Dinosaur toys standing on stack of books
Dino-mite! Books and more

Revised

December 21, 2018
Whether you're looking for holiday gifts for others or a title to take up yourself, we have ideas about books, music and movies! Read on for our 2018 faves-- you'll find selections for all ages and just about every genre.

Library staff loved these 135 titles published in 2018.

Hannah E says:
These hilarious one-liners will make you laugh like you're still a middle schooler in computer class.
...And Then You Die of Dysentery
Amie W says:
A little sugar and a little magic get baked into a lot of trouble when an 11-year-old discovers she comes from a family of baking brujas.
A Dash of Trouble
Sandy D says:
Fear the typewriter! Chit. Chit. Chit Chit Chit. Be prepared!!!!!!
A Noise Downstairs
Coleman M says:
What makes the creatures so scary is how efficiently they hunt by sound, so I am relieved to report we will not be hiring them to work at the library.
A Quiet Place
Gena S says:
These stories remind us of the interconnectedness of our lives and the significance of communities-- both those we're part of, and those we're not.
A State of Freedom
Sarah L says:
I wanted to laugh, then cry, and not just because of the nostalgia for flip phones, but by the truth hit home by Shirin and her experiences.
A Very Large Expanse of Sea
Jess P says:
Everything you need to know about the greatest show of all time!
All the Pieces Matter
Desi T says:
Gloria does a great job of communicating the complexities inherent in the lives of immigrant children. This book ticks all the boxes for me!
American Panda
Kristin D says:
A compelling storyline with poignant and incredible characters, this may be the best book I read in 2018.
An American Marriage
Jess P says:
Patrick Ness brings all his heartbreaking lyricism to the story of Moby Dick, with gorgeous illustrations from Rovina Cai to boot.
And the Ocean Was Our Sky
Andrew C says:
"Atlanta" is one of the most inspired, unpredictable, best-cast TV series currently on the air.
Atlanta. Season 1
Morgan H says:
Brian Selznick does it again with this inventive and delightful story for emerging readers; you've never seen a picture book like this!
Baby Monkey, Private Eye
Heather W says:
Ever wonder what is behind your child's silence? Maybe you don't want to know.
Baby Teeth
Kristin M says:
A rare and important first-hand account of one of the last African slaves in the United States. I especially recommend the audiobook!
Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo"
Jason S says:
Kindness is contagious... pass it on.
Be Kind
Jeff R says:
Peer pressure. Cool kids. Pit toilets. Really, who can resist the adolescent camping sub-genre? Not me, and not when it's delivered by Vera Brosgol!
Be Prepared
Annie C says:
It's Binti's first time leaving home and it's no small journey across the galaxy. Right when she's settling in, her new world is turned upside down.
Binti
Jess P says:
A fascinating and respectful glimpse into the life of the man who haunted my entire childhood.
Born to be Posthumous
Morgan H says:
Escaped convicts, a time capsule and a small town turned upside down make this thrilling summer read impossible to put down-- or forget.
Breakout
Annie C says:
Beautiful illustrations complement this powerful memoir about Hisham's experiences before and after the ongoing Syrian war.
Brothers of the Gun: A Memoir of the Syrian War
April O says:
Meticulously chronicling the life of the film star who put martial arts on the map, this two-inch-thick book packs a one-inch punch!  
Bruce Lee: A Life
Stefanie S says:
A coming-of-age masterpiece, "Call Me by Your Name" beautifully captures a summer romance, set somewhere in Italy in the mid-'80s.
Call Me by Your Name
Jess P says:
Sedaris' new stories go deeper and darker than ever, but he's still a man who names his beach house, The Sea Section.
Calypso
Desi T says:
Readers get an understanding of the difficult tensions involved in power struggles both personal and societal. Great characters and excellent pacing.
Children of Blood and Bone
Carol V says:
Completely absorbing and poetic, this book will take you through a whirlwind of Greek gods and heroes while still feeling firmly planted in reality.
Circe
Kate F says:
Hauntings, international intrigue AND a best friend that's a ghost? Spooky scary!
City of Ghosts
Sandy D says:
Connelly has a hit that will leave fans of Harry Bosch and Renee Ballard hungry for more.
Dark Sacred Night
Kristin D says:
Holy pillow puffs! This is a super-fun story with a challenge: how long can you avoid bedtime? That depends, how long can you keep your eyes open?
Don't Blink!
Sarah L says:
What does a working woman look like? From business casual to coveralls, this photo anthology highlights the extraordinary diversity of women who work.
Dress Like a Woman
Andrew C says:
Matt Young exorcises his wartime demons with immediacy, heartbreaking honesty and endless invention.
Eat the Apple
Sarah C says:
Sand, dreamfire and drama course through this captivating India-inspired fantasy about a strong and determined heroine with Daiva magic in her blood.
Empire of Sand
Monica B says:
Be warned, you're going to want to listen to Family Tree over and over again.
Family Tree
Alison R says:
This fantastic collection of essays kicks off with a rousing defense of libraries.
Feel Free
Lisa F says:
Frances Price faces scandal and financial ruin with such deep, dark wit I found myself wanting to be like her. Without the ruin, of course.
French Exit: A Tragedy of Manners
Kate F says:
This book touched my heart! Moving and funny and deep-- definitely one of my favorite reads this year.
Front Desk
Gena S says:
"She wants you to remember those hills are volcanoes / that they are sleeping / & sleeping things wake up."
Girl with Death Mask
Amanda K says:
This simple story of a dog looking for a home will fill you entirely with awe and love. You will read this, and you will smile.
Good Dog
Stephanie B says:
A huge love letter to women who refuse to be oppressed. Grace and Fury? More like Great and Fabulous.
Grace and Fury
Morgan H says:
Another powerful and timely stunner from the incomparable Jacqueline Woodson (which I've already added to my shortlist of Newbery Award predictions).
Harbor Me
Jeff R says:
Jarring twists, comic respites and wholly original characters are employed to examine the African-American experience in 21st-century America.
Heads of the Colored People
Jeff D says:
Mr. Washington will make you remember how great jazz was in the 20th century and make you believe it could make a comeback in the 21st.
Heaven and Earth
Sandy D says:
Fans of Mitch Rapp and The Gray Man will love the third installment of this five-star series.
Hellbent
Coleman M says:
This Halloween, sit back and enjoy some nightmare fuel made specifically for mothers, sons and people with nut allergies.
Hereditary
Morgan H says:
This stunning National Book Award finalist hits you right in the feels-- and proves that art really can save your life.
Hey, Kiddo
Ann P says:
Doesn't matter what language you speak, talent always shines through. And when you are 6'6" and can dunk, you don't need many words.
Hooper
Lara P says:
If ever a book perfectly combined grief, humor and, yes, hope, this is it. You won't contain your tears or your laughter with this one.
Hope in the Holler
Alison R says:
Who knew there were so many terrifying and ordinary ways to almost die?
I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes With Death
Sarah L says:
Youth does not equate health. A fascinating intersectional read that will open your eyes to one of the most overlooked groups in our medical system.
Invisible
Morgan H says:
A dazzling testament to the transformative power of unconditional love-- and the mesmerizing power of mermaids!
Julian is a Mermaid
April O says:
For all those times you wished a beloved children's classic was more like 'The Breakfast Club' and took place in a videogame. Fun. Exciting. Jumanji!
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Annie C says:
Alex makes everything in the kitchen fun. If you want extra instruction, check out his YouTube channel and revel in his energy and French accent!
Just a French Guy Cooking
Gena S says:
"The palace Versailles is nice / But if I am honest / I feel just fine on this bench with you and me"
Lamp Lit Prose
Kristin D says:
Leah navigates her senior year of high school while keeping a major secret from all of her friends.
Leah on the Offbeat
Sarah C says:
Just when you think you've got this one figured out, Mackintosh throws an unexpected twist at ya! This author knows how to write a good story!
Let Me Lie
Andrew C says:
Filled with cinematic flair, this picture book reads like a movie and pays long-overdue tribute to the woman who pioneered narrative filmmaking.
Lights! Camera! Alice!
Heather W says:
A bad boy pop star heading to Broadway needs more than a manager. He needs a mom.
Limelight
Kate F says:
The funnest book I've ever read about accidentally ending up in a wilderness boot camp!
Lions & Liars
Monica B says:
Slash, with Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators, are a dream team full of arena-rock attitude and nostalgic '80s sounds, with a contemporary twist.
Living the Dream
Kate F says:
I loved reading Penelope's letters to her soon-to-be-born sibling! Her sweet, funny and curious thoughts about life made this book a treat.
Love, Penelope
Meredith R says:
For anyone who was ever thoroughly convinced that their favorite anime crush was "just misunderstood."
Making Friends
Morgan H says:
200 years after Frankenstein, Mary Shelley's life of passion and pain is brought to vivid life in this stunning, new biography.
Mary's Monster
Stefanie S says:
A sweet and gentle picture book, encouraging a love of nature and play.
Moon
Sandy D says:
The first new beach read of the season is delightful and delicious.
Nantucket Wedding
Sandy D says:
A gripping, fast-paced political thriller with twisty turns that will blow you away.
Need to Know
Desi T says:
Readers are given some great examples of ways white people can/should engage in a conversation about race with their children.
Not My Idea: A Book about Whiteness
Annie C says:
These photos, and their stories, will move you to your very core.
Of Love & War
Alison R says:
A tender, whimsical and musical tale of a family that stays behind when nearly everyone else in their remote fishing village leaves.
Our Homesick Songs
April O says:
This bee book gets an A. Painting a vivid picture of lesser-known bees, the writing beautifully compliments the book's stunning photographs.
Our Native Bees
Sandy C says:
There are swaths of graves in old, central Ohio cemeteries with the same year of death: 1918. These are their stories.
Pandemic 1918
Jason S says:
"Inside Out" + "Gremlins" = Peeves: The fictional self help/adventure story I never knew I wanted.
Peeves
Carol V says:
Stroll through the fall foliage with this beautiful and infectious album. Make it the soundtrack of your autumn, it's definitely mine!
Pillar of Na
Gena S says:
Zumas imagines a world that's just far enough away to be dystopian, but hits close enough to home to feel uncomfortably real.
Red Clocks
Coleman M says:
This is my number one recommended read for climate change deniers.
Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore
Andrew C says:
A vivid, warm-hearted biography that offers a complete and unflinching remembrance of Robin Williams' life, triumphs and struggles.
Robin
Ann P says:
Sadie's story is so compelling and heart-wrenching, I read it in one day. Also, check out the podcast-- what a cool way to write a book!
Sadie
Stephanie B says:
If the "Seventh Samurai" was headed by a feisty half-girl, half-kitsune trying to hide her yokai nature, this would be the story.
Shadow of the Fox
Annie C says:
A sweet story that makes me wish the whole world was painted in this beautiful pastel color palette.
Sheets
Lara P says:
The water may be crystal clear, but the tension is thick as a newlywed couple wades deeper and deeper into something they may not easily get out of.
Something in the Water
Bekah K says:
Three things Amber Reynolds wants you to know about her: 1. She's in a coma. 2. Her husband doesn't love her anymore. 3. Sometimes she lies.
Sometimes I Lie
Andrew C says:
A satire so wildly, fantastically inventive, I had to watch it twice to be sure it really happened.
Sorry to Bother You
Jess P says:
Naomi Novik continues to weave her magical spells, breathing fresh life and modern twists into our old fairy tales.
Spinning Silver
Kristin D says:
Featuring the origin of characters such as Disco Stu and Comic Book Guy, as well as other hilarious secrets from "The Simpsons."
Springfield Confidential
Kate F says:
Stella finds her voice in this sweet story about navigating the complexities of belonging to two cultures-- and not quite feeling at home in either.
Stella Diaz Has Something to Say
Amie W says:
Twists are hiding around every corner in this book. Good luck figuring out who's lying and who's telling the truth.
Sunburn
Carol V says:
Guard your delicate sensibilities and prepare to expand your knowledge and vocabulary. This is the book you need to justify your foul mouth.
Swearing is Good for You
Morgan H says:
This magical, quirky tale of an orphaned chimney sweep and her monster companion swept me right off my feet (pun very much intended).
Sweep: The Story of a Girl and her Monster
Amie W says:
A different take on the classic murder mystery: a man must relive the same day (in a different body each day) until he solves and prevents the murder.
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
Ann P says:
Oh, the mind of M.T. Anderson is a wonderful, mysterious thing. This piece of political satire is a National Book Award Finalist for Young Readers.
The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge
Ann P says:
Bittersweet shimmer, Charleston green, Prussian blue... Leigh sees life in colors, until her mother dies and the colors dim.
The Astonishing Color of After
Alison R says:
A short but striking novel about a troubled mother-daughter relationship published by Columbus' own Two Dollar Radio.
The Blurry Years
Sarah C says:
This dystopic novel will make you hold onto your shadow for dear life.
The Book of M
Amie W says:
An abandoned boarding school in rural Vermont is the perfect setting for a ghost story.
The Broken Girls
April O says:
A poignant story steeped in emotional realism that explores life after the unthinkable. Benedict Cumberbatch is always a win!
The Child in Time
April O says:
Coincidence? I think NOT! Every step you take, every plan you make is by design.
The Coincidence Makers
Stefanie S says:
Deliciously dark and wicked, this book is everything I didn't know I needed.
The Cruel Prince
Annie C says:
The history of naturalists and the feather trade, the hobby of fly-tying and the maddening burglary of a museum. I am awestruck by this whole story.
The Feather Thief
Jess P says:
Willem Dafoe gives a career-best performance in this absolute gem of a movie, but he still gets outshined by a six-year-old.
The Florida Project
Cindy H says:
Whom would you trust with your child? If you weren't a "helicopter" parent before, you just might become one after reading this book!
The Friend
Amie W says:
If you enjoyed "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" and "Reading Rainbow," you'll love this audiobook of Fred Rogers' biography, read by LeVar Burton.
The Good Neighbor
Gena S says:
Beautiful, atmospheric, intense and brutal. The Great Alone is a reminder that there's wilderness out there, but also in ourselves.
The Great Alone
Jess P says:
Come for The Greatest Love Story, stay for the greatest photos, jokes, juicy tidbits and jigsaw puzzling.
The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
Amanda K says:
Ladies and gents, this is the moment you've waited for... it's everything you'll ever want. It's everything you'll ever need.
The Greatest Showman
Carol V says:
This captivating story of dark fairy tales will leave you just as befuddled as the main character when you are hit with all the twists and turns.
The Hazel Wood
Stephanie B says:
A sweet love story that breaks down the walls of prejudice and gives you happy tingles.
The Impossibility of Us
Jess P says:
The compulsively readable, head-crushingly fun story of five weirdo loners who came together to create a legacy of subversive comedy.
The Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy
Sarah C says:
The summer's most swoonworthy romance is scrumptiously sweet with the most loveable and quirky characters. Grab a cool drink, this one is steamy!
The Kiss Quotient
Carol V says:
A slow-building story of friendship and magic that is dense, but wonderful. It is the comforting hug we all need.
The Language of Spells
Meredith R says:
Utterly charming and delightful. If Bob Ross was a children's novel, he'd have been this one.
The Lifters
Lara P says:
The line between the U.S.-Mexico border will swirl to a river as you read this personal and heartbreaking story of life on both sides.
The Line Becomes a River
Lara P says:
A tug-at-the-heartstrings, laugh-out-loud joy that makes you feel like part of the family. The last in the series does not disappoint.
The Penderwicks at Last
Heather W says:
This is not the fluffy beach read it appears to be. Remember, looks can be deceiving and even the most picture-perfect couples have secrets.
The Perfect Couple
Annie C says:
An intense, character-driven novel.The Perfect Nanny will keep you engaged from the first chilling line to the last.
The Perfect Nanny
Desi T says:
Poet X uses her words to create definitions. This is a beautiful novel about harnessing the power of your words to shape your world and your destiny.
The Poet X
Meredith R says:
It's like "RuPaul's Drag Race" meets Studio Ghibli.
The Prince and the Dressmaker
Jason S says:
An adorable reminder that sometimes the best way to help someone through hardship is to just listen.
The Rabbit Listened
Ann P says:
It's hard to be the mother of Russia's last tsar, Nicholas, and be nice to his delicate wife. So much drama in the Romanov family.
The Romanov Empress
Heather W says:
Imagine being a food taster for arguably the most hated man in history, wondering if each bite you took would be your last.
The Taster
Amie W says:
Brave princesses can be found everywhere, but they might not look or act like the ones in fairy tale books.
The Truly Brave Princesses
Amie W says:
More than just a mystery, this is a rich historical tale about a female lawyer in 1920s Bombay struggling against old-fashioned beliefs.
The Widows of Malabar Hill
Lara P says:
Whether words collide in extraordinary combinations or form an ordinary "I'm sorry," they can have great impact. A picture book for all ages.
The Word Collector
Jess P says:
Glory in this rapturously-told tale of a modern masterwork of American theater.
The World Only Spins Forward
Lisa F says:
A rollicking good time of a superhero movie, loaded with humor and Led Zeppelin.
Thor: Ragnarok
Ann P says:
This graphic novel has beautiful watercolor illustrations and adorable characters. Put up your dukes, nightmares!
Tiger vs. Nightmare
Carol V says:
A novice detective arrives at her new boarding school to solve an historic murder. Something wicked this way comes; spoiler alert, it's more murder!
Truly Devious
Coleman M says:
This book has given me a lot of great career advice to think about. When I grow up, I want to be a knife thrower. Or an ant colony. Or dinner.
Unclean Jobs for Women and Girls
Monica B says:
A dark and tangled tale where nothing is as it seems and you can't put it down. Lisa Unger's thrillers are addictive and, okay, creepy, too.
Under My Skin
Lara P says:
Take shelter in another beautifully rendered story by Barbara Kingsolver. Then read all her others if you haven't.
Unsheltered
Hannah E says:
These stories will blow your mind! Nine true examples of extraordinary brains that teach us all our brains are incredible.
Unthinkable
Sarah C says:
Bang! Another amazing jaw dropper set in hockey-loving Beartown. Backman's style is like no one else's-- raw, beautiful and so breathtakingly good.
Us Against You
Sarah L says:
Ethereal and striking, this album needs air. Roll down the windows, go exploring or simply stare at the stars while enjoying this cosmic masterpiece.
Vide Noir
Annie C says:
Brace yourself for the tears and if you're able to, call your mother. This heartfelt read is a comforting guide for coping with grief and loss.
What to Do when I'm Gone
Monica B says:
"When" unveils the power of "nappuccinos" and taking breaks in the outdoors with scientific research that illustrates how timing really is everything.
When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing
Sarah C says:
In this stunning and beautifully written debut, set in a 1960s North Carolina marsh, Kya's story of survival, loss and hope will seize your heart.
Where the Crawdads Sing
Sandy D says:
First in a series beach read with a suspenseful twist and cliffhanger of an ending.
Winter in Paradise
Jess P says:
It brings me so much joy to report that Parker Posey is as weird, wry, compelling and cool as I've always imagined her to be.
You're On an Airplane