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Staff Picks

We love to read, and we've got some interesting recommendations. Check Staff Picks weekly for new titles!

The week of November 9, 2009

The Shiniest Jewel: A Family Love Story by Marian Henley

This artist's illustrated memoir of her son's adoption and her father's death is remarkably moving, funny, and unsentimental.

What Can You Do with an Old Red Shoe? by Anna Alter

These fun crafts for kids encourage reuse.

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Studs Terkel's Working: A Graphic Adaptation by Harvey Pekar

Harvey Pekar, of American Splendor fame, illustrates Terkel's landmark oral histories of American workers.

The Dunderheads by Paul Fleischman

A villain is foiled by clever kids in this action-packed adventure chock-full of stylish illustrations.

The Grift by Debra Ginsberg

Is Marina, a young con-artist and fake psychic, turning into the real thing? Offbeat characters and a dash of romance make this thriller special.

The Monsterologist by Bobbi Katz

A memoir in rhyme, comprised of notes, drawings, and letters from an assortment of monsters.

Farewell, My Subaru by Doug Fine

An exuberant account of a year spent on a New Mexico ranch exploring just how "green" modern life can get.

The Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd

A gripping, perceptive and impassioned eco-thriller that feels all too real.

Market Forces by Richard K. Morgan

Capitalism gone bad creates a brutal dystopia in this futuristic thriller.

The Big Elephant in the Room by Lane Smith

A droll parade of embarrassments for one young donkey.

Nigella Express: Good Food, Fast by Nigella Lawson

Real-world, busy-day ideas that work. Brilliant, charming and funny, Nigella writes as well as she cooks.

The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson

The diary of a young African American who is raised as part of a science experiment during the Revolutionary War. M.T. Anderson is this year's Teen Author Lecture presenter.

A Carrion Death by Michael Stanley

Introducing Detective Kubu (Setswanan for "hippopotamus"). Hyena-gnawed human remains in a game preserve lead him to diamond smuggling, poaching, and lots more bodies.

Red Sings from Treetops by Joyce Sidman

A quirky, poetic tribute to the seasons.

Freddy and Fredericka by Mark Helprin

The prince and princess of Wales travel incognito across the U.S. on a mysterious mission in this clever, farcical romp.

Naked Bunyip Dancing by Steven Herrick

A year in an Australian middle school classroom with a warm and unconventional teacher, written in verse.

The Archivist's Story by Travis Holland

In 1939 Moscow, a literature professor-turned-state censor destroys prisoners' writings — until he meets author Isaac Babel, and is moved to acts of resistance.

Come to the Castle! by Linda Ashman

A sly, lavishly illustrated take on life in a medieval castle, as seen through the eyes of its many inhabitants.

Edible Schoolyard by Alice Waters

This visionary chef advocates for children via Edible Education, which integrates academics with growing and cooking delicious organic food.

Token by Alisa Kwitney and Joëlle Jones

In this graphic novel, 15-year-old Shira turns to petty crime when her widowed father starts dating his secretary.

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

A London man is shocked to discover his father is Anansi, the trickster god. Then, a newly discovered brother with magic powers turns his life upside down.

Wombat Walkabout by Carol Diggory Shields

When a hungry dingo follows six little wombats on a walkabout, he's in for a surprise.

Tin House [35], "Off the Grid"

Portland's own standout literary magazine offers a special issue on people living beyond boundaries of all kinds.

Me, the Missing, and the Dead by Jenny Valentine

When a series of chance events leaves him in possession of an urn with ashes, 16-year-old Lucas becomes convinced that its occupant is communicating with him.

The Invention of Everything Else by Samantha Hunt

A surreal historical novel of not-quite-mad scientist Nikola Tesla, befriended by a hotel chambermaid interested in time travel.

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown

One boy's quest for a greener world, one garden at a time.

The Economic Naturalist by Robert H. Frank

Why do drive-up ATM machines have Braille dots on the keypads? An Ivy League economist gets playful.

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

A madcap romantic comedy that follows 15-year-old Scarlett through a summer in New York City.

Con Ed by Matthew Klein

With the Russian Mafia after his son for thousands, a shot at the perfect scam tempts a Silicon Valley con artist trying to go straight.

Redwoods by Jason Chin

A city boy finds a book about the redwoods, and suddenly finds himself walking among the ancient, enormous trees.

The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue

A colorful novel of romance and intrigue, based on the true story of a scandalous divorce in 1860s London.

The Savage by David Almond

When Blu's father dies, he writes a story about a savage boy — weird and wild and magic and dark — and it begins to come true.

Shining at the Bottom of the Sea by Stephen Marche

Inventive stories of the imaginary isle of Sanjania's rich history of literature, piracy and sin.

The Lion's Share by Matthew McElligott

A tale of halving cake and eating it, too.

Guernica by Dave Boling

The Basque town firebombed by Germany in 1937 comes to life in this vivid saga of three generations.

My Tiki Girl by Jennifer McMahon

Fifteen-year-old Maggie, still grieving the loss of her mother, finds a friend who makes her part of a quirky family and plans their future together as roving musicians and lovers.

War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning by Chris Hedges

Why is war so endlessly compelling? The New York Times correspondent Chris Hedges — not a pacifist — asks for greater thoughtfulness and responsibility.

Tulip and Lupin Forever by Mireille Levert

Gorgeous watercolors illustrate the sensitive story of a watering fairy who loses her beloved pet.