News & Updates
Check These Out: Novels to Read for Arab American Heritage Month
April 15, 2024 – April is National Arab American Heritage Month. Recognized by President Joe Biden for the first time in 2021, the month honors the history and heritage of 3.5 million Arab Americans.
Check These Out: The Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2023
April 9, 2024 – Each year, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about censor
Celebrate National Library Week April 7-13 at the Cedar Rapids Public Library
April 7, 2024 – Ready, set, library! National Library Week is April 7–13, 2024, and the Cedar Rapids Public Library encourages everyone in the community to visit the library to explore all the library has to offer.
Recommended Reads
-
Polar Vortex
What do you do when your mother can't remember who you are? You catch the first flight from your adopted home of London to your original hometown of Cedar Rapids, lowa, where she's hospitalized, injured, and struggling with the swirling disorientation of dementia. You take responsibility for finding her new (and, perhaps, final) home--although insurance is running out and you might have to finally patch up your bitter relationship with your sister. And you try not to think about death, lurking around every corner . . . or the coming polar vortex, growing closer and closer as snowflakes swirl ever faster outside.
With cinematic illustrations and moving yet humorous prose, award-winning author and cartoonist Denise Dorrance shares the two most haywire months of her life: the phone call after her mother is discovered lying confused on the living room floor, the mingled shock and familiarity of a harsh Midwestern midwinter, the attempt to settle her homesick mother into a care facility, the limiting and limitless inanities of the US health care system, and the impossible decisions about what comes next. Incorporating vintage postcards, photographs, and letters, Dorrance brilliantly captures the sadness, frustration, and gallows humor of suddenly having to care for an aging parent and facing the moment of transition between life as you've long known it and life as it must become.
-
You Don't Look Sick
You've just been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Now what?
Being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. In You Don't Look Sick: Quick and Dirty Tips for Surviving Ulcerative Colitis, author and ulcerative colitis veteran AW Cross gives you a first-hand, non-medical perspective about what to expect from your illness and how to get through it with your sanity (and your favorite underwear) intact.
Through a unique blend of practicality and humor, you'll learn how to:
-Cope with the physical consequences and emotional impact of ulcerative colitis
-Pack a survival kit and leave your bathroom with confidence
-Dress, eat, and have sex
-Deal with healthcare professionals and enjoy your stays in the hospital
-Endure poop jokes and use social media responsibly
-Put on your big boy/girl pants and deal with it
Whether you've just been diagnosed or struggled with UC for years, if you're determined not to let your illness define you, this book is for you.
If you'd rather wallow in self-pity, have no sense of humor about your illness, and hate kittens and babies, DON'T BUY THIS BOOK! -
The Tale of the Gravemother (Are You Afraid of the Dark #1)
NEW SERIES! This is Vol. 1!
From master horror writer Rin Chupeco comes the nightmarish first novel in an all-new middle-grade horror series inspired by Nickelodeon's hit TV classic, Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Everyone in Southridge knows about the legend of the Gravemother. They know how to leave offerings by the abandoned house she was supposedly murdered in to pacify her. They know better than to trespass on her property. But not everyone believes in the tale--especially not 14-year-old Rhett, who lives around the corner from the old mansion.
Then it's announced that the Gravemother's place is one of several to be demolished to give way for new townhouses. When disaster strikes the construction site and strange sightings of a woman in white begin haunting the neighbors, Rhett must figure out how to put the ghost permanently to rest before it's too late.
Perfect for fans of the Five Nights at Freddy's series, these terror-inducing tales--told by members of an all-new Midnight Society--are sure to keep readers up at night. -
Dog Man: the Scarlet Shedder: a Graphic Novel (Dog Man #12): from the Creator of Captain Underpants
TITLE will be RELEASED March 19, 2024!
Book #12. Our canine superhero returns in DOG MAN: THE SCARLET SHEDDER, the suspenseful and hilarious twelfth graphic novel in the #1 worldwide bestselling series by award-winning author and illustrator Dav Pilkey!
P.U.! Dog Man got sprayed by a skunk! After being dunked in tomato juice, the stink is gone but the scarlet red color remains. Now exiled, this spunky superhero must struggle to save the citizens who shunned him! Will the ends justify the means for Petey, who's reluctantly pulled back into a life of crime in order to help Dog Man? And who will step forward when an all-new, never-before-seen villain unleashes an army of A.I. robots?
The fun and creativity continue with Dog Man with Love: The Official Coloring Book. And for more heartfelt graphic novel adventures, join Flippy and Li'l Petey in the Cat Kid Comic Club series. And don't forget the series that started it all: Captain Underpants!
-
Begin Again
In his first illustrated book created specifically for readers of all ages, Oliver Jeffers shares a very brief history of humanity and shares his dreams for where we go from here.
With his bold, iconic art, Oliver Jeffers follows the human path from the dawn of our species through history, sharing profound, sometimes poignant, commentary on our present, and then offers a challenge: Where do we go from here? How can we create new stories and new systems that allow all of humanity to flourish? How can we journey toward a collective and robust future?
Illustrated in his world-renowned art style, Oliver Jeffers’ reflection on the patterns that have led us to where we are today, the stories we have governed ourselves by, and those we might adopt going forward, is insightful, moving, and powerful. A must-have for anyone who wants the next generation to inherit a world to be proud of--and a perfect gift to share with those you care about. -
Lore Olympus: Volume One
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Scandalous gossip, wild parties, and forbidden love—witness what the gods do after dark in this stylish and contemporary reimagining of one of the best-known stories in Greek mythology, featuring a brand-new, exclusive short story from creator Rachel Smythe.
HUGO AWARD FINALIST • ONE OF NPR’S BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • “What Scott Pilgrim did for Canadian slackers, Lore Olympus does for the Greek pantheon, while being so beautiful that you know Aphrodite is just staring daggers in its direction.”—Kieron Gillen, co-creator of The Wicked + The Divine
Persephone, young goddess of spring, is new to Olympus. Her mother, Demeter, has raised her in the mortal realm, but after Persephone promises to train as a sacred virgin, she’s allowed to live in the fast-moving, glamorous world of the gods. When her roommate, Artemis, takes her to a party, her entire life changes: she ends up meeting Hades and feels an immediate spark with the charming yet misunderstood ruler of the Underworld. Now Persephone must navigate the confusing politics and relationships that rule Olympus, while also figuring out her own place—and her own power.
This edition of Smythe’s original Eisner-winning webcomic Lore Olympus brings Greek mythology into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.
This volume collects episodes 1–25 of the #1 WEBTOON comic Lore Olympus. -
One-Punch Man, Vol. 27
Life gets pretty boring when you can beat the snot out of any villain with just one punch.
Nothing about Saitama passes the eyeball test when it comes to superheroes, from his lifeless expression to his bald head to his unimpressive physique. However, this average-looking guy has a not-so-average problem—he just can’t seem to find an opponent strong enough to take on!
Psychos intends to fuse with Orochi, the Monster King, which would give them immense power against Tornado. Superalloy confronts Garo and experiences fear of his opponent’s strength… Meanwhile, Saitama gets caught up in a cave-in in the Monster Association’s underground labyrinth! -
Little Blue Truck's Valentine
Spread the love with Little Blue Truck--a perfect Valentine's Day read-aloud in this best-selling series!
"Beep!" said Blue. "Happy Valentine's Day!"
Join Little Blue Truck as he delivers Valentine's Day cards to all his farm animal friends. But as Blue beeps along, he starts to wonder: will he get any cards of his own?
With brightly colored foil accents throughout and a large gatefold at the end, this book is the perfect Valentine's Day gift.
-
ADHD for Smart Ass Women
An unprecedented guide for any woman with ADHD looking to celebrate her unique brilliance and to embark on a journey of self-discovery.
ADHD is one of the most common neurological disor-ders in the United States--yet a staggering 75 percent of girls and women remain undiagnosed. Due to the gen-der gap in medical research, which does not account for symptoms manifesting differently in women--leading to increased problems with anxiety, depression, work-ing memory, sleep, energy, and concentration--many ADHD women are left to navigate a society that fails to understand their struggles and gifts. But what if every woman had the resources and support to uncover the hidden wonders of her neurodivergent brain?
Enter certified ADHD coach and podcast host Tracy Otsuka. Armed with her experience coaching thou-sands of women, cutting-edge medical research, and personal insights from her own diagnosis, she presents a revelatory guide tailored specifically for girls and women with ADHD. In it, Otsuka offers an entirely new set of tools, systems, and strategies to access a world of boundless productivity, focus, and confidence.
With her signature wit and levity--in entertaining chapters designed for ADHD readers--Otsuka explores the unique challenges that ADHD women face and illuminates the extraordinary qualities that set them apart: overflowing creativity, laser-focused attention, deep empathy, and fearless entrepreneurial spirit. Even without an official diagnosis, readers will be equipped with the tools to conquer any to-do list and to tap into their true purpose, personally or professionally.
By dismantling the long-standing stereotypes and misinformation surrounding women with ADHD, Otsuka offers a beacon of hope for any woman looking to transform her symptoms into strengths. Comprehensive, lively, and long overdue, ADHD for Smart Ass Women is the key to unlocking unparalleled potential and to understanding your truly magnifi-cent and brilliant brain.
Are you ready to discover your superpower?
-
The Vaster Wilds
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
ONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2023
NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY NPR, TIME, ESQUIRE, VOGUE, LA TIMES, SLATE, HARPER'S BAZAAR and others
“Part historical, part horror, part breathless thriller, part wilderness survival tale, The Vaster Wilds is a story about the lengths to which we will go to stay alive."—NPR staff pick
“Lauren Groff just reinvented the adventure novel."—Los Angeles Times
“Glorious…surroundings come alive in prose that lives and breathes upon the page." —Boston Globe
A taut and electrifying novel from celebrated bestselling author Lauren Groff, about one spirited girl alone in the wilderness, trying to survive
A servant girl escapes from a colonial settlement in the wilderness. She carries nothing with her but her wits, a few possessions, and the spark of god that burns hot within her. What she finds in this terra incognita is beyond the limits of her imagination and will bend her belief in everything that her own civilization has taught her.
Lauren Groff’s new novel is at once a thrilling adventure story and a penetrating fable about trying to find a new way of living in a world succumbing to the churn of colonialism. The Vaster Wilds is a work of raw and prophetic power that tells the story of America in miniature, through one girl at a hinge point in history, to ask how—and if—we can adapt quickly enough to save ourselves.