Category Reviews

A girls sits at the end of a long, shadowed hallway, with her back against a door.

Julia by Peter Straub

Angie Engles Leave a comment
A girls sits at the end of a long, shadowed hallway, with her back against a door.

by Angie E.

Hello there, fellow horror enthusiasts! If you’re on the hunt for a bone-chilling, pulse-
pounding read to get you into the Halloween spirit, look no further than Julia by Peter Straub (print and e-audiobook). The author emerged as a rising star in the 1970s alongside his friend and sometimes collaborator, Stephen King. Together, they revitalized the horror genre, redefining its bounds with The Talisman (print and e-audiobook) and Black House (print and e-audiobook).

Despite this early success, Straub and his individual contributions to literature have often taken a backseat to the towering presence of King. However, his unique writing style, masterful storytelling, and depth of character development make him a force to be reckoned with, especially in stories like Julia – about a woman with a haunting past and a dark secret. As the narrative unfolds, you’ll find yourself drawn deeper into the web of her life, unable to escape its sinister grip. Straub’s character development is top-notch; you’ll feel like you know Julia intimately, yet she remains shrouded in mystery, making her all the more compelling.

What makes Julia a standout Halloween read is its ability to mess with your mind. Straub has this knack for creating an atmosphere so thick with dread that you can practically taste it. The line between reality and the supernatural blurs, and you’ll start questioning everything you thought you knew. Is it ghosts, madness, or something even more sinister? The pacing is relentless. The tension keeps ratcheting up, and Straub’s prose is beautifully haunting, painting vivid, unsettling images in your imagination. You’ll be right there with the characters, wandering the eerie, fog-shrouded streets of their world.

The novel is not just about cheap thrills and jump scares. Straub explores profound themes like guilt, redemption, and the nature of evil. It’s a thinking reader’s horror novel that will haunt your thoughts long after you’ve finished it. Julia is the perfect spooky holiday read, as it’s a master class in psychological horror, filled with unforgettable characters, a chilling atmosphere, and plenty of twists and turns. So, grab your favorite blanket, and prepare for a Halloween night you won’t soon forget.

Angie is an Instructor & Research Specialist at Central Branch and is a co-facilitator for Reads of Acceptance, HCLS’ first LGBTQ-focused book club. Her ideal day is reading in her cozy armchair, with her cat Henry next to her.

The cover depicts a celestial sphere with clouds and the rays of a sun, with the silhouettes of a white dragon and a black dragon flying in front of it.

Everything’s Better with Dragons

Kristen B. 1 Comment

by Kristen B.

The cover depicts a celestial sphere with clouds and the rays of a sun, with the silhouettes of a white dragon and a black dragon flying in front of it.

One of the hottest titles at the moment is Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. It has Hunger Games energy, plus dragons! Violet, a young woman who expects to follow her deceased father into a scholarly life, is instead enrolled into the military academy by her mother, the general. From there, the story takes off into a school story, but with death of cadets an inevitable, acceptable outcome. On top of not wanting to be in the dragon academy, Violet has physical issues (which seem similar to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) that make it even more difficult for her to succeed. However, she does have a fair amount of stubbornness and unwillingness to die – gotta love her! The story only gets more complicated with conscripted children of a failed rebellion and ever-increasing military action at the country’s borders. I suspect there’s more going on here, but I will have to wait for answers until the next book in the series, which comes out in November.

Speaking of waiting – go ahead and get yourself on the list for Fourth Wing (print, e-book, or e-audiobook). In the meantime, here are more great books with dragons:

The book cover depicts a dragon in the sky, wings spread and with pointed tail pointing towards the ground, as a woman in a long, flowing dress faces it and looks up towards it.

Heartstone by Elle Katharine White
Pride and Prejudice, with dragons! This one leans more toward Austen and Regency romance than modern dystopian fantasy. It has everything: country houses, fights with monsters, terrible misunderstandings, class issues, and one true love. But, you know, with dragons. Aliza Bentaine, second of five sisters, resides at the family’s country estate of Merybourne Manor. A flock of wild gryphons has infested their land and, tragically, killed the youngest sister. Riders come to the rescue, and the rest follows from there. Reader, I devoured it – plus, there are sequels.

The book cover is the face of a red dragon, with antler-like horns and yellow eyes, facing the reader, against a backdrop of stars and pine trees in silhouette.

To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose

Native Americans and colonization, with dragons! In this alternate timeline, the Viking explorations became permanent settlements of this continent, with a Spanish-equivalent nation to the south. In what maps to current-day New England, Anequs, a young Native woman, lives a traditional island lifestyle with her family, until a rare indigenous dragon lays an egg and the ensuing hatchling bonds with her. She is compelled to attend a dragon academy, which brings her in close contact with “regular society,” and not particularly subtle culture clashes ensue. Anequs, though, is determined to do what is best for herself and her dragon, as well as her family and friends, while actively avoiding assimilation.
Also available as an e-book.

The book cover shows a grey-blue dragon flying against a white, cloudy sky, with a blue sea and a sailing ship beneath it.

His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik (Temeraire series)

The Napoleonic wars, with dragons! Will Laurence is an officer and a gentleman serving in the Royal Navy when his ship captures a French frigate carrying important, secret cargo – a dragon egg! The dragon Temeraire chooses Will, causing him to leave the Navy and, for the most part, good society to become a member of the Aerial Corps along with his new charge. Class structures provide much of the drama, outside of the war raging across the continent. The subsequent political and military maneuvers are wonderfully entertaining, especially with Temeraire as the outsider who often needs to have things explained. The mystery of the dragon’s origins continue through this book and the next. Over the course of the series, Laurence and Temeraire travel the world, always looking to advance the cause and care of the intelligent, capable species of dragonkind.
Also available as an e-book and e-audiobook.

The book cover shows a grey dragon in profile from the neck up, teeth bared, against a darker grey background.

The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons (Chorus of Dragons series)

Kitchen boy to … well, more … epic fantasy, with big, bad, scenery slaying dragons! This sprawling series takes on many standard tropes and has a lot of fun with them. Prophecy, immortal elves, scheming merchant families, named swords, battles for the throne, absent and all-too-present deities, and dragons combine in Jenn Lyons’ huge (finished!) series. Khirin is the main character, but not necessarily the hero, of a story that is the most recent chapter in a epic that spans millennia. A seeming orphan thief who lives in a brothel, Khirin’s life is turned upside down when he’s condemned to slavery and again when it seems he’s a lost scion of a noble house. The plot moves fast, and things are never quite as they appear. The stories are written as a sort of historical account, complete with dry, snarky footnotes. Discovering the “author” and the role he plays is part of the fun. Despite the doorstop size of the five volumes in this series, they move fast and require you to read carefully.
Also available as an e-audiobook.

Kristen B. is a devoted bookworm lucky enough to work as the graphic designer for HCLS. She likes to read, stitch, dance, and watch baseball in season (but not all at the same time).

The picture is a collage of the three book covers in the series, with cartoon illustration of Max and his cohort with swords and bows and arrows.

Two Fun Series for Young Readers

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By Monae R.

The picture is a collage of the three book covers in the series, with cartoon illustration of Max and his cohort with swords and bows and arrows.

Max and the Midknights is a children’s series that mixes between graphic novel and a chapter book styles. These are great for readers who enjoy the ‘Big Nate’ graphic novels because they were written by BIG NATE himself. Parents know the true author, but let the kids be amazed. Follow this story as Max and his friends travel through medieval times, with foes and kings and magic.

In Max and the Midknights we are introduced to Max, Kevyn, Simon, Millicent, and Uncle Budrick: a group of young children and a single adult who travel through medieval times to overthrow an unjust king and restore the land of Byjovia to its original glory. Filled with humor, readers will love this story and the sequels. Finished book one and want more? Don’t worry. Follow the midknights in Battle of the Bodkins as they discover a new type of villain called Bodkins, who are trying to take over Byjovia. Continue with The Tower of Time, where you can travel through time and be reintroduced to a few villains and even friends in the conclusion to the epic series.

The picture shows some foliage in dark green silhouette on a hill, with the book covers for the first two books in the series to the right.

No matter if you have read the Serafina series, the Willa duology by Robert Beatty will have you wrapped and engulfed in its story. You can listen to the audio, read the physical book, have it on your Kindle and tablet. Follow Willow as she looks for the truth her clan has hidden from her and her generation. Determined to uncover her clan’s history, Willa makes her way through the forest making unlikely friends and learning not to judge a book by its cover or believe what everyone tells you. Sometimes, you need to discover the truth yourself. If that does not convince you, read this small snippet of Willa escaping a treacherous place and protecting those close to her.  

“She could feel herself getting farther away from them with every step she took. Her heart swelled with hope that she was going to make it. But as she ran away, Lorcan pulled back his arm and hurled his killing spear like a javelin. It shot through the air and struck her in the neck with a shocking blow and knocked her to the floor. She looked down toward the end of the corridor, and the last thing she saw was Nathaniel’s children disappearing into the escape hole”.  

The adventure does not end there. Guaranteed to bring you tears of both joy and sadness, Willa’s story comes to a loving, surprising, and happy conclusion in Willa of Dark Hollow.  

Monae is a Children’s Instructor and Research Specialist at HCLS East Columbia Branch.

Rough lettering of the title overlays the image of a person with dark skin, a blue hate, and orange ball perched under their arm.

Freedom to Read Roundtable: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store with James McBride

Rohini G. Leave a comment
Rough lettering of the title overlays the image of a person with dark skin, a blue hate, and orange ball perched under their arm.

Freedom To Read Roundtable
Sunday, October 15
2:30 – 4 pm
In person at Miller Branch – register
online session – register

“Tikkun olam,” the Hebrew expression for “repairing the world,” is woven throughout the novel. Why? – asks Sydney Page of The Washington Post, as she interviews James McBride about his new novel The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store.*

I just love it; I love the innocence of it, I love the purity of it and I love that it works. “Heal the world” is a big phrase. How do you heal the world? You start right where you are. – says James McBride


*The Washington Post, September 23, 2023.

James McBride goes on to elaborate that our commonalities outweigh our differences and how we need to celebrate our common ground rather than fight over differences. Eschewing cynicism, he believes that we’re driven by kindness, and there’s a moral sense which underpins the American dream. McBride is, without question, one of America’s great storytellers and an essential voice in the literary landscape. This summer he returns with his signature hope, humor, and humanity in The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, which begins in 1972 when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania find a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Long-held secrets emerge in Chicken Hill, a neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans have lived side by side for decades.

You can borrow the title in print or large print, as an e-book, or as an audiobook on CD, or an e-audiobook.

Hear more from National Book Award-winning author, musician, and screenwriter James McBride at the Freedom To Read Roundtable happening on Sunday, October 15 from 2:30 – 4 pm. Join with librarians, publishers, poets, authors, and your community in supporting the essential right to read at the Freedom to Read Roundtable.

The Roundtable also features a distinguished panel of speakers:

  • Emily Drabinski is the current President of the American Library Association (ALA) and Associate Professor at the Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Studies.
  • Alexandra Petri is a humorist and columnist for The Washington Post. She studied English and classics at Harvard and has received the National Press Club Angele Gingras Award for Humor Writing and the Shorty Award. She has been recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 and in the Fifty Funniest People Right Now (Rolling Stone).

You may attend in-person or virtually. The in-person event happens at HCLS Miller Branch. Register HERE. To attend online, register HERE.

This event is presented in partnership by Howard County Library System (HCLS) and Howard County Poetry and Literature Society (HoCoPoLitSo).

A close up illustration of a woman's face, with long black hair. The words appear atop, in pink and yellow ombre.

Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola

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A close up illustration of a woman's face, with long black hair. The words appear atop, in pink and yellow ombre.

by Sahana C.

My favorite reality show of all time is Love Island UK, where young, single British people are paired off into couples and vie for the affection of the public, living together full-time in an elaborate villa and doing relationship challenges over the course of a summer. I keep up with the newest season rabidly, and while it’s airing, my friends will hear me “pulling them for a chat” or asking if they’re “mugging me off, innit” to an annoying degree.  

So, when Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola was recommended to me, a romance set at a British university with characters who had the same South London charm as some of my favorite personalities on this season of Love Island, I was hooked instantly. I’ve read Babalola’s debut, Love in Color (and actually, Love in Color was one of my first ever Chapter Chats posts!) so I was excited to read more from this author.  

Kiki Banjo, our fearless, bold, brash, beautiful protagonist brings us with her to her university campus, which is predominantly white (and is, aptly named, Whitewell). But she and her friends, and the rest of the Black community at the school, have carved out their own niche on campus (also aptly named: Blackwell. Let it not be said that Babalola is going for subtlety here). Between Blackwell politics, class projects, potential internships in New York, and her ever steady radio show, Brown Sugar, Kiki’s a busy girl with no room or desire for a relationship. The guy she’s hooking up with is more hassle than he’s worth so she dumps him. Unfortunately (mainly for him), he turns out to be a bit of a creep, so Kiki turns to the next guy in the room for help, and suddenly she starts seeing Malakai everywhere, and he’s giving her hives. She can’t quite place whether his good guy energy is an act or if he’s the player she thinks he is, but she has no choice but to work with him as fate or homework or other forces bring them closer together.  

This book is a romance. I’m not a romance reader, but this one caught me with friendships and femininity at the center of the story, as Kiki finds her place.  Every “Kiki, you’re moving mad” made me grin with it’s unabashed Love-Island-esque British-ism, but not in the way of stuffy classic literature. This is a young, vibrant book that doesn’t shy away from issues about sexual harassment on campus, being Black and facing discrimination at university, and the very real personal tragedies everyone carries with them to school. Babalola warns us, at the heart of this book, to look away from the surface and towards loving one another with grace. But she does it with an attitude, with well-seasoned flair, and with a no-holds-barred main character that made me love her with every bold comment and revealed insecurity.  

Honey and Spice is available in print, eBook, and eAudiobook.  

Sahana is an Instructor and Research Specialist at the Savage Branch. They enjoy adding books to their “want to read” list despite having a mountain of books waiting for them already.

An upper body photo of the author in lacy black top and long earrings.

Howard County Business Leaders Recommend

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Whether you are an established business leader, wanting to advance your career, or nursing an entrepreneurial hope, HCLS has books for you. We asked business people in our community for book recommendations. These reads, all available to borrow, will take you to your next level!

An upper body photo of the author in lacy black top and long earrings.

Laura Bacon
Founder/CEO, The 3rd
We Should All Be Millionaires
by Rachel Rodgers
This book really helped me to undo some hard conditioning around pricing, wealth, and your own direct ability to affect it. The book feels like a great girlfriend giving you all of her hard learned lessons about building and sustaining.
Available in print, as e-book and e-audiobook

David Woodruff
CEO, APL Federal Credit Union
The Bonds That Make Us Free
by C. Terry Warner
This book was a therapeutic journey for me to build new habits of taking responsibility in my relationships — both professional and personal. While not a traditional “business book,” my experience grappling with these ideas has had significant impact on my effectiveness as a leader and co-worker.
Available in print and as e-book

The title with scripted capitals appears above a floral pattern.

Jennifer Jones
CEO, Howard County Economic Development Authority
Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution by Uri Levine
This book advises teams to remain fixed on the problem you are solving for your customers rather than a particular solution. Problems last for a long time, but the solutions that come along can change depending on new technologies and other factors. Focusing on the problem allows you to roll out new concepts and solutions to serve your customers. The book encourages you to be open to change and innovation.

A bright yellow color with black tiype with white arrows emphasizing and underlining individual words.
Movie poster of In the Heights, with main characters featured on a brick wall mural, the Brooklyn Bridge in the background, and a shaved ice hand cart in the front.

Celebrate Hispanic American Culture in Film

chtasker Leave a comment
Movie poster of In the Heights, with main characters featured on a brick wall mural, the Brooklyn Bridge in the background, and a shaved ice hand cart in the front.

by Cherise T.

It’s the story of a block that was disappearing. Once upon a time, in a faraway land called Nueva York, en un barrio called Washington Heights. Say it, so it doesn’t disappear – Usnavi

National Hispanic American Heritage Month happens September 15 to October 15. For a small celebration, visit Central Branch on Sunday, Oct 1, at 1:30 pm, to watch In the Heights. An exuberant celebration of community, family, music, and culture, the film highlights the lives of Hispanic Americans living in Washington Heights, New York. In a rare combination, both spectacular musical numbers and warm, insightful character portrayals captivate the viewer.

Usnavi, a neighborhood bodega owner surrounded by friends and found family, yearns to return to his Dominican Republic birthplace. Usnavi’s friend, Nina, has just returned from a year at an exclusive out-of-state college, but she is questioning her choices and goals. Usnavi and his friends are guided by the neighborhood’s Abuela Claudia who sings a film-stopping anthem, “Paciencia y Fe,” about the lessons of patience and faith she learned as a Cuban immigrant. Based on the Broadway show, the film has a score written by Lin Manuel-Miranda who makes a cameo appearance as Piraguero, the “guy” who sells piragua, flavored shaved ice.

The biographical documentary, My Name Is Lopez, describes the life and accomplishments of Trinidad “Trini” Lopez, one of the first Mexican American performers to achieve mainstream status as a rock and roll performer. Trini’s parents were undocumented immigrants, and he reached for a life beyond his Texas upbringing. His career included acceptance as a member of Frank Sinatra’s “rat pack.” Lopez refused to anglicize his image, enduring countless racial injustices, and is considered a trailblazer for Latin performers. Sadly, he died of COVID in 2020, at the age of 83.

Stand and Deliver tells the story of a Hispanic math teacher, Jaime Escalante, inspiring students in an under-resourced school in Los Angeles. Determined to disrupt the cycle of underachievement amongst his Latino students, Escalante sets a goal for his class to reach the level of AP calculus. As Escalante is mocked by his fellow teachers and threatened by gang members, he makes many personal sacrifices to inspire those around him. This award-winning film, based on a true story, includes outstanding performances by Edward James Olmos, Lou Diamond Phillips, Rosanna DeSoto, and Andy Garcia.

The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society. Learn more at
www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov.

Cherise Tasker is an Adult Instructor and Research Specialist at the Central Branch. When not immersed in literary fiction, Cherise can be found singing along to musical theater soundtracks. 

At the top of a grand staircase, surrounded by columns and arches, a man in blue suite stands in front of a large, classical painting.

All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley

Kristen B. 1 Comment
At the top of a grand staircase, surrounded by columns and arches, a man in blue suite stands in front of a large, classical painting.

by Kristen B.

As a native to central Maryland, I grew up regularly visiting some of the best museums in the country. My parents would herd us onto the Metro, and we would spend long days at the various Smithsonian Institution buildings – American History, Natural History, the Zoo – along with the National Gallery of Art. Everything was free and fascinating. To this day, I love to spend time in a museum. So, when I heard about All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me, read by the author, it seemed like a good choice for an audiobook for my commute. I was right about that!

Patrick Bringley turned a similar childhood love of museums into a job during a particularly stressful period of his life. When, as a young man just out of college and working for The New Yorker, Patrick got the news that his beloved older brother was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, he re-evaluated many of his choices. To be able to spend as much time as possible taking care of Tom, Patrick found a less demanding job as a security guard at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

This memoir illustrates ten years of Patrick’s life, in which he grieves his brother, falls in love, works in close proximity to some of the world’s most famous fine art, and moves from being a novice to a veteran at the museum. It’s a loving look at family, and a fascinating, up close view of what it’s like to spend 8-10 hours of every working day on your feet among both ancient and contemporary art. He details some of his favorite pieces, including Fra Angelico’s Crucifixion and Peter Bruegel’s The Harvesters, and he spends the better part of one chapter mesmerized by quilts and their makers. Bringley recounts camaraderie with his cohort along with amusing interactions with visitors, including the tourist parents who are looking for the dinosaurs (oops, wrong museum … will mummies do?).

This slim, beautifully written volume presents an interesting cross-section of Bringley’s life, one that reminded me of why great works of art exist – to help people of all generations and historical eras express faith, love, grief, and the human condition. The most lovely part of this book seems to be the author himself, who embodies a sort of Midwestern niceness and willingness to take the world at face value. He approaches and interacts with the art surrounding him from a genuine humility of spirit, looking for the author’s intent and the common human truths to be found. I don’t read a lot of nonfiction, but I do enjoy the occasional memoir. This was one of the best, told in a self-deprecating style that focused on the wonders (personal and creative) around the author as much as on the author himself.

The title is available in print, e-book, e-audiobook, and audiobook on CD.

Kristen B. is a devoted bookworm lucky enough to work as the graphic designer for HCLS. She likes to read, stitch, dance, and watch baseball in season (but not all at the same time).

A collage of book covers: Picks for Kids, math made simple with Storytelling Math

Math Made Simple with Storytelling Math

Sylvia H. Leave a comment
A collage of book covers: Picks for Kids, math made simple with Storytelling Math

by Sylvia H.

Summer is wrapping up as the new school year gets underway! If you are looking for ways to share early learning concepts with your kiddo(s), I present to you: Storytelling Math.

When you hear the words “storytelling” and “math,” the subject may seem self-explanatory. Maybe you picture the “How many ___?” stories, filled with little variety or excitement. Well, this is not your typical “count the bears” series. These stories feature diverse characters and cultures, blending math with everyday activities and allowing children and their caregivers to explore math together. Notes following the story often include comments from the author delving more into the topic and/or culture discussed, as well as examples of hands-on activities to try at home.

Topics covered include, but are not limited to: sorting, measurement, patterns, spatial sense, and fractions. Some stories are in board book format for the youngest learners, while others are in picture book format for preschool and prekindergarten-aged children. Both formats have titles available to borrow in English and Spanish.

Below is an overview of some of my favorites from the series. I will say, it was hard to choose! If you are interested in more recommendations, visit your local branch. We will be happy to help!  

A small child holds a wooden bird house, with blue birds sitting nearby.

Board Books

Circle! Sphere! by Grace Lin 

Olivia, Alex, and Mei are all set to blow bubbles. When they each get a different shape of bubble wand they wonder, “will their bubbles be different shapes?” Three-dimensional shapes are introduced in a fun, relatable way in this sweet story of friends playing together. 

A Beautiful House for Birds by Grace Lin 

Olivia is decorating a birdhouse and decides to paint a pattern. But when she accidentally paints the wrong color, what can she do to mend her mistake? This story explores patterning while incorporating problem-solving and perseverance, skills useful for children of all ages. 

The Last Marshmallow by Grace Lin 

After a fun time in the snow, Olivia and Mei come in to warm up with some hot cocoa. When it’s down to one marshmallow left for the two of them, they work to find a fair way to share their treat. 

A child holding an armful of balls appears to be outdoors in front of trees and bushes.

Picture Books 

Usha and the Big Digger by Amitha Jagannath Knight 

On a night of stargazing, Aarti, Usha, and Gloria see different things. Aarti sees the Big Dipper, Usha sees the Big Digger, and Gloria sees the Big Kite! Who is right? Explore spatial sense, orientation, perspective, and more as the three discover constellations. 

The Animals Would Not Sleep by Sara Levine 

As Marco prepares for bedtime, his mother asks him to tidy his toys. He decides to sort his stuffed animals, but they will not sleep! Marco tries different categories: how the animals move, their size, and color, but it doesn’t seem to work. What will help the animals feel safe? Readers will explore the concept of sorting and classifying objects, with a focus on how different methods of organization can lead to different outcomes. 

Too-Small Tyson by JaNay Brown-Wood 

As the youngest and smallest, it’s not always easy for Tyson to keep up with his four older brothers. When the family pet gerbil, Swish, escapes from his cage, Tyson and his older brothers begin a search to find him. When his brothers cannot locate Swish, Tyson thinks, “If I were Swish, where would I go?” When Swish is found under the bed, Tyson uses proportional thinking to help his little friend, showing his brothers that even though he may be the smallest, he can still think big.

Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi! by Art Coulson 

Bo’s family is preparing for the Cherokee National Holiday festival, and he has worked hard making homemade marbles to sell at his family’s craft booth. The problem is that there is limited space to display them, so he has to find something to hold them that will not take up too much room. Bo sets out on a mission for the perfect container, experimenting with the concepts of estimation and volume along the way. Will he find something that works?

Did you know that Howard County Library System has on-demand classes for all ages? Check out our Learning for Children playlist. 

  1. Storytelling math series. (n.d.). Charlesbridge. https://www.charlesbridge.com/pages/storytelling-math-series 

Sylvia is a Children’s Instructor and Research Specialist at HCLS Miller Branch. She enjoys crafting, listening to audiobooks, naps, and walks with her dogs in 75 degree-ish weather.

A woman in a blue shirt dress, wearing pearls, has her purse crooked into one elbow and an old fashioned suitcase in the other hand. She is walking away from a large house. She is pictured only from the neck to ankles, making her "very close" in the picture.

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson 

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A woman in a blue shirt dress, wearing pearls, has her purse crooked into one elbow and an old fashioned suitcase in the other hand. She is walking away from a large house. She is pictured only from the ne

by Piyali C.

Sadeqa Johnson’s late grandmother became pregnant with her mom at the age of fourteen. Her grandfather, however, did not marry her grandmother since he was very light skinned, and he was from the ‘right’ side of the tracks. She was dark skinned and poor. Johnson writes in the Author’s Note that the idea for this book, The House of Eve, came to her as a what-if. What if her grandmother had the money and opportunity to have the baby in a home for unwed mothers, gave the baby up for adoption, and went on to fulfill her dreams?  

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson is a beautiful, searing novel about two young Black women in alternating narratives. It is 1948. Ruby Pearsall is on track to be the first in her family to go to college and accomplish her dream of becoming an optometrist. Ruby struggles to find even the few cents for bus fare to get to her ‘we rise‘ program in school so she can earn a scholarship to college. She is from the poorest area of North Philadelphia and comes from an extremely impoverished family. Although her mother, Inez, is indifferent to her needs, she has her aunt and grandmother who support her with love, shelter, and encouragement even though they cannot help her financially. They want their girl to go to college, become someone important, and make the family proud. But a love affair threatens to destroy her dreams to rise out of poverty. It also threatens to perpetuate the cycle of abuse and financial desperation. 

Eleanor comes from a blue-collar family. Her parents have given their all to send her to Howard University to get a good education and rise up in life. Eleanor appreciates and values the sacrifices of her parents and is determined to excel in school. However, she falls in love with a medical student, William, whose family is one of the most successful Black families in the Washington, D.C. area. William Pride’s mother, Rose Pride, does not let anyone enter their elite circle. Eleanor wonders if a pregnancy might give her an entry into their magical kingdom and perhaps she will feel like she belongs. Ruby and Eleanor’s lives will collide in unexpected ways and the decisions they make will change the course of their lives. 

With the magic of her words in this magnificent work of historical fiction, Johnson transports the readers to the rough neighborhoods of north Philadelphia, the campus of Howard University, elegant ballrooms in Washington, D.C., and the depressing interiors of homes for women who became pregnant out of matrimony. She also depicts the racial segregation that impacted lives of Black people as well as the consequences that women of any color suffered due to unplanned pregnancies at that time. The book paints a horrific picture of the homes run by nuns where unwed women and girls went to give birth; subsequently, the babies were given to wealthy families in exchange for hefty donations to those homes. Themes like colorism, wealth disparity, and social stratification among the Black community are intricately woven into the story, as are mentions of some real-life people and organizations. These make the book authentic and also give readers a glimpse into a slice of 1950s life that the Black community experienced in the United States.

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson is available from Howard County Library System in print, e-book, and e-audiobook formats.