Whistler by Ann Patchett It’s not every day that a writer of Ann Patchett’s caliber and popularity comes to Whatcom County for a free presentation – yet nestled between stops in Seattle and Vancouver is her appearance on July 11 at Ferndale High School, hosted by Whatcom County Library System. The bad news: free tickets … Read more
Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill An ancient lake creature teams up with a witch in this fresh take on British folklore. Jenny Greenteeth spends her days catching fish and collecting sunken treasures for her underwater cave. When she rescues a witch from drowning in her lake, the two realize they should work together to defeat the ancient evil that threatens the village, Jenny’s lake, and magic everywhere. Together they embark on … Read more
Bog Queen by Anna North Past meets present in this fast-paced archaeological mystery. Forensic anthropologist Agnes is wrapping up her studies in England when she is asked to identify a long-buried body for the local police. What she finds is something far older and stranger: an Iron Age woman, perfectly preserved by the peat bog’s acidic moss. The discovery launches Agnes and her colleagues into a race against time. Their archaeological dig is opposed by both peat miners … Read more
Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser Set aside your preconceived notions about how a true-crime book should read. This one is wild. Comprehensive in history and background material, “Murderland” never goes off the rails, but it does take some side trips to unexpected destinations. Don’t jump off the … Read more
They Called Us Enemy by George Takei OG “Star Trek” fans know George Takei for his classic role as Sulu, helmsman of the USS Enterprise. Others know him as an activist for gay rights and the rights of immigrants. Born to Japanese-American parents, Takei and his family were forced to live in the Tule Lake … Read more
Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online by Fortesa Latifi No one thought too much about it in the early days of social media. Snap a cute pic of your kids, share it online, what’s the harm? These days, though, parents are considering the impact of a childhood in the spotlight. Journalist Fortesa Latifi is one of those parents, and those questions echo … Read more
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke To millions of followers, Natalie Heller Mills’s life is idyllic. Her Instagram feed shares inspiring, impeccably lit images of Natalie and her cowboy husband on their ranch, Natalie kneading the day’s bread, Natalie with her stair-step, perfectly traditional children. She’s careful that no one sees behind the pioneer façade to what holds it all together: the nannies, the high-end appliances, the old-money inheritance keeping the farm afloat. But one … Read more
The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoë Schlanger In “The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth,” author Zoë Schlanger challenges our narrow preconceptions of consciousness. By tracing the evolution of animal … Read more
Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care by Claudia Rowe As a journalist for the Seattle Times, The New York Times and Mother Jones, Claudia Rowe is no stranger to reporting on the horrible things that can happen to children. Her story about Latino youth gang activity in Grant County, Washington, … Read more
Whidbey by T Kira Madden Exploring the aftermath of child sexual abuse, “Whidbey,” the debut novel by author T Kira Madden, explores how such abuse continues to manifest in the lives of victims, as well as those who care about them. Madden is herself a survivor, and her first book, a memoir entitled “Long Live … Read more