Playing Detective with Epistolary Fiction

by Savannah Winkler, Adult Services Librarian

One of my favorite parts of reading mystery books is getting to play detective. I have always enjoyed the classics, like Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes, where I feel like I’m cracking the case from my couch. Within the last year, I also discovered that I enjoy a good epistolary novel. If you’re not familiar with epistolary novels, these books don’t tell stories in the usual way. Instead, they unfold through emails, texts, transcripts, photos, and other “found” documents. This makes you the one sorting through the clues. You’re not just reading—you’re investigating. So, if you’re like me and love the thrill of piecing together a puzzle, you might enjoy these epistolary mysteries.

Janice Hallett has written a handful of mystery novels that use an epistolary format. The first of hers that I read was “The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels.” This book opens with you, the reader, discovering a safe deposit box filled with documents. You are instructed to read them and then make a decision: destroy them or take them to the police. The story that follows is told through those documents including email, text messages, transcripts, and more. The documents reveal information about the Alperton Angels, a cult that believed a newborn was the anti-Christ. Decades after the cult’s crimes, writer Amanda Bailey is determined to find the Alperton baby, now eighteen years old. However, as she searches, Amanda realizes that the dark story of the Alperton Angels isn’t the whole truth. Unfortunately, the events surrounding the cult are even worse than she could have imagined.

Following the “Alperton Angels,” I checked out Hallett’s other epistolary novels. “The Appeal” was equally as fun and unpredictable. This story follows The Fairway Players, a diverse group of community members that participate in the local theatre. Tragedy befalls the group’s director, Martin Hayward, when his granddaughter is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. The acting group rallies together to start raising money for the Hayward family. However, disagreements and tensions arise, and a dress rehearsal takes a sudden and explosive turn. Then something even worse occurs, and the body of one actor is discovered.

After “The Appeal,” I also picked up Hallett’s 2024 release, “The Examiner.” This book had a twist that actually made me gasp out loud. The story tells yet another murder mystery through the multimedia. This time, the characters are a group of six students as they work on an art degree. The camaraderie of the group is doomed from the start. Throughout the book you get to read their class group chats and assignments, which are filled with obvious disagreements and distrust. The situation escalates as students steal from one another and vandalize each other’s projects. When the class’s external examiner arrives, he begins to believe that one of the students has been murdered. But who, and why?

After finishing all of Hallett’s books, I still had the itch for more mysteries that followed a similar format. I recently discovered a Japanese author named Uketsu. Uketsu is a well-known horror Youtuber in Japan, and part of their intrigue is that no one knows their real identity. Uketsu recently started publishing novels, and those have been translated into English. Their first novel is “Strange Pictures.” As the title suggests, the story’s mystery unfolds through a series of pictures.  Although on the surface the pictures seem unrelated, a macabre series of events connects them all. Uketsu’s second novel, “Strange Houses,” follows a similar premise. This time, the story centers on an unusual house. While it seems perfect on the outside, it turns out to be anything but. Images of the house’s floor plan reveal mysterious spaces and hidden rooms. Both of Uksetsu’s books invite the readers to think critically and try to figure out the mystery.

If you’d prefer a mystery that follows a slightly more traditional format, I also recommend “Penance” by Eliza Clark. A decade after the events occurred, journalist Alec Z. Carelli investigates the murder of sixteen-year-old Joan Wilson. Joan was murdered in the seaside town of Crow-on-Sea by three of her high school classmates. Little is known about the girls or why the murder occurred. As Alec investigates, he uncovers a complicated community and a disturbing internet culture. “Penance” is an impactful mystery told through podcast transcripts, interviews, and Alec’s own unreliable narration.

All these titles and more are available for checkout at the Manhattan Public Library. And if you’d like to know more about what others are reading, consider attending the library’s “Donuts and Danger” book discussion. The next discussion will be on September 25^th from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the library’s auditorium.

Manhattan Public Library is a cornerstone of free and equal access to a world of ideas and information for the Manhattan, Kansas, community. Learn more at mhklibrary.org.

Books for Struggling or Reluctant Readers

by Corey Ptacek, Collection Development Librarian

Libraries are a place for all, and the Manhattan Public Library has recently taken a step towards making reading more accessible for readers with dyslexia by identifying print books with dyslexic-friendly fonts and books with high interest and low vocabulary, making them searchable within the catalog.

Dyslexia, which is the most common learning disability, affects up to 1 in 5 people worldwide. People with dyslexia often have trouble spelling, reading, and saying words. While the severity will vary from person to person, some symptoms for most people with dyslexia include:

• Similar-looking letters are often confused with each other
• Trouble rhyming
• Reluctance to read aloud
• Difficulty spelling simple words (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6005-dyslexia)

Dyslexic-friendly fonts use unique letterforms (so ‘p’s are not just mirrored ‘q’s) and heavy-weighted bottoms to prevent the rotation of letters that people with dyslexia often experience (opendyslexic.org/about).

High interest, low vocabulary (hi-lo) books are typically shorter than average and feature interesting themes and topics while using easy-to-understand vocabulary. Young people who find that books targeted to their age range are too difficult to read shall no longer be relegated to the children’s room to browse the same books that appeal to children just beginning their reading journeys. Now, they can find engaging and relatable hi-lo materials written in simple language for their age range.

I want to highlight a few books released in recent years from Orca Book Publishers, who offer ‘ultra-readable’ books for young people ages 12-18. These books are both high interest, low vocabulary and dyslexic-friendly. Search the catalog for “dyslexia-friendly font” or “high interest/low vocabulary” to find other titles and place your requests! Information about these books has been taken from the publisher and our catalog, which you can visit at https://catalog.manhattan.lib.ks.us/polaris/default.aspx.

“Spotting Dottie” by Gail Anderson-Dargatz

“When Charlotte gets a drone for her fourteenth birthday, she’s determined to get footage of Dottie, the elusive lake monster of Dorothy Lake. Her grandma, who has dedicated her life to searching for the monster, is the joke of the town. But when Charlotte manages to capture a video of the monster and posts it online, she’s the sudden target of a media storm. Now everyone is making fun of her too. Worse, droves of monster hunters arrive in her town, crowding the lake. When their boat propellers threaten to hurt Dottie, Charlotte is faced with a difficult choice.”

“Leon Levels Up” by Paul Coccia

“Twelve-year-old Leon loves video games. When he plays, he feels confident for just a little while. The rest of the time he feels like a loser. So Leon is shocked when Nico, the coolest kid ever and the son of a video-game developer, invites him over to test out the newest game at his dad’s high-tech lab. To play, they must submerge themselves in giant tanks filled with nanobots, which are programmed to interact with the players and form the physical gaming world. It sounds perfectly safe. But a glitch causes the tiny robots to start behaving oddly, putting the boys in real-life danger. Now it’s up to Leon to slay a dragon, to beat the game and save Nico and himself…before the timer runs out.”

“Lucky Break” by Brooke Carter

“Seventeen-year-old Lucy ‘Lucky’ Graves is devoted to her championship rugby team, but her dreams of a scholarship are destroyed when she breaks her ankle during an important game. If it doesn’t heal properly, Lucy could be benched for the rest of the year. Goodbye pro career, goodbye college, goodbye future. Without rugby, who is she? Now her anxiety and OCD are getting worse, and a past trauma has resurfaced to haunt her. Lucy needs to stop running from her past to discover what it really means to be a team player.”

The Manhattan Public Library has even more options for readers of any age with dyslexia, including large print books, ebooks, and graphic novels. Large print books have bigger spaces between the lines of text and larger lettering. Some books are also printed with “larger print,” a font size between large print and regular print, and these can be found by searching the catalog for “larger print.” Ebooks can be borrowed from the Libby app or the Hoopla app, and both offer dyslexic-friendly font options (as well as other customization, such as background color, brightness, and text size). Graphic novels typically have fewer words than traditional novels, and images can provide context that clarifies the text. Graphic novels can also build confidence and drive motivation in struggling readers, which might just be enough to have them (or you) clamoring for the next volume in the series.

Reading and listening simultaneously can also improve reading ability. This can be done several ways through the library. Eaudiobooks are available through the Libby and Hoopla apps, and audiobooks on CD are available for all ages, so you can listen while you follow along with the print book. Additionally, we offer read-alongs for children, which are books with an attached MP3 player in a convenient, all-in-one package. No matter your reading level or preference, Manhattan Public Library has you covered. Manhattan Public Library is a cornerstone of free and equal access to a world of ideas and information for the Manhattan, Kansas, community. Learn more at mhklibrary.org.

Finding Your Happily Ever After

By Steph Wallace, Library Assistant 2, Adult Services

While families across Manhattan and beyond are gearing up for back-to-school season, my fiancé and I are preparing for the biggest event of our lives to date: our wedding. Naturally, as an avid reader of romance and romantasy, I’ve been reading many books with marriage plots and books about creating real life happiness whenever I’m not working on my own happily ever after.

The most recent title that mirrors my current feelings is “Tea You At The Altar” by Rebecca Thorne. The third book in the romantasy “Tomes and Tea” series follows Kianthe and Reyna as they prepare for their own upcoming wedding while also hunting down missing dragon eggs and overthrowing a corrupt queen. Though the sapphic couple struggles with their professional roles as the Mage of Ages and Queendom guard turned tea shop owner, their love for each other never falters. It is this commitment to each other that inspires me to follow their example. I’m eagerly awaiting the continuation of their story in “Alchemy and a Cup of Tea,” which will be published on August 12, 2025.

What would the romance genre be without the “marriage of convenience” trope? India Holton runs with this idea and kicks it up with an extra dose of humor in “The Geographer’s Map to Romance,” the second of her “Love’s Academic” series. This title focuses on side characters from “The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love,” the Professors Tarrant – that is, Elodie née Hughes and Gabriel Tarrant, who are both experts in thaumaturgic geography. As storm-chasing tourists are turned into cows and innkeepers consistently fail to have more than one bed available, the rockily married couple are forced to reconcile their mutual mixed feelings for each other to tame the unnatural disasters plaguing England and Wales. It takes all of their combined cunning, hex skills, and a bag of magical items to find the truth, evade their foes, and break the enchantment. And if one mystery isn’t enough, their adventures continue in “A Tangle of Time,” which will be published in September.

Want a marriage plot without a lot of romance? Check out “I Want to be a Wall” by Honami Shirono. The third and final volume of this manga neatly ties up the slice-of-life story between Yuriko and Gakurouta, an asexual woman and a closeted gay man. After getting married to stave off attempts by their parents to arrange partners for them, the couple’s relationship transcends romance as they learn what it means to live together as platonic partners. Equal parts touching and hilarious, their story validates the lives of people who value nontraditional partnerships.

For the people watching other people getting married or struggling with their own marriages, Alison Espach’s “The Wedding People” could offer some catharsis. This New York Times bestseller satire stars recently divorced Phoebe Stone, a woman with plans to take her life at a ritzy seaside resort, only to be mistaken for one of the guests of bridezilla Lila’s wedding. The two women seem to have nothing in common, and yet they manage to build a friendship that surprises both of them.

If you’re more interested in nonfiction books about marriage, pick up “I Do (I Think): Conversations About Modern Marriage” by Allison Raskin. This series of essays explores what marriage means today for millennials and Gen Zers, two demographics with new approaches towards lifelong commitments. The essays include Raskin’s life experiences as well as expert research. “I Do (I Think)” also covers topics such as prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, division or unification of finances, non-monogamous and LGBTQ relationships, intimacy, and a fresh perspective on divorce. For anyone who wants to broaden their understanding of how people create, sustain, or peaceably end relationships, this book is a must-read.

If you couldn’t care less about holy matrimony but you’re still looking to rebalance the relationships in your life, this next book might be for you. “Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live)” by Eve Rodsky illuminates a new way to look at how work is divided in a household. Though most of the advice is geared towards married couples with children, it’s also helpful for non-traditional families or people with roommates.

Whether you’re in a partnership or single, I hope you’ll connect with one of these titles. Marriage might not be for everyone, but everyone deserves to experience love in any of its forms.

Manhattan Public Library is a cornerstone of free and equal access to a world of ideas and information for the Manhattan, Kansas, community. Learn more at mhklibrary.org.

I Forgot

By Victoria Lafean, Programming Librarian

July 2 is known as “I Forgot Day.” If you are a forgetful person who frequently forgets anniversaries, birthdays, special occasions, or even to bring the milk from the store on your way back home, then this is the unofficial holiday you should be celebrating.

Did you know that according to some studies, walking through doors can create memory lapses? Psychologists believe that this is because when people walk through a door from one room to another, the transition indicates to the brain that the scene has changed, and all information gathered in the previous room or scenario is no longer needed. Which of course we still need that information, that is why we got up in the first place, isn’t it? To avoid these lapses and absentmindedness in the future, let’s focus on our brain health. The Manhattan Library has many books for your brain in their catalog.

All information about these books has been taken from our catalog, which you can visit at: https://catalog.manhattan.lib.ks.us/polaris/default.aspx 

“Brain Energy: A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Mental Health–and Improving Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD, and More” by Christopher M. Palmer (Psychiatrist).

The main idea is this: Mental illness is caused by a metabolic disorder in cells, specifically in the brain cells’ mitochondria. Mitochondria are responsible for an INCREDIBLE array of metabolic functions in your cells, and especially in your brain. When you have anxiety? Your mitochondria are firing too hot. When you have depression? They’re not doing enough (or not able to do enough). “Do human cells have ‘drivers’ making the cells stop and go? It turns out that they do. The drivers of human cells, and human metabolism, are called mitochondria. And they are the common pathway to mental and metabolic disorders.”

Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Chris Palmer outlines a revolutionary new understanding that for the first time unites our existing knowledge about mental illness within a single framework: Mental disorders are metabolic disorders of the brain.

This groundbreaking book reveals: • Why classifying mental disorders as “separate” conditions is misleading • The clear connections between mental illness and disorders linked to metabolism, including diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, pain disorders, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, and epilepsy • The link between metabolism and every factor known to play a role in mental health, including genetics, inflammation, hormones, neurotransmitters, sleep, stress, and trauma • The evidence that current mental health treatments, including both medications and therapies, likely work by affecting metabolism • New treatments available today that readers can use to promote long-term healing.

“Brain Health As You Age: A Practical Guide to Maintenance and Prevention” by Steven P. Simmons.

While we may expect to live longer, many wonder if their brains will keep up with their bodies. This book looks at typical functions and declines of an aging brain, the signs and symptoms of problems, the available treatments, the financial responsibilities, and the factors that determine what kinds of care people might need as they age.

The book covers a surprising amount of ground. It starts with understanding what affects natural aging has on the brain and what owners of healthy aging brains can expect. It provides an impressive list of specific strategies that readers can use to help keep their brains active and healthy. From there, the book goes into unhealthy aging brains. Specifically, this means exploring the varying levels and types of impairment (such as dementia). It explains what is normal (or not), what to expect and how conditions progress. I think the most valuable aspect of the book, however, is its last quarter, which discusses in very practical terms how to prepare for, deal with and address the effects of cognitive impairment from the perspectives of both a potential patient and a prospective caregiver.

“Power Up Your Brain: The Neuroscience of Enlightenment” by David Perlmutter.

The quest for enlightenment has occupied mankind for millennia. Perlmutter explores the exciting phenomena of neurogenesis and mitochondrial health, while Villoldo brings his vast knowledge of shamanic and spiritual practices to the table. Together they draw from the most powerful tools in each discipline to create the Power Up Your Brain program, a ground-breaking, five-week plan that helps prime the brain for enlightenment. It pairs a scientific approach, teaming a Neurologist with a Shaman to mix a clear and compelling description of what is happening neurologically with spiritual practices that help awaken the brain. The “Power Up Your Brain” program includes diet, dietary supplement, physical exercise, shamanic exercises, meditation, and relationship practices and changes. The program is a 5-week timespan. Perlmutter states, “Experience coupled with attention leads to physical changes in the structure and future functioning of the nervous system. This leaves us with a clear physiological fact . . . moment by moment we choose and sculpt how our ever-changing minds will work, we choose who we will be the next moment in a very real sense, and these choices are left embossed in physical form on our material selves.”

Other titles that can be found are: · “Unleash the Power of the Female Brain: Supercharging Yours for Better Health, Energy, Mood, Focus, and Sex” by Daniel G. Amen. · “The Gut-Brain Paradox: Improve Your Mood, Clear Brain Fog, and Reverse Disease by Healing Your Microbiome” by Steven R. Gundry. · “The Ageless Brain: How to Sharpen and Protect Your Mind for a Lifetime” by Dale E. Bredesen. · “Use Your Brain to Change Your Age: Secrets to Look, Feel, and Think Younger Every Day” by Daniel G. .

Hopefully, these resources can help you get your brain in tip-top shape so you can purposely forget “I Forgot Day” next year.

Manhattan Public Library is a cornerstone of free and equal access to a world of ideas and information for the Manhattan, Kansas, community. Learn more at mhklibrary.org.

Light Reads for Summer

by Rhonna Hargett, Assistant Director

Summer is a great time to sit back and relax with a cold drink and a good book. I’ve gathered some of my favorite light reads to help you unwind.

I just finished reading “Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love” by Marianne Cronin, and I truly enjoyed it. At 90 years old, Eddie has retired from his career as a university lecturer but has worked for several years sorting through donations at a thrift shop in Birmingham, UK. One day, 24-year-old Bella comes in to donate the belongings of her boyfriend who recently passed away. They form a steadfast if odd friendship. He helps her process her grief and she helps him in his quest to get his first kiss and expand his fashion taste. “Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love” is a beautiful story about friendship, lost love, and looking for the joy in every moment. Available in print and as a digital audiobook or ebook through Libby.

“The Thursday Murder Club” mysteries by Richard Osman is a delightful series about a retirement community in Kent. Retired MI6 agent, Elizabeth, starts a group in the puzzle room to investigate cold crimes. Consisting of a union activist, a therapist, and a widow with a life mission to make everyone around her comfortable, the group enjoys their non-traditional activity without much success until a local developer is murdered. They use their skills to work the case, although their assistance isn’t always appreciated by the local police. Witty and poignant, “The Thursday Murder Club” tells a gripping story of a unique way to stay active in one’s senior years. Available in print and as a digital audiobook or ebook through Libby.

“Not in My Book” is a spicy contemporary romance by Katie Holt. Rosie and Aiden have been in several writing classes together but have nurtured a vindictive rivalry almost since they met. With Aiden’s love for literary fiction and Rosie’s focus on romance, they have contentiously and loudly judged each other, even though they are both known to be fantastic writers. Adding to their conflict, Peruvian American Rosie is working her way through school, not even able to afford to fly home for Christmas, while Aiden is the child of New York wealth. When their combative interactions start to disrupt the class, their instructor gives them an assignment to write a romance novel together. Although this is a classic “enemies to lovers” romance, “Not in My Book” provides surprising twists and introspection along the way. Katie Holt’s novel would likely be a good read for Emily Henry fans. Available in print and as a digital audiobook or ebook through Libby.

I’m a little behind the times, but I finally read “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman. Ove is a widower who is frustrated by the world and the people in it. A new neighboring family starts as an irritant but over time coaxes him into a friendship and helps him to see the good in the world. This Swedish debut novel touches on some dark themes but still manages to be uplifting and heartwarming while finding humor in the struggles of life. Backman has published several titles since “A Man Called Ove,” including many more treasures. Available in print and as a digital audiobook or ebook through Libby. The library also provides access to both movie adaptations “A Man Called Ove” and “A Man Called Otto.”

“Miss Austen” by Gill Hornby came to my attention recently when PBS created a series adaptation of the novel. Hornby tells the story of classic author Jane Austen’s sister, Cassandra, who is viewed with mixed feelings by Austen fans. She was the author’s dearest companion in life, but she was also accused of burning many of Austen’s letters, destroying material that would give insight to a mostly unknown life. “Miss Austen” goes back and forth between Cassandra’s youth and later life, fleshing out the historical information we have about both Austen sisters with an engaging fictionalized idea of what might have led her to destroy the evidence that scholars and fans long for. There’s a bit of romance, but the story is really about love between sisters. Hornby has created an intriguing novel that might help redeem Cassandra Austen for devoted Jane Austen readers.

You can find all of these titles at Manhattan Public Library. If you are enjoying reading this summer, you might as well win prizes for it through our Summer Reading Program. Find out more at MHKLibrary.org.

Booklist: Many Colored Pages

by Savannah Winkler, Adult Services Librarian and Homebound Coordinator

This summer is shaping up to be a colorful one, especially at your local library. This year’s Summer Reading program is under way, and the theme is “Color Our World.” If you stop by the library, you’ll notice an array of color-themed decorations, including rainbow butterflies and giant paintbrushes.

But our decorations aren’t the only thing that’s bringing extra color to the library. If you frequent the library’s “New Books” collection, you may have noticed an interesting trend. Many books—particularly in the fantasy and romance genres—now have colorful sprayed edges, or pages with painted colors and designs on the outer sides of the book’s pages. Although sprayed or stenciled edges are nothing new, they’ve gained popularity amongst book collectors on internet spaces such as “BookTok” (aka, the book community on the app TikTok). For many readers, sprayed edges add an extra touch of aesthetic and personality to their favorite books. Here are a few of these books that you can find at the library.

All information about these books has been taken from our catalog, which you can visit at: https://catalog.manhattan.lib.ks.us/polaris/default.aspx

“Wooing the Witch Queen” by Stephanie Burgis:

“After successfully wrestling the throne from her evil uncle, Queen Saskia only wants one thing: to keep her people safe from the empire next door. She doesn’t have time to bring order to her chaotic library of magic. When a mysterious dark wizard arrives at her castle, Saskia hires him as her new librarian on the spot. “Fabian” is sweet and a little nerdy, and his requests seem a little strange – what in the name of Divine Elva is a fountain pen? – but he’s getting the job done. And if he writes her flirtatious poetry and his innocent touch makes her skin singe, well….”

“His Face is the Sun” by Michelle Jabès Corpora:

“Princess. Priestess. Rebel. Thief. Tensions run as hot as the Khamsin winds in the great kingdom of Khetara. Rumors of the pharaoh’s mysterious illness abound, and with them, murmurs of rebellion grow. Meanwhile, in the quiet desert, a forgotten oracle begins to unfold, setting a dark prophecy into action and drawing together four strangers… Princess SITA lives in the abundance of the palace, and in a moment of passion, she unmasks a betrayal that will put her life—and the entire royal court—in grave danger. A priestess-in-training, NEFF strives to understand her intense visions from the gods, except theirs is not the only magic at play in the grand temple. As a farmer’s daughter, RAE knows how much the pharaoh’s men have taken from her land, her people. Still, who will step forward to confront the king? KARIM was raised among the pyramids of the Red Lands and survives on the wealth of the dead as a tomb robber. But amid the spoils, an ancient evil awakens. Bloodshed is coming. Only together do these four have the potential to save the kingdom from destruction. But when the dust has settled, who will sit on the throne of Khetara?”

“Story of My Life” by Lucy Score:

“Hazel is given a one-two punch when she’s forced to move out of her Upper East Side apartment and is given a final warning from her publisher. If she doesn’t turn in a book by her next deadline, they’re cutting her loose. Hazel rashly decides to leave what’s left of her city life behind and impulse buys a house in rural Pennsylvania sight unseen. How better to entertain the loyal readers she still has and rediscover her writing mojo than immersing herself in small-town life? Too bad this town looks to be on its last legs. At least she’s finding swoon-worthy inspiration from her hot, grumpy contractor Cam and his animal-rescuing, community-involved family. It’s all just research. What could go wrong?”

“Tea You at the Altar” by Rebecca Thorne:

“Kianthe and Reyna are ready to finally walk down the aisle–in just seven days, their wedding of a wifetime will be a reality. There’s loads to do–but like all best laid plans, everything seems to be going awry. Between their baby dragons causing mayhem in Tawney, Kianthe’s uptight parents inviting themselves to the wedding, and Reyna becoming embroiled in a secret plot to overthrow Queen Tilaine, the world seems against them–how are they going to live long enough to say ‘I do’?”

“A Monsoon Rising” by Thea Guanzon:

“After a lifetime of war, Alaric and Talasyn were thrust into an alliance between their homelands that was supposed to end the fighting; however, being married to their sworn foe feels far from peaceful. Now Talasyn must play the part of Alaric’s willing empress while her allies secretly plot to overthrow his reign. But the longer the couple are forced together, the harder it becomes to deny the feelings crackling like lightning between them. When the time comes to act, can she trust him, or must she ignore her heart for the sake of so many others?”

“Legacy of Gods” Series by Rina Kent:

“In this six-book series, a spicy dark romance takes place in rival universities—Kings U and Royal Elite University—where kids from American/Russian mafia families and the English royalty attend, respectively. This college romance series details the intense sexual attraction of brooding and angsty young protagonists who become obsessed in subduing their rivals in power plays and in bed.”

The Summer Reading Program is going on now and lasts through the end of July. Readers of all ages are invited to join the Reading Challenge and earn prizes such as coupons and free books. Learn more at mhklibrary.org/sr.

Will You Be My Neighbor? Community and Unity in Picture Books

By Hannah Atchison, Youth Services Librarian

All are welcome here. People from many ways of life and from all over the world meet at the public library. Libraries were first known as a place to collect and share knowledge, but it has also always been a community space. It is the duty of libraries to adapt to meet their community’s needs. This includes cultivating an environment where communities can blossom and a material collection that reflects that. Here is a selection of children’s picture books about building community and finding unity for everyone to enjoy. See through the eyes of a child again.

“All Are Neighbors” is one of several books we have by Alexandra Penfold. I enjoy all of them. This one includes themes of inclusion, belonging, and diversity. A new family moves into the neighborhood and is welcomed into the community. The pictures are joyful, bright, and inviting.

“The Little Bit Scary People” by Emily Jenkins is one of my favorites to recommend. Empathy is learned by the main character as they encounter both strangers and neighbors who seem scary at first because of their appearance or behavior. They choose to question their assumptions and see the best in those people. They give them grace, making up kind stories about them. Everyone has good days and bad days and that doesn’t make them a bad person.

“Thank You, Neighbor!” is about building community through helping others. Ruth Chan’s book was an excellent storytime book during our summer reading theme, “All Together Now” in 2023. The main character goes for a walk with their dog around the block. They take time to appreciate everyone they meet and how they help one another. The main character says thank you to their neighbors and community helpers and returns home.

“Enemy Pie” by Derek Munson stars a young boy who has made his first enemy – another boy who didn’t invite him to play. He tells his father who starts working on a special enemy pie for him to feed his enemy. His dad tells him to invite the boy over to the house while he makes the pie. While they play, the two kids slowly become friends. It turns out enemy pie is delicious.

“What if Everybody Thought That?” In this book by Ellen Javernick, the author teaches the reader the importance of questioning the way they think and the assumptions they make about others. Sometimes the assumptions we make are wrong and can be hurtful. If we learn to think more positively about each other, we make room for more positivity. There is no reason to limit or simplify one another.

“Finding Kindness”, a book by Deborah Underwood, introduces the idea that opportunities for kindness are everywhere. Each page leads to the next as gentle acts connect to one another. With every kindness given, more is spread. In small, simple ways everyone makes a positive impact.

“Stone Soup” is one of my favorite folktales. This story has been retold so many times. A beautiful feature of folktales. In this version by Jon J. Muth, three monks come across a village that is struggling to survive after the impact of famine, floods, and war. The monks subtly teach the community the importance of sharing with one another as a means of survival and the abundance that comes from seemingly nothing.

“Sweet People Are Everywhere” by Alice Walker is a reminder that there are good people everywhere. They are in every country and every family. No matter where you go, you can find a sweet person.

“They All Saw a Cat” is an important reminder that there are many perspectives in the world and all of them are valuable. Despite everyone in the story seeing the same cat, they all see it differently. Our perspective, literal vision and moral compass, is what affects how we interact with the world. This story, by Brendan Wenzel, uses color and shapes to provide a visual experience for the reader that mirrors the written lesson.

“Because Amelia Smiled,” another favorite of mine by David Ezra Stein, tells a story about how one small, good thing can start a chain of positive events that spread throughout the world. What goes around comes around – in the best way. What effort and emotions we put into the world will return to us.

No matter what is going on in your world, the library has room for you. The books and other materials in our collection are a community resource just like the rest of our facility. Your use of the library gives us the numbers and information that we in turn give to the people who help us provide our resources and services. Thank you for being an important part of your library community. As Fred Rogers of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” once quoted, in times of need, “look for the helpers”. We are here.

Manhattan Public Library is a cornerstone of free and equal access to a world of ideas and information for the Manhattan, Kansas, community. Manhattan Public Library serves more than 75,000 people in the Riley County area through curated books and other media collections, knowledgeable staff, relevant programming for all ages, and meeting space. Learn more at mhklibrary.org.