All books mentioned in this edition of the Great Reads Newsletter are available on the Ocean County Library's OverDrive Collection and in our catalog.
On mobile devices you can download the Libby App from the device's app store to browse the OverDrive Collection.
For help and support visit the library's help page and click on the OverDrive tab.
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All My Mother's Lovers
by Ilana Masad
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Intimacy has always eluded Maggie Krause—despite being brought up by married parents, models of domestic bliss—until, that is, Lucia came into her life. But when Maggie’s mom, Iris, dies in a car crash, Maggie returns home only to discover five sealed envelopes, each addressed to a mysterious man she’s never heard of. In an effort to run from her own grief and discover the truth about Iris—who made no secret of her discomfort with her daughter's sexuality—Maggie embarks on a road trip, determined to hand-deliver the letters and find out what these men meant to her mother.
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The Girls at 17 Swann Street
by Yara Zgheib
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Anna Roux was a professional dancer who followed the man of her dreams from Paris to Missouri. There, alone with her biggest fears – imperfection, failure, loneliness – she spirals down anorexia and depression till she weighs a mere eighty-eight pounds. Forced to seek treatment, she is admitted as a patient at 17 Swann Street, a peach pink house where pale, fragile women with life-threatening eating disorders live. Women like Emm, the veteran; quiet Valerie; Julia, always hungry. Together, they must fight their diseases and face six meals a day. Every bite causes anxiety. Every flavor induces guilt. And every step Anna takes toward recovery will require strength, endurance, and the support of the girls at 17 Swann Street. |
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One Book OCL: An Online Book Discussion |
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Young Adult Fiction & Nonfiction |
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In Search of Us
by Ava Dellaira
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This sweeping multi-generational love story introduces readers to mother-and-daughter pair Marilyn and Angie. To seventeen-year-old Angie, who is mixed-race, Marilyn is her hardworking, devoted white single mother. But Marilyn was once young, too. When Marilyn was seventeen, she fell in love with Angie's father, James, who was African-American. But Angie's never met him, and Marilyn has always told her he died before she was born. When Angie discovers evidence of an uncle she's never met she starts to wonder: What if her dad is still alive, too? So she sets off on a journey to find him, hitching a ride to LA from her home in New Mexico with her ex-boyfriend, Sam. Along the way, she uncovers some hard truths about herself, her mother, and what truly happened to her father. |
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(Don't) Call Me Crazy
Edited by Kelly Jensen
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To understand mental health, we need to talk openly about it. Because there’s no single definition of crazy, there’s no single experience that embodies it, and the word itself means different things—wild? extreme? disturbed? passionate?—to different people.
In (Don’t) Call Me Crazy, thirty-three actors, athletes, writers, and artists offer essays, lists, comics, and illustrations that explore a wide range of topics. If you’ve ever struggled with your mental health, or know someone who has, come on in, turn the pages . . . and let’s get talking.
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One for the Murphys
by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
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Carley uses humor and street smarts to keep her emotional walls high and thick. But the day she becomes a foster child, and moves in with the Murphys, she's blindsided. This loving, bustling family shows Carley the stable family life she never thought existed, and she feels like an alien in their cookie-cutter-perfect household. Despite her resistance, the Murphys eventually show her what it feels like to belong—until her mother wants her back and Carley has to decide where and how to live. She's not really a Murphy, but the gifts they've given her have opened up a new future. |
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Some Kind of Happiness
by Claire Legrand
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Things Finley Hart doesn't want to talk about:
-Her parents, who are having problems.
-Being sent to her grandparents' house for the summer.
-Never having met said grandparents.
-Her blue days—when life feels overwhelming.
Finley's only retreat is the Everwood, a forest kingdom that exists in the pages of her notebook. Until she discovers the endless woods behind her grandparents' house and realizes the Everwood is real—and holds more mysteries than she'd ever imagined. With the help of her cousins, Finley sets out on a mission to save the dying Everwood and uncover its secrets.
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In this heartfelt and universal story, a mother and daughter look forward to their special Saturday routine together every single week. But this Saturday, one thing after another goes wrong—ruining storytime, salon time, picnic time, and the puppet show they'd been looking forward to going to all week. Mom is nearing a meltdown...until her loving daughter reminds her that being together is the most important thing of all. |
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The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions
by Anna LLenas
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One day, Color Monster wakes up feeling very confused. His emotions are all over the place; he feels angry, happy, calm, sad, and scared all at once! To help him, a little girl shows him what each feeling means through color. As this adorable monster learns to sort and define his mixed up emotions, he gains self-awareness and peace as a result. Everyone will enjoy sharing this concept book that taps into both socio-emotional growth and color concepts in a simple, friendly way. |
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Dive Into YA Lit - It's Not Just for Teens |
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YA Literature is frequently at the forefront of trends in the literary world. They discuss tough topics, challenge the status quo, take on new formats of literature, and explore new worlds both fantastic and familiar. Popularity with Young Adult literature spans across generations and age groups with relatable topics.
We hope this virtual author series will encourage everyone in our community to read these wonderful authors and engage in open discussions of topics featured in these novels.
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