Endling by Maria Reva Jan. 30’s news of a temporary ceasefire and the possible admittance of Ukraine into the European Union is a necessary reminder that the Russian War on Ukraine continues, despite significant domestic and international distractions. Maria Reva’s novel “Endling” takes us back to February 2022, when Russia first launched its full-scale invasion, … Read more
Spread Me by Sarah Gailey On a far-flung desert planet, research station life follows a predictable routine: days are for analyzing samples and tracking sandstorms. Nights are for drinking games and romantic entanglements. Or at least, that’s how the rest of the team lets off steam—head researcher Kinsey chose this assignment specifically for the isolation. As a desert storm appears on the horizon, they discover the body of an alien lifeform buried in the sand. Kinsey breaks protocol … Read more
Sunbirth by An Yu In the desert town of Five Poems Lake, a young woman tries to live a peaceful life of routine despite her circumstances. Twelve years ago, her parents disappeared one by one: only her father’s body was found. Her loss was overshadowed when the sun began to disappear from the sky a sliver at a time. Since then, the locals who remain have acclimated to the colder … Read more
Tilt by Emma Pattee As our neighbors in Sumas and Everson can attest, nature is a powerful force that can completely upend lives: destroying homes, threatening personal safety and straining mental health to the limit. Debut author Emma Pattee imagines life after a major earthquake — when “the Big One” hits Portland — something that … Read more
In Good Health: Uncomplicated, Allergen-aware Recipes for a Nourished Life by Rachel Riggs If you’ve been piling on the glazed ham and mashed potatoes this holiday season, or leaning into latkes, or washing everything down with egg nog and a side of gingerbread, you may be craving something a little healthier. Rachel Riggs’ cookbook, “In … Read more
Solito: A Memoir by Javier Zamora What were you doing at 9 years of age? What were your daily concerns when you were in the fourth grade? At 9 years old, author and poet Javier Zamora traveled 3,000 miles – from El Salvador, through Guatemala and Mexico – to arrive in the U.S. and reunite … Read more
December is the month of “best-of” reading lists designed to celebrate literary excellence and guide readers toward meaningful reads, serving both as a reflection on the year in books and an invitation to discover new favorites for the year ahead. What books did Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) library staff love most this year? Several of … Read more
Busted by Dan Gemeinhart The cover of children’s book author Dan Gemeinhart’s latest book for middle grade readers, “Busted,” shows a boy, a girl, an old man and a hairless cat in a classic car being chased by a cop car while dollar bills fly out the window. That alone should be enough to entice even … Read more
Ian’s Ride: A Long-distance Journey to Joy by Karen Polinsky On a beautiful, early summer Santa Cruz evening, Ian Mackay was poised on his bike at the top of the Great Meadow bike path, looking down at shimmering Monterey Bay. Tonight was the night, he decided, that he would break his record, rocketing down the … Read more
The Lost Journals of Sacajewea by Debra Magpie Earling Debra Magpie Earling’s “The Lost Journals of Sacajewea” is the reclamation of a historical figure often clouded by myth. Sacajewea was a Shoshone woman who traveled as part of the Lewis and Clark Expedition from 1804 to 1806, serving at times as both an interpreter and … Read more