Arlington Public Library

News

New March Releases

March is here and that means another month of new book 📖 releases!

Find out how a teen discovers that her family is in the mafia, get inside the brains of four senior assassins who solve a murder and learn how the community of Batavia, New York fought corporate greed to save their minor league baseball team.

Good Stab is a Blackfeet vampire seeking revenge for the atrocities committed against his people. "The Buffalo Hunter Hunter" by Stephen Graham Jones layers narratives over a century, combining historical events with chilling horror while examining themes of identity, guilt and survival.

Retired assassins Billie, Helen, Mary Alice and Natalie are once again pulled back into the game. "Kills Well with Others," Deanna Raybourn’s exhilarating and darkly funny sequel to "Killers of a Certain Age," uncovers a revenge plot tied to a decades-old mission stretching back to WWII.

When Major League Baseball eliminated 42 minor league teams in 2020, the community of Batavia, New York didn’t let go of their beloved Muckdogs without a fight. They revived the team as a summer league for college players and in "Homestand," journalist Will Bardenwerper captures the eccentric fans, passionate locals and the bittersweet clash between corporate greed and grassroots love for the game in small town America.

Historian and herbalist Charlotte Taylor Fryar uses the Potomac River as a lens to explore America’s racial and colonial past, highlighting gentrification, environmental degradation and systemic inequality. "Potomac Fever" is both a love letter to the river and a sharp critique of American myth.

Middle-grade readers will be drawn to "Whale Eyes," a memoir by James Robinson, illustrated by Brian Rea. The interactive visuals and imaginative design—with changing fonts and words traveling across the page requiring the book to be physically turned on its side and upside down—portray Robinson’s life with strabismus, a condition that affects eye alignment and perception.

Teen readers will be swept up in the action-packed enemies-to-lovers mafia romance, "In the Company of Killers" by Elora Cook. When Tasha’s father and sister are murdered, she discovers that she’s inherited control of New York’s most powerful mob family, but to find the killer, she must team up with Leo, her former best friend and heir to a rival family.

Place Your Holds Now!

More Book Lists to Explore

Diane's 2025 Picks
Recent Irish Fiction

The Friendly Cab Company

In 1947, Ralph Collins started a cab company to help his neighbors get around under Jim Crow segregation. It was one of the longest-running businesses in Green Valley.

Ralph Collins walking with his wife, Cornelia in the 1940s.

Ralph Collins with his wife Cornelia, ca. 1940s. From WETA’s Boundary Stones.

There were plenty of ways to get around Arlington in the 1940s. By then, streetcars had given way to bus routes and taxi cabs. As automobile ownership increased, so did commuter culture and the rise of numerous highways such as Shirley Highway (I-395 today).

But it was not so easy for Black Arlingtonians to get where they needed to go. Under Jim Crow, they were discriminated against on public transit and barred from using white taxi services. Segregation ruled every aspect of public life, from restaurants to barber shops and recreation centers.

Even access to medical care was separate and unequal. Arlington Hospital (now Virginia Medical Center) had segregated wards, and services to Black patients were limited. The maternity ward would not offer care to Black mothers, who were expected to travel to hospitals in Washington, D.C., or Alexandria to give birth.

For Black Arlingtonians, traveling that far in a medical emergency was difficult, especially since many could not afford cars of their own.

In 1947, Ralph Delaware Collins (1896–1951) of Green Valley founded Friendly Cab Company to help address this urgent need. It began as a shuttle service, transporting neighbors to and from medical appointments. Over time, Friendly Cab expanded into a full-service taxicab company and a cherished community institution.

Friendly Cab driver Granderson O. Bollock.

Friendly Cab driver Granderson O. Bollock. From RG 338: The Personal Papers of Birdie and Mable Alston, 1905-2019.

The company’s first taxis were Chryslers and many of the drivers were off-duty Black firemen. One early driver for Friendly Cab was Granderson O. Bullock (1910-2003). He worked as a milkman before becoming a part-time driver. He also worked for The Peyton Funeral Home and later, the U.S. postal service.

Friendly Cab gained a reputation for going above and beyond in their service to the community. In a Northern Virginia Sun article from 1965, Alice Kennard, who suffered from multiple sclerosis, praised the drivers of Friendly Cab Company for always getting her to her treatments, even if that meant "the driver picked her up and carried her to the cab.”

A newspaper clip from the Northern Virginia Sun about the Friendly Cab Company.

“Life in a Wheelchair Temporary, She Says,” by Virginia Warren. Northern Virginia Sun, vol. 28, no. 207, June 4, 1965.

After Ralph Collins' death in 1951, his brother Doug took over the company. William Collins, Sr. inherited the business and ran it until the mid-1990s, when he passed it along to William Collins, Jr., who managed it with help from Charles Collins and, later, Darryl Collins.

A newspaper clip of Ralph D. Collins' obituary in 1951.

Ralph D. Collins’ obituary, 1951. Source.

In an interview, Darryl remembered the day he decided to take over the family business. At his father’s funeral, longtime community leader Dr. Alfred Taylor stood up to speak on the man’s life and legacy. He then looked directly at Darryl and his siblings and said, “Do not let this business go away.”

Darryl knew then and there that the Friendly Cab Company was too important to let go. He continued to run the business with his sister, Vicky. Over the years, they turned down multiple offers to purchase the company, resolving instead to help Friendly Cab meet the community’s changing needs.

Facing increasing competition from rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, the Friendly Cab Company recently ceased operations. According to the Arlington County Register of Historic Places, it was one of the longest-running businesses in Nauck history.

Sources:

Help Build Arlington's Community History

The Charlie Clark Center for Local History (CCCLH) collects, preserves and shares resources that illustrate Arlington County’s history, diversity and communities. Learn how you can play an active role in documenting Arlington's history by donating physical and/or digital materials for the Center for Local History’s permanent collection.

Do you have a question about this story, or a personal experience to share? 

Use this form to send a message to the Charlie Clark Center for Local History.

Center For Local History - Blog Post Message Form

Do you have a question about this story, or a personal experience to share? Use this form to send a message to the Center for Local History.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Share Your Story

Director’s Message: Know Your Rights

Know Your Rights: A guide to resources

Library Director Diane Kresh and Takis Karantonis welcome a new citizen at the U.S. Naturalization Ceremony at Central Library, Aug. 24, 2023.

While writing this message, I am reminded of children's television icon Fred Rogers famously saying, "Look for the helpers." A comforting thought to offer young people in times of crisis and uncertainty. Mr. Rogers taught us there are always people who step up to help—whether they are first responders, volunteers or everyday people offering kindness and comfort and with that, a hope things will get better.

Libraries have a proud history of providing free resources and education to immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees. Arlington Public Library is committed to informing the community about individual rights and providing trustworthy and relevant resources when they are needed most.

50 people, representing over 30 countries, participated in the U.S. Naturalization Ceremony. 

Immigrants, regardless of their immigration status, have rights as cited in the U.S. Constitution.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has information about one's rights as an immigrant. United We Dream provides information about what to do if one has an encounter with an immigration official.

Resources to learn more about rights, the official path to citizenship and free legal and social services can be found on our website.

In addition, the library has eCollections for immigrants, refugees and new citizens.

Please share these resources within your networks and stay tuned for updates. Arlington Public Library is here to help.

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library

Announcing the Wedding Contest Winners

And the winners are…

Love, libraries, and lifelong commitment—Katie Lettie & Vincent Bauer’s story is one for the books! After more than a decade together (sometimes on opposite coasts, sometimes an ocean apart), these two built a life full of love, literature and culinary adventures! But when it came to choosing a wedding venue, nothing felt quite right… until now.

Arlington is where they finally put down roots together, where they found their community, and now, where they’ll say “I do.” And who better to announce their big news than Bridgerton author and Arlington Reads guest Julia Quinn?

Thank you to all the couples who entered. You made our committee’s job VERY challenging!

Learn more about this year's Arlington Reads theme, "Share the Love," and stay tuned to hear more from Katie & Vincent. Mark your calendar for their big day July 12, 2025.

Know Your Rights: The library is here to help.

Public libraries are trusted sources for accurate and well-researched information. Libraries have a long history of providing free resources and education to immigrants and refugees. Arlington Public Library is committed to educating the community about individual rights and providing relevant resources when you need them most.

Immigrants have rights. Regardless of your immigration status, you have guaranteed rights under the Constitution. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has information about your rights as an immigrant, and how to express them. United We Dream provides information about what to do if you have an encounter with an immigration officer.

Arlington County has a commitment to strengthening trust with the immigrant community. Additional resources for immigrants can be found on the County’s website.

There are many resources to learn about your rights, as well as information about the official path to citizenship.

The library has compiled additional free legal and social services resources for immigrants that can be found on the library’s website as well as eCollections for Immigrants, Refugees, and New Citizens.

In addition, Arlington Public Library is committed to protecting the privacy of all information about patron requests for service, materials, loan transactions, online sites and resources accessed.

Confidentiality of customer records is protected under state law: Virginia Code § 2.2-3705.7. The Library will comply with all proper judicial process (government order to produce documents or information) authenticated by the County Attorney, while preserving customer confidentiality to the extent allowed by law. Additional details about the library’s privacy policy are on our website.

The American Library Association details the relationship between libraries and immigration enforcement.

Please stay tuned for updates.

New February Releases

Our Hearts ❤️ Are In The Books 📖

This year, we’re sending valentines to our favorite authors and book characters. Whether they make us laugh, cry, think or all of the above, they ensure our hearts will always be between the pages.

The Ethiopian government banned "Oromay" days after it was released in 1983. Author Baalu Girma disappeared mere months later, widely believed to be murdered by the regime in retaliation for this powerful anti-war novel. Set against the Red Star Campaign against Eritrean insurgents, a journalist grows increasingly disillusioned while navigating propaganda, war and personal turmoil. Translated from Amharic by David Degusta and Mesfin Felleke Yirgu, it’s now available in English for the first time.

In Molly O’Neill’s "Greenteeth," a lake monster, a witch and a goblin go on a quest to fight a malevolent force threatening their home. Steeped in British folklore and Arthurian legend, this rich fantasy mixes eerie magic, adventure and found family. Perfect for fans of mythic quests.

In "You Didn’t Hear This From Me," Kelsey McKinney, the host of the Normal Gossip podcast examines the role gossip plays in human connection. Using personal stories, research and pop culture from Gilgamesh to The Real Housewives, she explores the good and bad sides of talking about others behind their back.

"Waste Wars" is a hard-hitting exposé of the global waste trade and uncovers how the affluent nations of the Global North offload their trash onto poorer countries under the guise of recycling. From toxic shipbreaking in Turkey to hazardous e-waste processing in Ghana, Alexander Clapp looks at the dark underbelly of consumerism and its devastating consequences.

The middle grade graphic novel "Crumble" follows Emily, who can bake her emotions into desserts. Her family of bakers have one cardinal rule–never bake a bad feeling. But after the devastating loss of her aunt, Emily bakes her grief with widespread unintended consequences. Written by Meredith McClaren and illustrated by Andrea Ball, this is a poignant look at grief, magic and healing.

Teen readers will want to check out the swashbuckling fantasy "Capitana" by Cassandra James. When the Queen is kidnapped by pirates, Cadet Ximena sees her chance to prove her loyalty and become a Cazadoro, a pirate hunter. But her journey, complete with rivalries, high-stakes action and a slow-burning romance with her competitor challenges everything she thought she knew.

Place Your Holds Now!

More Book Lists to Explore

Best recent Black Fiction
Best recent romance

Sharing the Love: Elizabeth and Edmund Campbell

This year’s theme for Arlington Reads is love – sharing it, celebrating it, and reading about it. We thought it was a good opportunity to highlight some of our favorite Arlington power couples who worked together to ‘spread the love’ in their communities. This is part one of an ongoing series of blog posts, each featuring a different couple.

Edmund and Elizabeth Campbell.

Edmund and Elizabeth Campbell. Photos from RG 19: Personal Papers of Elizabeth Pfohl Campbell, 1942-1991.

During their 60 years of marriage, Elizabeth and Edmund Campbell dedicated themselves to improving Arlington’s public school system. Leveraging their respective skills in education and law, they motivated one another to support their community through political engagement, volunteering and activism.

Edmund Campbell (1899–1995) met Elizabeth Pfohl (1902–2004) in 1936 while Elizabeth was serving as dean of Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia. After they married, Elizabeth moved to Cherrydale, where Edmund lived while practicing law in Washington. She adopted Edmund’s two children from a previous marriage and in 1941 they had twins of their own.

At that time, Arlington’s population was booming, in part because of the influx of wartime government workers. Between 1870 (when the first public school was established in Arlington) and 1950, the school-age population had nearly quadrupled. The school system was unequipped to teach so many children. Resources were spread thin and teachers were overwhelmed by large class sizes and long hours.

a license plate that reads, better schools make better communities.

License plate with the phrase, "Better Schools Make Better Communities" From RG 19.

The Campbells, wanting a better education for their children, decided to step up and demand a change. They became charter members of the Citizen Committee for School Improvement ("CCSI").

In 1947, they helped introduce legislation that gave Arlington the right to elect its own School Board, which they hoped would better serve the community. Until then, the School Board had been appointed by a School Trustee Electoral Board which in turn was appointed by the circuit court of Arlington County.

a newsletter from Citizen Committee for School Improvement (CCSI).

CCSI Newsletter, n.d. From RG 19.

Following this victory, CCSI focused on gathering nominees for the elected School Board. Despite her professional background in education and involvement in the Arlington PTA, Elizabeth Campbell declined to run—until her husband encouraged her to do so.

EDMUND: How did you get involved formally in the Better Schools Movement?

ELIZABETH: Well, I was asked to be a candidate to run for the elected school board, and I think I was asked after the two of us had received a group of Arlington citizens who said, "Which one of you will be a candidate for the School Board?" And you said, "I will not, but Elizabeth, I think you should because you have been active in school affairs."

EDMUND: And I had just finished my term on the County Board.

ELIZABETH: So, then you were asked to be the Chairman of the School Board Nominating Convention. The Convention was held on a hot August night, and I...

EDMUND: Where was it held?

ELIZABETH: It was held in the Ashton Heights Club House south of Pershing Drive on Fillmore Street. I remember that we got ready to go over there. We got in the car, and as we drove, you said, "Now, Elizabeth, you have worked very hard to get an elected School Board. There's no reason why with all of these good people as candidates you shouldn't get yourself nominated.” And I said, "No, I'm not going to."

But I got over there in that crowded room, and I was asked to make my little one-minute or two-minute talk. I looked around at all of the people who had worked so hard to pass this legislation to give us the right to have an elected School Board. I was thrilled with a patriotic fervor that I had never felt before or since. I don't know what I said, but the result of what I said was that I was the one woman nominated to serve with four men as candidates for the Arlington Elected School Board.

A notecard with a guide on school board candidates to vote for in 1947 election.

Notecard with a guide on which school board candidates to vote for in the 1947 election. From RG 19.

After a grueling campaign, they succeeded in getting all five nominees elected. Elizabeth served on the School Board from 1948 through 1955, and again from 1960 to 1963. They often held meetings in the Campbells’ home, where Edmund continued to support Elizabeth and the work they were doing to raise funds for school improvements.

A pamphlet urging Arlington residents to vote yes for a bond in the 1950s.

Pamphlet urging Arlington Residents to vote "Yes" to a bond issue of $4,750,000 to build more schools for Arlington's increased population and school enrollment. From RG 19.

The Campbells also helped desegregate Arlington’s schools, vehemently opposing Virginia’s policy of “Massive Resistance,” which occurred in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Brown v. Board of Education. In 1954 and 1955, the couple fought to ensure that Arlington's public schools stay open by organizing the Save Our Schools Committee in defiance of Senator Harry F. Byrd and his allies.

a flyer from the save our schools committee for voting against the constitutional convention.

Flyer from the Save Our Schools Committee arguing for a vote against the constitutional convention. From RG 18: Personal Papers of Barbara Marx.

In 1955, Edmund won a case that overturned a Virginia law prohibiting racially integrated seating in public places. In 1958, following the closure of schools in Norfolk, Charlottesville and Front Royal, he successfully argued as the lead attorney in James v. Almond, finally ending Virginia's “Massive Resistance" laws that had forced the closing of all public schools which Federal courts had ordered to integrate. Following that decision, the first Black students entered Stratford Junior High School on February 2, 1959.

Through civic engagement, community organizing and simple kindness, the Campbells worked together to make Arlington a better place for the rest of their lives.

Sources:

Help Build Arlington's Community History

The Charlie Clark Center for Local History (CCCLH) collects, preserves and shares resources that illustrate Arlington County’s history, diversity and communities. Learn how you can play an active role in documenting Arlington's history by donating physical and/or digital materials for the Center for Local History’s permanent collection.

Do you have a question about this story, or a personal experience to share? 

Use this form to send a message to the Charlie Clark Center for Local History.

Center For Local History - Blog Post Message Form

Do you have a question about this story, or a personal experience to share? Use this form to send a message to the Center for Local History.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Share Your Story

Sally Slifkin: Colorful places

Cherrydale Library, January - April 2025

Artist Statement:

I have been painting for most of my life. I draw inspiration for my acrylic landscapes from photographs that I have taken both locally in Arlington and on my travels both in and out of the country. Recently one of my paintings was purchased by the Arlington County Board to be gifted to Aachen, Germany, Arlington's sister city. I am a member of the Arlington Artists Alliance and show my paintings in shows and venues all around Arlington. I paint in acrylic on canvas or board and have artwork in many homes and businesses.

Learn More About Art Exhibits at the Library

Director’s Message: a 2024 too long, yet not long enough

First, a story...

Library Director Diane Kresh leans over a table in conversation with a young girl during a book sale in the Central Library parking garage. Another library volunteer wearing a green apron is engaged nearby. The table is surrounded by books and event signage, with a colorful backdrop featuring illustrations of books and trees.

Chrysalis, one of our youth services librarians, shared this story with me:

"A few weeks ago, I was chatting with a mom and daughter before storytime who have attended regularly for a couple years now. She mentioned that her child loves playing librarian with their bookshelf at home, taking the books down to read, then putting them all back on the shelf.

Her daughter doesn’t quite understand what a librarian is yet, but she knows it has something to do with books. One day, she had pulled off all of her books to read and as she went to put them away, she looked at the pile of books and said:

'I am a librarian, and there is much work to be done.'"

Indeed.

2024 was a year that both ran too long yet not long enough. Let me explain. Too long to witness the tragedies and heartbreak encircling the globe. Not long enough to do all the things we librarians strive to do each day—inform, preserve, protect—to hold the people of our communities in shared humanity, focusing on unity.

Deaf Plus Advocate Jeremy Smith, wearing a red cap and glasses, signs expressively in conversation with a participant during Arlington Public Library's Human Library event. A sign on the table identifies his topic, 'My DeafPlus Life,' as part of the program. The library's open and modern space is visible in the background, with other participants seated at tables.
A joyful moment during a Naturalization Ceremony at Central Library, with a woman in a teal cardigan proudly waving a small American flag. She is surrounded by other participants, some holding flags and official documents from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, all celebrating their new citizenship.

Typically, this Director’s Message recaps our previous year.

Here goes:

The books I read: debut authors (Essie Chambers) and old masters (Charles Dickens, Jean Stafford). Favorites included Louise Erdrich and Kate Atkinson and prize winners such as “James” by Percival Everett and “Orbital” by Samantha Harvey, as well as “Held” by Anne Michaels.

There were writers whose every word I hung on, Claire Keegan as an example. New York Times list toppers (Elena Ferrante), and surprises such as “The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir” by Jennifer Ryan. Books about books: “The Reading List” by Sara Nisha Adams. And romance novels by Casey McQuiston and Dolly Alderton in anticipation of “Share the Love,” the 2025 Arlington Reads theme—a celebration of love in all of its manifestations and a chance to get beyond ourselves and into the hearts and minds of others.

My full reading list appears on Goodreads. In the new year, I am switching to StoryGraph to join a new community of book lovers. I hope many of you will connect with me there. If you struggle with finding either the time or the inclination to read, check out this piece from Axios. Lots of tips to spark one’s inner reader.

The 2024 Arlington Reads homage to James Baldwin underscored what a towering presence he remains in American literature. Likewise, our celebration of Afrofuturism introduced us to groundbreaking storytelling.

A photograph of a James Baldwin community read event at Central Library. In the foreground, a framed poster promotes the "James Baldwin Centennial," featuring an image of Baldwin smiling against a warm-toned background. Below, text invites attendees to share their stories, with a QR code and the Arlington Public Library logo displayed. The poster is positioned next to an open door leading into a well-lit room where participants are seated at tables, engaged in discussion. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with visible details of the brick wall and modern interior lighting.
Author Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah signs books and chats with attendees after his Arlington Reads event. He is wearing a colorful jacket and headband, holding a stack of books, including one titled "Chain-Gang All-Stars." A group of smiling attendees surrounds him, holding books and coats. The background shows a blue wall and a large projector screen displaying the Arlington Public Library logo and text encouraging participation in future events. The atmosphere is lively and engaging.

The Human Library and the Holiday Gift Nook returned—strong reminders Arlington residents are full to bursting with empathy and generosity. Thank you to all who participated.

The Shed, The Shop, our bookstores and gardens, GameFest and the creative Instagram reels, kept us nourished, curious, entertained and connected. Thank you to our talented library staff and volunteers.

A mother and young child explore a table filled with colorful toys at Arlington Public Library's Holiday Gift Nook. The mother, wearing a yellow scarf with a pattern, holds the child as they reach out toward a blue toy helicopter. The background features a frosted glass wall with a map-like design, adding a festive yet modern ambiance to the event. The table is stocked with various toys and games, creating a cheerful and family-friendly atmosphere.
A group of participants enjoys a board game at Arlington Public Library's GameFest event. A young boy wearing a green hoodie focuses intently on his game piece while an adult next to him, smiling and wearing sunglasses on his head, watches attentively. Other players, including a woman in a striped sweater and additional participants blurred in the foreground, are engaged in the activity. A colorful game setup with dice and cards is spread across the table, creating a fun and interactive atmosphere in the library space. A mounted TV screen is visible in the background.

The library’s patrons showed up. Our annual circulation broke records: eCirculation grew by more than 40% and many thousands of Arlingtonians attended more than 3,500 programs. Our patrons expressed good wishes in letters, emails and in person, further grounding our commitments to social justice, compassion and fairness.

The Library’s goals for 2025 remain the same. To hear and respond to those whose voices we have occasionally tuned out. To see those who live on the margins. To do our best each day for ourselves and for each other.

A large group photo of Arlington Public Library staff gathered at a holiday party. The group is diverse, with attendees dressed in festive attire, including holiday sweaters, bright scarves, and red accents. Some individuals wear name tags, and a few in the front row are seated on the floor, smiling cheerfully. In the background, a presentation screen displays text about the upcoming APL Trivia Tournament, set for Spring 2025. The atmosphere is warm and joyful, showcasing camaraderie and celebration among the staff.

From the staff and volunteers of Arlington Public Library and the members of the Friends of the Arlington Public Library, we wish you all the best for 2025! There is much work to be done.

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library

New January Releases

Our new January releases are here! Place Your Holds Now! ⛄⛸️🏒

There are so many great books coming out this month to start off 2025 with epic stories, intriguing plot twists and new ways of looking at the world.

"Homeseeking" by Karissa Chen, an epic story of love and war, travels forward and backward in time as it follows two childhood sweethearts separated in 1947 Shanghai until they see each other again in 2008 at a Los Angeles supermarket.

When her drag mother, Lady Lady, is murdered by poisoned chocolate, police bias mars the investigation. Drag star Misty Divine takes on the case, armed with her knowledge of the drag world and everything she has learned from binging true crime shows in Holly Star’s "Murder in the Dressing Room."

The death at the center Fall River, America’s first true crime book, also inspired "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne but remains a mystery. Combining the groundbreaking work of Fall River and modern crime-solving techniques, Kate Winkler Dawson reopens the case in the thought-provoking "The Sinners All Bow."

"Mood Machine" by Liz Pelly offers a sharp critique of Spotify’s impact on the music industry and reveals how the streaming giant favors major labels while exploiting independent artists. This provocative and well-researched book is a must-read for anyone concerned about the future of music.

When Ajay Anthonipillai steals a candy bar, he discovers it holds a million-dollar prize. Now he has to decide if he takes the money, which will change everything for his family, or tell the truth. This middle grade novel, "No Purchase Necessary" by Maria Marianayagam, is full of humor, tension and heart.

A new teen edition of "The Black Swans of Harlem" by Karen Velby introduces readers to Lydia Abarca, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Marcia Sells and Karlya Shelton. Five dancers, who were integral to the founding of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, broke color barriers in a predominantly white world of ballet. Learn about their enduring legacy in classical dance and their ongoing influence on future generations of dancers.

Place Your Holds Now!

More Book Lists to Explore

Explore the fun side of winter with these curated lists!

Skiing & Snowboarding
Hockey Romance






















Download the Library App