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Hoboken Public Library’s 2022 Best Books for Kids and Teens

28 Dec

Easy Readers
Sir Ladybug
by Corey R. Tabor
Sir Ladybug is a gentle knight who, along with his friends, is called on  a quest to rescue a caterpillar from being eaten by a hungry chickadee. This funny story offers a good start for young readers.

Princess in Black and  Mermaid Princess
by Shannon Hale
The Princess in Black and her friends are enjoying a day of sun and sea on the royal boat when a real, live mermaid Princess  emerges from the waves. She needs their help protecting her sea goats from being eaten by a greedy kraken. 

Max and the Midknights: Tower of Time no. 3
by Lincoln Peirce
Max’s twin sister Mary is public enemy number one and has gone missing. It’s up to Max and the Midknights to find her and avoid crossing paths with trolls, pirates, and ruthless Kings.  

Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game
by Chris Grabenstein
A 13 year-old boy named Luigi Lemoncello dreams of being a showman. He gets his chance when a carnival comes to town and a famous barker offers him a summer job involving a puzzle and treasure hunt.  

Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa
by Julian Randall
While researching her documentary about her missing cousin, 12 yearold Pilar is transported to the magical island of Zafa. Here Dominican myths and legends come to life and her cousin is being held captive in a prison.

Different Kinds of Fruit
Kyle Lukoff
Annabelle enters the 6th grade and makes friends with Bailey, the new nonbinary kid in town. Then she discovers that her father has something in common with Bailey and she begins to see herself and her family in a whole new light.

Board books
Hello, Beautiful You!
by Andrea Davis Pinkey
This sweet book celebrates just how beautiful your little one is! Perfect to read while snuggling up together, this book is filled with rhythmic text and delightful illustrations that celebrate your little one.

Tummy Time
Your little one will love this interactive, double-sided book that engages their senses. Filled with vivid images, a mirror, as well as instructions parents can do with their little ones.  It’s exactly as the name suggests, taken up to new heights.

Picture books
Beauty Woke
by NoNieqa Ramos
Beauty – who is of Taino Indian, African and Boricua heritage is raised by her loving family to have pride in who she is and where she comes from. But hatred toward people who look like her bruises her heart.

Out of a Jar
by Deborah Marcero
Llewellyn, a little bunny overwhelmed by his emotions, hides away his feelings in glass jars. Then he discovers it’s not good to bottle up your feelings and life is more colorful when he sets his emotions free.

The Year We Learned to Fly
by Jacqueline Woodson 
A brother and sister are stuck inside on a rainy day.  Bored, they are told by their wise grandmother to use their minds. Using their imaginations, they are able to fly high above the city

Eyes that Speak to the Stars
by Joanna Ho
A young Asian boy notices that his eyes look different from his peers’. His father tells him that his eyes rise to the skies and speak to the stars, shine like sunlit rays, & glimpse trails of light from those who came before.

Teen
Nothing More to Tell
by Karen M. McManus
Four years ago, Brynn left St. Ambrose School following the shocking murder of her favorite teacher. The story made headlines after the teacher’s body was found by three students in the woods behind the school. 

Kingdom of the Feared
by Kerri Maniscalo
Emilia is determined to clear her sister’s name when she is implicated in the murder of a high-ranking member of a rival demon court. Her investigation forces her to face the demons of her own past and challenge the Prince of Wrath. 

Never Coming Home
by Kate Williams Ten teen influencers arrive on Unknown Island expecting to find a tropical paradise, but instead they discover a deserted resort, poisonous snakes, and secrets worth killing for. Will anyone survive?  

Once Upon a K-Prom
by Kat Cho
Instead of going to prom, 17 year-old Elena wants to spend her time saving the local community center. Then, her childhood best friend, now a Kpop superstar, returns to make good on their old pact to attend prom together. 

This Woven Kingdom
by Tahereh Mafi
A romance between two main characters with roots in Persian mythology. The story follows Alizeh, heir to the Jinn crown, forced to seek refuge as a servant girl to evade those who would have her killed.

The Agathas
by Kathleen Glasgow
Set against the backdrop of a wealthy oceanside town, this story follows two teenage girls – rich and popular Alice and her less popular, less rich tutor, Iris – as they work together to solve the murder of Alice’s exbest friend. 

The Final Gambit
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Avery’s fortune, life, and loves are on the line in the game that everyone will be talking about. To inherit billions, all Avery has to do is survive a few more weeks living in Hawthorne House, but the paparazzi are dogging her.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler
by Casey McQuiston
Chloe moves to Alabama and discovers she is the only student at her Catholic high school who is openly queer. She makes it her goal to become valedictorian, but must compete with the most popular girl at school.

Gallant
by V.E. Schwab
This atmospheric tale follows the story of Olivia, a young girl living at Merilance School for Girls. Her mother disappeared and she has spent her days bring taunted by girls at school. Then, she is sent to live at Gallant, the family estate. 

You can view HPL’s top picks for adults here.

Children Picks From:
Melissa Medina, Youth Services Senior Library Assistant
Teen Picks From:
Jenn Sforza, Young Adult Librarian


Recipes for Romance: A Dash of Salt & Pepper by Kosoko Jackson and Sugar & Salt by Susan Wiggs

14 Dec

A Dash of Salt and Pepper
by Kosoko Jackson

A Dash of Salt and Pepper was such a fun romance! The book is told in first person from Xavier’s perspective; he is an African American business grad who takes a job working as a prep chef in a seafood restaurant in his hometown after being dumped. Xavier is clever, funny and manages to be both arrogant, insecure and likeable at the same time. At one point the Gilmore Girls is referenced and the clever, fast pace witty dialogue and the charming small town New England vibe are something this book like that series does extremely well. Xavier’s boss at the restaurant, Logan, is a slightly older Caucasian divorced dad who is considered one of the town’s most eligible bachelors, but after an awkward first meeting he and Xavier seem an unlikely match despite their feelings of attraction. Can they both let down their defenses to find love or will Xavier leave his small town behind again, this time for good? Definitely an author I plan to read more from in the future. I received an advance copy of the book for review from Netgalley.

Sugar and Salt
by Susan Wiggs

Another romance featuring interracial couples, Sugar and Salt had a bit more salt in the lives of the characters then I was expecting going into the novel.  The book may feature a sugary confection on the cover, but there is a lot of depth to what is covered.  Margot formerly Margie has gone through rough times including growing up in poverty and being the victim of an assault that has left her hesitant in romantic relationships.  The book spent more time in flashbacks to the difficult periods in her life than I would have preferred, however, it added to the sense of the happiness in her life having been earned including her success at her Barbeque Restaurant, Salt.  Her love interest Jerome Sugar is nursing a broken heart from a divorce.  The complexity of their interracial relationship is acknowledged, but also does not overshadow the sweet depiction of the romance that blossoms.  Beside Margot and Jerome, the book also explores the relationship between Jerome’s mother and her first love.  This is a book that will appeal to those looking for stories of second chances and a romance novel not afraid to examine the darker parts of life and history in the US.

Both books are available in print from BCCLS Libraries or as ebooks from elibraryNJ and eBCCLS. You can read about more foodie romances here.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager