsessed world. It suggests putting more emphasis on our lives outside of work and allowing ourselves to believe we are doing a good enough job in our work lives.

The author offers strategies for how to have a healthier relationship with work and how to have a better work-life balance. If you are struggling with burnout at your job, this book will hopefully help you realign the important things in your life and make you realize you are doing a 'good enough job' in your career.

I really enjoyed these two quotes from the book:

“You are not the work you do, you are the person you are.”

(Edited to add: This was originally said - or rather, written - by Toni Morrison in a 2017 New Yorker article titled The Work You Do, the Person You Are. It was quoted with the source in the book. Thanks to the reader who pointed out this additional context would be good to add!)

and

“A good enough job is a job that allows you to be the person you want to be.”

Here's Kate's current TBR pile:

Honey Lemon Soda (volume 3) by Mayu Murata

Taran Wanderer (book 4 of the Chronicles of Prydain) by Lloyd Alexander

Sweet Valley Twins Volume 4: The Haunted House by Nicole Andelfinger

Uprooted: A Memoir about what Happens When Your Family Moves Back by Ruth Chan

Noodle & Bao by Shaina Lu

Twenty-four Seconds from Now by Jason Reynolds

Ditching Saskia by John Moore

Thief of the Heights by Son M.

This Land is our Land: A Blue Beetle Story by Julio Anta

Girlmode by Magdalene Visaggio

The Strange Case of Harleen and Harley by Melissa Marr

Wingborn by Marjorie Liu

Full Shift by Jennifer Dugan

The Terrifying Tales of Vivian Vance by Josh Ulrich

Review by: Kate

A co-worker recommended this book to me and it did not disappoint!

This young adult graphic novel follows Emile who is a rookie in battle skating, which combines fighting your opponent while figure skating.

Emile finds out he will have to face off against the champion in battle skating and his long time idol, Radu. After the match, the two decide to start training together and a romance blossoms.

Their love story is so wholesome and cute. The illustrations in this graphic novel are great, too. I can't wait for more volumes in this series.

Check out Blades of Furry

Three manga LCPL librarian Kate recommends:

The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl by Miyuki Tonogaya

This is a very sweet adult manga about an office romance between a descendant of a snow spirit and his ordinary female colleague who is oblivious of his romantic feelings towards her. I have read up to volume 9 so far and the series is ongoing.

High School Debut by Kazune Kawahara

This teen manga series follows Haruna as she tries and fails to find love in high school. She asks to be coached in love by fellow classmate, Yoh, since he is so cool and popular. Yoh agrees reluctantly. I have read 3 volumes so far out of 15. This series is written by Kawahara Kazune who also wrote My Love Story, which is one of my favorite manga series of all time.

The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity by Saka Mikami

This teen manga series was recommended to me by my brother. I have only read one volume so far, but I can tell this is going to be a favorite series of mine! It is a love story between Rintaro and Kaoruko who attend rival high schools, one public with delinquent boys and one private with prestigious girls. This series is ongoing. I'm excited to keep reading this story.

Certainly! Here are two suggestions. If these aren't to your liking, just let us know and we'll see what else we can find for you! You can also browse our nonfiction tag for some less specific nonfiction recs and reblogs from our staff over the years.

How to Winter by Kari Leibowitz

Chris says: Leibowitz addresses several ways in which the cold and dark of winter might be better tolerated based on her research in Tromsøand other areas of the world that experience extreme winters. Though it can become repetitive, the book contains some useful strategies for changing one's mindset about the season.

The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams

Kate recommended this one back in 2022, but I'm pulling it out for your ask because it seems like a good choice for the long, dark months. Here's what Kate had to say:

Jane Goodall’s advice about the future of our world in this book is inspiring and uplifting. She makes it seem like all is not lost in the world and we still have a chance to make the world a better and healthier place to live.

I particularly enjoyed her words on the resiliency of nature and the power of the young people in our world. I highly recommend this book!

--

[ID: Covers for the 3 manga described below /ID]

Yotsuba &! by Kiyohiko Azuma (All Ages)

Youtsuba is one of the best series I've read in a long time. The series is so wholesome, charming and laugh out loud funny! I love Yotsuba and all of her shenanigans. It is a must-read manga classic! For readers of all ages.

Monster by Naoki Urasawa (Adult)

Another must-read manga classic! This nine volume series is intense, riveting and heartbreaking. Check out the anime based on the manga that was released in the early 2000s.  For adult readers. 

Sakura, Saku by Io Sakisaka (Teen and Adult)

I'm a sucker for a manga love story and this one does not disappoint. I love the characters and storyline so much and I can't wait for more volumes to be released. Perfect for fans of Ao Haru Ride; My Love Mix-Up; Living Room Matsunaga-san; Love Me, Love Me Not; and My Love Story. For teen and adult readers.