Picture this: you’ve just finished your latest read. It was perfectly engaging, you’ve fallen in love with the world and the characters, and now… it’s over, and you still want more . Sound familiar?  If so, I have some great news for you. If you loved a book and want something else like it, just come on down to the Caldwell Public Library and let us know. We’ll help you find a “readalike,” or a similar book. And in case you’d rather stay in, keep scrolling! I’ve listed a few popular titles in the Young Adult genre and my go-to readalikes for those titles. As well, at the end of this article I’ll share some information about Novelist Plus, a great free resource that can help you select your own readalikes. If you liked The Hunger Games  and Percy Jackson , try The Sunbearer Trials Readers of the ever-popular The Hunger Games  trilogy by Suzanne Collins and Percy Jackson  series by Rick Riordan might find their newest great reads in   The Sunbearer Trials  and Celestial Monsters   by Aiden Thomas. Inspired by Mexican folklore and fantasy, this duology follows teenage semidioses (demi-gods) who compete in dangerous, nail-biting challenges to select the next Sunbearer. Full of rich mythological references, charming found family dynamics, and exciting action, The Sunbearer Trials  is perfect for any teen who’s read Collins and Riordan but wants more. If you liked Heartstopper and Fangirl , try Radio Sil ence Watchers of the hit Netflix show Heartstopper might know it is based on a graphic novel series , but did you know the author of those graphic novels, Alice Oseman, has also written several prose YA novels? Following the budding friendship of a teenage fan artist and the boy whose fantasy podcast inspires her art, Radio Silence   blends the Heartstopper world and its sweet, earnest feel with an exploration of fan culture and fame that’s reminiscent of Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl . If you liked these recommendations, try Novelist Plus If you want a readalike but the above books aren’t quite your cup of tea, check out Novelist Plus! This amazing digital resource is free for Idaho residents, and makes finding your next great read intuitive and quick from the comfort of your own home. To access it, you can follow this link , then scroll down and click on the icon that says Novelist Plus. You’ll need to enter your city, zip code, and the name of your library. Sort books by mood, age, genre, and all kinds of other attributes to find your next read, and use the Readalikes feature to find similar books once you’ve finished something you loved. You can find Readalikes for any book on the right side of your screen while on the book's page.

To read this blog post in English, click here ¿Sabía que la Biblioteca Pública de Caldwell ofrece materiales que no son en inglés? Tenemos libros para niños en varios idiomas: inglés, español, mandarín, francés, árabe y braille. Para los adultos, tenemos una sección robusta de libros en español que incluye libros de ficción y no ficción. Algunos de estos libros fueron escritos originalmente en español, mientras que otros han sido traducidos del inglés. Hoy quiero destacar algunos de mis materiales favoritos en español que están disponibles de las bibliotecas del consorcio LYNX , y sus traducciones al inglés.  Crónica de una muerte anunciada   (Chronicle of a Death Foretold)   Como uno de los grandes literarios de la lengua española, el autor colombiano Gabriel García Márquez tiene una extensa obra que incluye cuentos, novelas y novelas cortas. Esta novela corta, Crónica de una muerte anunciada , fue traducida en inglés como Chronicle of a Death Foretold . Contada a través de una narrativa no lineal y narrada por un narrador anónimo, la novela corta sigue el asesinato del personaje Santiago Nasar a manos de otros dos habitantes del pueblo, los hermanos Vicario. García Márquez combina elementos de la novela criminal con elementos de la ficción literaria: a diferencia de las novelas policíacas típicas, los personajes no se enfocan en investigar la muerte. El título y el texto reflejan que la muerte ha sido prevista por todo el pueblo; en este caso, el misterio es por qué los habitantes no estaban dispuestos a evitar el asesinato. Con el tema tenso, la trama de ritmo rápido, y la prosa cuidadosamente elaborada de García Márquez, esta novela corta seguramente le entretendrá… pero también le hará pensar. Las cosas que perdimos en el fuego   (Things We Lost in the Fire) Esta colección de cuentos por la autora y editora argentina Mariana Enríquez a menudo se categoriza en el género de horror y se compara con las obras de autoras como Carmen Maria Machado ( Her Body and Other Parties ) y Shirley Jackson (“ The Lottery ”). Ambientados en la Argentina contemporánea, los cuentos no dudan en incluir los pilares del horror como la violencia y la rareza. Sin embargo, hay algo especulativo sobre muchos de estos cuentos. Para mí, el horror en las obras de Enríquez no viene solamente de lo violento y grotesco, sino también de su tratamiento de la feminidad, seguridad y pobreza. El cuento “Las cosas que perdimos en el fuego” es lo más destacado de la colección para mí, seguido de cerca por “El chico sucio” y “Fin de curso.” Biutiful (2010) Esta película, dirigida por el cineasta mexicano Alejandro G. Iñárritu y protagonizada por el actor español Javier Bardem, se describe como un drama psicológico. Sigue Uxbal, quien es padre soltero y se gana la vida procurando trabajo para un grupo de inmigrantes indocumentados chinos en Barcelona. Cuando se le diagnostica cáncer, Uxbal busca arreglar sus asuntos antes de su muerte, pero su mundo comienza a derrumbarse en una serie de tragedias. Aunque la trama de la película a menudo es violenta y solemne, también es una exploración hermosa de la paternidad, el compromiso y la manera en que luchamos con y contra la muerte. Las copias disponibles a través del consorcio LYNX destacan el audio original (español con algún diálogo en catalán) e incluyen subtítulos opcionales en inglés y español.

Para leer esta entrada en español, haga clic aquí Did you know the Caldwell Public Library offers materials in more languages than just English? We have children’s books in several languages: English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, French, Arabic, and Braille. For adult books, we have a robust Spanish-language section, with fiction and nonfiction books either originally written in Spanish or translated from the English. Today I want to highlight a few of my favorite Spanish-language materials that are carried by libraries in the LYNX consortium , as well as their English-language translations. Crónica de una muerte anunciada   (Chronicle of a Death Foretold) As one of the literary greats of the Spanish language, Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez has an extensive body of work that includes short stories, novels, and novellas. This novella,  Crónica de una muerte anunciada , was translated to the English as Chronicle of a Death Foretold . Told through a nonlinear narrative by an anonymous narrator, the story follows the murder of character Santiago Nasar at the hands of two other townspeople, the Vicario brothers. García Márquez blends elements of crime fiction with elements of literary fiction: unlike traditional detective stories, the characters don’t focus on investigating the murder. The title and text reflect that the murder had been foreseen widely throughout the town; in this case, the mystery is why the townspeople were not willing or able to prevent it. With the tense subject matter, the fast-paced plot, and García Márquez’s typical carefully-crafted prose, this novella is sure to entertain… but also to make you think.  Las cosas que perdimos en el fuego  (Things We Lost in the Fire) This short story collection by Argentinian writer and editor Mariana Enríquez is often categorized as horror and compared to works by such writers as Carmen Maria Machado ( Her Body and Other Parties ) and Shirley Jackson (“ The Lottery ”). Set in contemporary Argentina, they are not afraid to include typical pillars of horror such as violence, weirdness, and the macabre. However, there’s also something speculative about many of these stories. For me, the horror in Enríquez’s works comes not only from the violent and the grotesque, but also from the way she treats questions of womanhood, safety, and poverty. The titular “Things We Lost in the Fire” is the highlight of the collection for me, followed closely by “The Dirty Kid” and “End of Term.” Biutiful (2010) This movie, directed by Mexican filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu and featuring Spanish actor Javier Bardem, is described as a psychological drama. It follows Uxbal, who is a single father and earns a living procuring work for a group of undocumented immigrants to Barcelona from China. When Uxbal is diagnosed with cancer, he seeks to settle his affairs before his death, but his world begins to collapse around him as he falls into tragedy after tragedy. Though the movie’s plot is often gruesome and usually solemn, it is also a beautiful exploration of fatherhood, commitment, and the way we grapple with and against death. The copies available through the LYNX consortium feature the original audio (in Spanish with some dialogue in Catalan) and include optional subtitles in Spanish and English.

At the end of just about every year, I make a New Year’s resolution that in the next year I will read more. Occasionally I stick to that resolution (starting my library job in 2024 helped me read so much more this year!), but often my interest falls away at the end of the winter, replaced by excitement for spring and all that comes with it in the Treasure Valley.  This year, to combat the late-winter reading slump blues, I’ve decided to make a list of some of the most anticipated releases of 2025 for myself and a few of my coworkers. I’m hoping that, when I’m inevitably bored with my To-Be-Read list in March, I’ll be able to pull this list back out and find something that will inspire me to read again… if only because it just came out! Witchcraft for Wayward Girls  by Grady Hendrix Expected January 14, 2025 - Recommended by Shelly and Virginia Releasing just two weeks into January, the newest novel by horror and fantasy writer Grady Hendrix features a witchy take on a chilling historical setting. The protagonists are teenaged, unwed, and pregnant—so they have been sent to the Wellwood Home to wait out the pregnancies and ultimately surrender their babies for adoption. However, upon receiving a book about witchcraft and the occult from a librarian, the girls find themselves saddled with the immense strength (and burden) of having real, intense power, many of them for the first time in their lives.  Because it releases just two weeks into the New Year, you can place a hold on Witchcraft for Wayward Girls  now . If you’re interested in learning more about the historical precedent behind Hendrix’s setting in the meantime, take a look at The Girls Who Went Away , a nonfiction book by Ann Fessler about real-life maternity homes. Onyx Storm  by Rebecca Yarros Expected January 21, 2025 - Recommended by Virginia and Heather The highly-awaited third installment of Rebecca Yarros’ viral Empyrean series arrives just three weeks into the New Year. Starring a high-fantasy world full of peril and dragons as well as a strong, confident female protagonist, Onyx Storm  will surely be a hit with fans of Fourth Wing . Among those who haven’t yet read Yarros’ works, the series might appeal to fans of the new adult and romantasy (high fantasy romance) genres. Its fame among TikTok influencers who post about reading—BookTokers—has created a strong fanbase, one which will certainly only grow as the series continues and protagonist Violet’s story develops. You can place a hold on it now—and, while you wait for your copy to arrive, refresh yourself on the setting and story so far with a reread of   Fourth Wing or Iron Flame . Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection  by John Green  Expected March 18, 2025 - Recommended by Erica For those readers who know Green as the author of Young Adult hit novels The Fault in Our Stars , Looking for Alaska , and Turtles All The Way Down , hearing this title may come as a bit of a surprise. After all, this is an adult nonfiction book—one that promises to weave together the history of human responses to the deadly, yet preventable disease with the story of one contemporary individual it’s affected. It’s a lofty goal, but Green is well-prepared. His first foray into nonfiction, a 2021 essay collection, was praised by critics and readers alike. As well, Green’s recent philanthropic work has contributed to a 20% decrease in the cost of rapid test kits for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the US, and the increased availability of generic versions of tuberculosis-fighting antibiotics in low- and middle-income countries. Find out more about his tuberculosis activism in this article from the New York Times , which you can read for free with your library card . While you wait for the March release date, check out Green’s essay collection The Anthropocene Reviewed  or YA hit The Fault in our Stars . Sunrise on the Reaping  by Suzanne Collins  Expected March 18, 2025 - Recommended by Erica With Sunrise on the Reaping , Collins returns to the dystopian setting of Panem for the first time since 2020. This prequel, Collins’ second in the universe, promises to follow the story of the 50th Hunger Games, which was won by District Twelve’s Haymitch Abernathy—a name that fans of the original trilogy will certainly recognize. Though there are references in the original trilogy to Haymitch’s Games, Sunrise on the Reaping  seems to be a promising deep-dive into Haymitch’s character, his Games, and the story of how he went from a handsome, popular young man to the traumatized, cynical alcoholic we meet in The Hunger Games.  The movie rights to an adaptation of Sunrise on the Reaping  have been acquired by Lionsgate, with a release date of November 20, 2026. Catch up on Panem’s past by reading or watching The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes , or refresh yourself on what follows Haymitch’s story by returning to the original trilogy .  The End of the World As We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King's The Stand , edited by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene Expected August 19, 2025 - Recommended by Todd Stephen King is among the most prolific and well-known writers of the modern age. Many of his 65 novels and novellas are household names, having sold millions of copies and (in many cases) having been adapted for screen. This collection expands on the universe of one of King’s earliest but best-recieved novels,   The Stand , and includes short stories that are written by a variety of authors and set in the same world. King has written the introduction, and each short story promises a new perspective on the pandemic-ridden, post-apocalyptic setting of The Stand —some set during the pandemic, some after.  Refresh yourself on the original novel , or check out some of King’s other works , in anticipation of the collection’s August release.

Since starting in the Youth Services department here at the Caldwell Public Library, I’ve made a shift in my own reading habits to include more books written for children. Of course, this helps me recommend books for our young patrons and understand what the world of kids’ literature is like right now. However, I’ve also noticed that a lot of the middle-grade novels I’ve read have significant appeal outside their intended audience range, too. I encourage my fellow adults not to overlook children’s books when looking for our next great reads. When we do, we’re really missing out! Next time you’re here, stop into our Kids & Family area and take a look. If you’re stuck, our friendly Youth Services staff would be happy to help recommend something for you. Here are a few recent releases I’ve read and loved to help you get started! Spelling It Out by Margaret Finnegan Spelling It Out by Margaret Finnegan Spelling It Out follows likable young Ben Bellini's experience staying with his grandmother during the summer before seventh grade. After placing twelfth in the 1985 Southern California regional spelling bee, Ben convinces his parents to let him spend the summer with his Nan in San Francisco studying for the next year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee. However, when he arrives, he sees that not everything is what it seemed: Nan is acting strange, studying is harder than he thought, and his coach is a bit of a jerk. He befriends a fellow Scripps hopeful, Asha Krishnakumar, and has a whirlwind of a summer. I found Spelling It Out to be a great read, even if it feels a bit wild to me that the main character in a "historical fiction" book is going to the theatre to see the first Back To The Future as it releases! I loved the way Finnegan presents San Francisco in this era, and Ben is easy to root for as he zips around town meeting all kinds of people and learning from them. The novel’s themes are broad: Ben ponders the concept of boyhood, grapples with independence, and meets all kinds of new people who open up his worldview. For kids, Spelling It Out is recommended for grades 3-7, and I particularly think students undergoing the transition from elementary to middle school will resonate with Ben. I also highly recommend this title for all adults, though you might especially like it if you came of age in the eighties. Operation Kinderspion series: Max in the House of Spies and Max in the Land of Lies by Adam Gidwitz The first of the two Operation Kinderspion books, Max in the House of Spies In this duology, we meet tweenage Max Bretzfeld, who’s coming of age with his parents in Berlin during the rise of Nazi Germany. Max’s family is Jewish, and his parents, anticipating danger, have arranged to send him to London through what we now know as the Kindertransport rescue effort. Despite knowing it’d be perilous to stay in Germany, Max loves Berlin. It’s the only home he’s ever known, and in London he misses his parents terribly. He develops a plan to get back to his beloved parents: he’ll convince the British military to send him to Berlin and spy for the Allies. After all, who’d suspect a tween boy of espionage? The fast-paced plot and adventurous tone make this duology unputdownable… and did I mention Max’s magical shoulder companions, a kobold and a dybbuk named Berg and Stein? Max’s adventures require a bit of suspension of disbelief, especially from adult readers. However, I quickly became enchanted by Max’s stubborn go-getter attitude. I resonated with him in a lot of ways and appreciated getting a new perspective on the events of World War II. Of course, it was safer for Jewish children to leave Germany, but watching Max fight so hard for his family and home reminded me that every historical statistic hides the complex details of the lives it counts. Berg and Stein were a fascinating narrative choice, too, filling the role of shoulder angel figures but taken from Jewish and German folklore. The duology is recommended for grades 3-6. The second book especially deals with very grown-up concepts in a sensitive, kid-friendly way. I’d recommend the duology for anyone age 9 or older, and adults who enjoyed history class or like spy stories might really love this one. Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson Elsbeth Culpepper is thirteen and living through the American Revolution. We meet her in the spring of 1776 as the Patriots try to push the Loyalists out of Boston. In modern perception, a thirteen-year-old is much too young to hold full-time work... but when Elsbeth’s father goes missing after the Siege of Boston and smallpox sweeps through the city, she begins work as a house servant for a local upper-class family. Immune from smallpox after having it as a child, Elsbeth bonds with the family she works for and especially with the headstrong teenage girl, Hannah, who has been placed in their care. All the while, she must navigate the difficulties that come from a subpar employment situation, on top of working to figure out what has happened to her father. Rebellion 1776 is narrated in readable prose that includes period-typical vocabulary, and I often found myself giggling at the funny insults used in the Revolutionary era. Anderson’s meticulously-researched setting and details added a lot to an already gripping story. It is recommended for grades 4-7, and as a bit of a longer novel with some distinctly-1770s quirks to the narration, I'd say that’s about right. There are also some descriptions of sickness that might gross younger readers out. As for the adults, I think it is perfect for anyone who’s enjoyed Anderson’s Chains or Fever 1793 , or anyone with an interest in early American history. The Chapter Books section in the CPL Kids and Family area My takeaways from reading more middle grade fiction? I've been pleasantly surprised by how relatable I have found the protagonists, and how much I resonate with their experiences. Ben's finding his footing away from his parents for the first time, which I feel deeply, having recently graduated from college. Max loves his family and home so much, similar to how I find strong senses of comfort and community here in the Treasure Valley. And Elsbeth's story resonates too, from mentorships-turned-friendships to first "grown-up" jobs. Kids worry about a lot of the same things adults do, and go through a lot of the same experiences, too. Children's literature recognizes those worries and experiences. It validates young readers, takes grown-ups back to their own childhoods... and invites us to remember that we aren't so different from kids after all.

I hear families coming into the kids’ section nearly every day excited to check out books about dinosaurs, the Titanic, or Minecraft, among other fascinating non-fiction subjects.... but sometimes those smiles dim as they approach our non-fiction shelves and find themselves confronted by books in a seemingly random order. Of course, I’ve gotten very good at answering the age-old question: “Where are your dinosaur books?” Annoyingly, there isn’t a good short answer to give kids who ask that question, because the short answer is, “The dinosaur books are in the 567s,” and of course that raises a whole bunch of new questions: "Where are the 567s? What are the 567s? What about the 566s and 568s? What are all these numbers doing in a library? I don’t want to have to do math! I just want a T. Rex book!" "I don't want to do math! I just want a T. Rex book!" In Amherst, MA, you can find this gorgeous church, the Emily Dickinson residence (now a museum) , the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art , and the library where the Dewey Decimal System was developed . If you were there between 2021 and 2024, you could have found me, too! And when I hear those questions, I say… Let me introduce you to a fun little thing called the Dewey Decimal System.  It's a classification scheme which establishes an order for the placement of nonfiction books on library shelves. It was developed nearly a century and a half ago by Melvil Dewey, who at the time was working at the Amherst College library in Amherst, Massachusetts. Coincidentally, I did my undergrad about a mile and a half from there, but spent all three years unaware of all the library history that surrounded me in that town… I was really missing out. Check it out for me, if you're ever there? Anyway, Dewey published his classification system in a pamphlet in 1876, back when that was how cool new ideas were shared. Imagine what he could have done with a TikTok account and a smartphone ring light! Over the next few decades his system caught on, and today it is the most widely-used library organization system in the world. The basic premise of the Dewey Deci mal System is that each book gets a number according to the discipline or field of study it falls into, and then libraries shelve books in that order for ease of browsing. There are ten classes, which determine the number in the hundreds’ place—so we have 000s, 100s, 200s, and so on to the 900s. Each class is divided into 10 divisions (so, the 100s, 110s, 120s...) and then the divisions are divided even further into sections (120, 121, 122 and so on). For further detail, a cataloger might add a decimal point and any amount of trailing numbers to clarify. For example, we have a book about T. Rex in the kids’ section by Natalie Lunis, called A T. Rex Named Sue: Sue Hendrickson's Huge Discovery . Its call number—the combination of numbers, letters, and words on a sticker on its spine—is J 567.9129 LUNIS. At first that sounds like gibberish, right? Let me explain. Found a dino book! The J in this call number indicates that it is in our “juvenile” collection: it's a kids’ book. The inclusion of the author’s last name, LUNIS, helps to distinguish it from other books with the same subject, which might have the same Dewey number. And speaking of that numerical monstrosity, we can dissect 567.912 as follows:  500 Science 560 Fossils & Prehistoric Life 567 Fossil cold-blooded vertebrates 567.9 Reptilia 567.91 Dinosaurs, by family 567.912 Saurischia 567.9129 Tyrannosaurus As you can see, the addition of decimal points allows us to get super specific about the subjects of books. This helps, for example, when a reader is looking for one particular book, but is open to reading other books about that subject as well. Someone might ask me for A T. Rex Named Sue , and if it’s not checked in, I can still show them where it would be shelved and many of the books near it will also be about dinosaurs. “Okay, Erica,” I hear you saying now. “I get that the numbers are useful, and I kinda get the concept of how they work, but how do I know where to start finding books about trains? LEGO? The National Hockey League? Greek mythology?!” There are a lot of gray areas and how a book is catalogued can be pretty subjective, so the catalog computer is a big help (as is your local librarian!). As a start, here are the disciplines / fields of study covered by each Dewey class. And because I can’t resist sharing my favorite books, I’m also going to recommend a book from each Dewey class. Behold! Erica’s Crash Course: Dewey Decimal System  reading list! (Unlike our Summer Reading Challenge , this challenge has no prize... but if you read them all, I will give you a crisp high five and my everlasting respect and appreciation.) 000s: Computer science, information, & general works 027.4794 ORLEAN: The Library Book by Susan Orlean 100s: Philosophy & psychology J 155.433 ZELINGE: A Smart Girl's Guide to Liking Herself -- Even on the Bad Days by Laurie E. Zelinger 200s: Religion J 201.3 WILLIAM: Amazing Immortals: A Guide to Gods and Goddesses Around the World by Dinah Williams 300s: Social Sciences 370.9 EWING: Ghosts in the Schoolyard: Racism and School Closings on Chicago's South Side by Eve L. Ewing 400s: Language 409 DOREN: Babel: Around the World in Twenty Languages by Gaston Dorren 500s: Science J 540.92 MARSHAL: Sisters in Science: Marie Curie, Bronia Dluska, and the Atomic Power of Sisterhood by Linda Elovitz Marshall 600s: Technology 636.8 SHAW: Cats of the World by Hannah Rene Shaw 700s: Arts & Recreation 794 EVANS: The World of Minecraft: A Visual History of the Global Phenomenon by Edwin Evans-Thirlwell 800s: Literature 814.6 GREEN: The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green 900s: History & Geography J 940.5486 FLEMING: The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II by Candace Fleming Bonus!! 921: Biography J 921 DEWEY ONEILL: The Efficient, Inventive (Often Annoying) Melvil Dewey by Alexis O’Neill

The Caldwell Public Library is excited to introduce our newest digital resource, hoopla! Hoopla  is a digital content platform for libraries, much like Overdrive/Libby . Just like those platforms, you can borrow eBooks, audio books, magazines, and comics/manga directly to your phone, tablet, or computer. But hoopla  also offers music, TV, and movie streaming all for free under one convenient app. The only card number you have to put in to access everything is the one on your library card! The TV and movie selection is excellent and one of the main reasons we wanted to offer the service. With the ubiquitous use of streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus, it was important to us that we offer a convenient and modern method of video lending to supplement our physical collection of DVDs and Blu-rays. Afterall, a library isn't just a repository of books, but a free access point for all sorts of media and art. Not only does it greatly expand the number of titles we can offer because we're not bound by shelf space, but it allows us to offer some older or more obscure titles that would simply not be possible to circulate physically. But how does it work? Hoopla  titles are instant access. Unlike Libby , which treats most titles like physical items and limits access to one patron at a time, hoopla offers simultaneous access. Basically, you're given seven lending credits every month which you can choose to use as you see fit. Hoopla can be accessed on PC or via an Android  or iOS  app. Many standalone streaming devices are also supported including Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung TV, Roku , and Chromecast. Multiple devices can be logged into from the same account, and there’s a kid's mode that limits content access behind a PIN. Hoopla is an excellent addition to our digital collection that has something for everyone. Often, if it's not on Libby, it's on hoopla . Sign in, borrow something new, and find out what all the hoopla is about!

Welcome to Summer! Where the weather is hot and so is our summer reading program! I wanted to get some information out about how our summer reading program works and answer a few common questions as well! Q: Is the program only for kids or certain ages? A. Nope! This is for ALL ages! Adults and Teens included! Q: How exactly does the program work? A: During the summer months, you set a goal for each day. This can be a chapter, an hour of reading; any goal that pushes you to read more during the summer, AND we will give you a NEW book to start with! Each day you complete the goal; you mark off a splash spot on your tracking log. After 15 days, you can come in to receive your Half-way Prize , and at the end of 30 days, receive your Completion Prize! Summer Reading Log Q: What if my kids aren't old enough to read on their own yet? A: No worries! Reading to your kiddos counts! It counts for both their reading log and yours! Q: I'm not really the best reader, but I do like audiobooks, does that work for goal setting? A: Yes! Reading comes in all forms! You can set goals with audiobooks as well! Q: Can I read books that aren't designated for my age range? Or pick prize books that aren't for my age range? A: Yes! we have categorized books and prizes by suggested age range, but we recognize there is a lot of crossovers with both prize books and raffle prizes. Q: Hold up, there's a raffle? A: Yes! When you sign up you receive a raffle ticket, as well as at the halfway mark, completion, and at our summer reading specials on Wednesday mornings and Monday evenings. Below are just some of our June prizes! Our first raffle drawing will be June 30th, and we will have a second drawing for more prizes at the end of July. Here's a look at just some of the fabulous raffle prizes! Q: Is there a different tracker for different age ranges? A: No, the same tracker is used for all ages; very easy and user friendly for everyone. You can also track online with Beanstack . Q: Can I sign up my kids or family members if they are not in person with me? A: We discourage this as it makes book selection and sign-up statistics more difficult. We want every individual to be able pick a book that they love! Q: Can I sign up and then come back later to choose my book? A: I would advise you to come when you have at least 20 minutes to choose a book - you may not need all 20 minutes, but we will not award books at a later time . You may also browse some of our available titles ahead of time on LibraryThing . Keep in mind, our inventory changes rapidly. Q: How exactly does this work for adults, or why are adults included? This seems like it should be geared towards children. A: I can understand how a reading program can seem geared towards children, although, there are so many benefits behind adults reading as well. Reading is a proven stress reliever and lowers blood pressure. Reading helps protect against reduced memory, reasoning, learning, and attention. Reading regularly is linked to longevity with life and health overall. Reading increases your skills in empathy and communication, as well as improving mental strength. Reading is also a way to set a foundation with your family, spend time with them, and we want to incentivize reading for adults as well. Q: What if I miss a day for my daily goals I've set? A: It's okay! The goals are NOT consecutive days, just days that you complete them! Q: If I set a goal for a chapter a day, and I read 2 chapters in a day, does that mean I can mark off more than 1 spot? A: Unfortunately, it is a maximum of 1 spot to mark off per day. Q: This sounds great! So where do I sign up? A: You can sign up in person at the library or online at: SUMMER READING | Caldwell Public Library | United States Shoot us a comment if you have any other questions and we look forward to having you join us for Summer Reading!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it feels like something we should talk about more openly and honestly. I’ve come to realize that everyone—and I mean everyone —is fighting battles we often know nothing about. As a society, we've not always been welcoming to the idea of discussing our struggles, seeking help, or even learning the basic tools to cope with mental health challenges. The good news is, we’ve come a long way. Today, there are more resources than ever before. Support systems, therapy options, and communities exist to help us find structure, healing, and a way back to ourselves when life becomes overwhelming. There’s no universal roadmap for life. No rulebook says you need to be at a certain place, act a certain way, or achieve specific things to be loved, accepted, or supported. Wherever you are in your journey, please remember: you are not alone. People care. Help is out there. I've included some books that have really helped me realize that it's okay to not be okay sometimes, and some additional resources below: Where to start : a survival guide to anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges But what will people say?: navigating mental health, identity, love, and family between cultures Are u ok?: a guide to caring for your mental health The hilarious world of depression National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

In the last year or so I've read some excellent books and discovered some new favorite authors . These are not those books. While I didn't hate the experience of reading any of these titles, I can't recommend them to anyone. Salvation Day Terrorists kidnap a group of privileged young adults in order to hijack a ghost ship with a horrific past. Sounds cool right? Tired plot, okay characters, and trite horror themes drag the experience down. Alright, that's probably a bit harsh. The author works hard to build rounded and believable characters and a near future sci/fi setting that feels real and lived in, but we spend more time rehashing every character's tragic past than we do advancing anything of interest in the narrative. I think this book could work, but it doesn't do anything to distinguish itself or innovate. Ringworld The 1970 Nebula Award winning sci-fi novel featuring the titular mega-structure that would inspire the Halo series , Larry Niven's Ringworld is a more interesting concept than it is novel. Populated with flat, uninteresting characters that are annoying at the best of times, Ringworld's explorers are frequently reduced to singular personality traits; the feline alien is always aggressive, the four-legged herbivore is constantly cowedly, and our main human protagonist is an arrogant misogynist. There's a lot of fun to be had as our unlikely crew journeys across the ring encountering strange flora, fauna, and ominous ruins. Unfortunately, the novel lacks a compelling narrative, and a lot of the plot feels like aimless filler. I can see the appeal, but this is one classic I'd leave on the shelf. The Pink Agave Motel: and other Stories I'll bail on a book. If I'm not feeling it, I won't finish it, and I almost quit on this one. The book opens with a collection of hit or miss short stories before it gets to the meat and potatoes, The Pink Agave Motel itself. Forget about a plot synopsis because I can't recall much happening other than our main character pining over some dude we know nothing about. The content here is not for the faint of heart, but the shock value of many of the stories feels cliche and tired. There are some really unique ideas sprinkled throughout, but all in all much of the book reads like bad fan fiction complete with editing issues and typos. Wake up and open your eyes I'm still torn on this book. I really want to like Wake up and open your eyes but the disjointed structure and shifting perspective are making that hard. Widespread demonic possession through things like sensationalized 24hr news networks, mommy bloggers and health influencers, social media, and even viral children's songs is a really cool and creepy idea. However, what we end up with is a story without much direction that kills off nearly every character by the end. The author makes some prescient points about our relationship to modern media, but it never crystalizes into a compelling theme. I still enjoyed this book more than the others on this list for what it's worth.

I’ve always been someone who feels things deeply; I used to think it was a curse to be more sensitive than others, but I did eventually find my people, and honestly, my people were poets. What started in grade school with Dr. Suess continued into middle school with Shel Silverstein, and Shel Silverstein turned into Shakespeare and Edgar Allen Poe in high school. From there my love for poetry branched out to Mary Oliver, Maya Angelou, Olivia Gatwood, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, John Keats, Robert Frost, Walt Whitman, Margaret Atwood, Emily Dickenson and the list goes on. I have come to understand that poetry feels like it’s not for everyone, but the truth is, it is for everyone. We all need connection, a place of understanding, validation, relatability, and someone to tug at our heart strings on occasion and to essentially say, “I get it, and I’m here”. I get excited each April to see not only the resources and expressive ways to showcase poetry, but a chance to again dive into my favorites and share them with the world. So much of our culture is deeply rooted in poetry and we don’t even know it. When we see a cartoon or sitcom where someone says “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways”, that beautiful sentiment is just the opening line of the poem: “How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)” from Elizabeth Barrett Browning in 1845. If you thought the opening line was beautiful, the rest of the Sonnet speaks of a love that feels like it doesn’t exist in this world. Robert Frost taught us to go against the grain and take the road less traveled. Maya Angelou taught us to still rise when the world is cruel and beats us down. Mary Oliver reminds us to slow down, appreciate a summer day and to ponder what we want to do with our one wild and precious life. Langston Hughes inspires us to hold on to our dreams. And Edgar Allan Poe? Well, he’s just a genius with his prose. There’s poetry for everyone. There are even books on how to read poetry, understand poetry, and how to write poetry. Some of my favorites are listed below. I have also included a quick poem I wrote about my love of poetry books! See? Poetry is for everyone!   The Poetry of Robert Frost: The Collected Poems How to Read a Poem: and Fall in Love with Poetry 100 Essential Modern Poems by Women Writing Personal Poetry: Creating Poems from your life experiences You can learn more about National Poetry Month here: www.poets.org "Books about poetry, pages unfold, Stories of words, both timid and bold. They whisper of muses, of thoughts unspoken, Of dreams and desires, or hearts broken.  In their spines, a world takes flight, Of rhyme and verse, of day and night. Each book a portal, a journey, a key, Unlocking the soul, setting it free.  So come find a friend, come heal your heart, Visiting those feelings that tear you apart. Need someone to understand? No need to look, Everything you need is in a poetry book."

The party gasped as the Wizard's Illumination spell cast a brilliant light into the oppressive gloom of the dungeon's once splendid throne room. The Thief let out a slow admiring whistle, "there it is!" The thick, stale air carried ominous notes of brimstone and blood as the Half-Orc barbarian approached the dusty bones of the once proud king, his steadfast hand reaching slowly for the glittering crown adorning the ancient skull. "Roll for initiative", declared the GM as the great stone doors slammed shut behind them and something deeper in the darkness of the room growled. Tabletop role-playing games have been capturing adventurous minds of all ages for more than fifty years. A lot has changed since Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson published the first edition of Dungeons & Dragons way back in 1974 . What hasn't changed is the genre's ability to foster imagination, collaboration, and good ol' fashioned fun. Getting into table-top games can seem overwhelming with the multitude of different systems, campaigns, and various manuals for players and GMs. But TTRPGs at their core require little more than pen, paper, and dice once the general rules of a system are understood. There are many different TTRPG game systems but the most popular two are Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder . Both games play very similarly and have many published campaigns or adventures for players to take on. One player takes on the role of the Dungeon Master (DM) or Game Master (GM), while the others play adventuring characters within the game world. The GM guides the events of the game within the world, including things like monster encounters, non-playable character interactions, and quests for the party members to engage with. For a starting group, there are three recommended types of books within each system that will guide play and help everyone learn the rules. These are commonly a GM guide , Player guide , and a campaign to play. Between the two rule books and campaign, the group has everything necessary to run a game. However, Dungeons & Dragons has a few excellent "starter sets", that include the basic rules, a short adventure, character sheets, and even all the dice necessary for a small group to play conveniently combined into a box set. There's no easier way to get started! Aspiring adventures need look no further than the library to start their quest. We carry many of the necessary rule books for the common game systems as well as books on campaigns, monster manuals, world building, character creation, and much more! We even have one of those nifty starter sets I talked about earlier. There's also a lot of free content online for the major game systems including some simplified versions for younger players and even a completely free game system called Basic Fantasy . Happy adventuring!