Jan. 26, 2026 – The Cedar Rapids Public Library is made possible by our incredible staff. And we are staffed by book lovers. To celebrate the people who keep our library running, we're highlighting different staff members and books they love.
Materials Supervisor Jill Martinez has worked for the library for 9 years. She manages the library’s digital catalog system and supervises the shelver team.
“In my role with the library, I get to interact with most staff and support many of the great projects happening at the Cedar Rapids Library. As the supervisor of the shelvers and member of the Materials Department, I have a front row to all the materials the library has to offer," she said. "Having been an avid reader for over 50 years, it’s hard to pick favorites. However, one thing that I really enjoy about reading is the ability immerse myself in different cultures and landscapes by reading a novel. The list below represents some fantastic books with a great sense of place.”
Browse Jill's book picks below, and put titles on hold in our catalog by clicking on their covers.
"North" by Brad Kessler
Set in Somalia, Panama and Vermont, this novel follows the travels of a young woman seeking a better life. She finds herself pursued by ICE and is aided by the abbot of a cloistered monastery. The book explores the risks we take to achieve sanctuary for ourselves and others. The natural landscape and how it effects the spirit elevate the human drama.
"The Mighty Red" by Louise Eldritch
A rural community by the Red River in South Dakota in 2008 is the setting for this novel. All is well for the farmers, church, or townsfolk. Young adults have limited options, and undecided Kismet lets herself be swept away by charismatic quarterback Gary, although she is really in love with Hugo. The parents of these teens worry and attempt to influence their children into safer waters with little success in this mildly comical book.
"Demon Copperhead" by Barbara Kingsolver
All of Kingsolver’s books feature distinctive places, but this one does so a little differently. A retelling of "David Copperfield," it’s improve by using the setting of poor rural Appalachia. If you know the story of David Copperfield, you expect that things are not going to be easy for the plucky protagonist, Demon. However, the book's tragedy is softened by Demon's wry narration.
"Wild Dark Shore" by Charlotte McConaghy
Set at seed bank on a small island between New Zealand and Antarctica, this book tells the story of a single father, his three children, and a shipwrecked woman who washes up on their beach. While there is mystery about what happened right before the novel begins, the real gems are in the landscape and characters themselves. Raising sea levels provide a sense of urgency and tragedy as the station works to evacuate, and the three children all possess a sense of magic.
"Orphan Master’s Son" by Adam Johnson
Set in North Korea, this novel really takes you into the hidden world of this dystopic culture. The main character grows up in an orphanage, and his disastrous experiences reveal the unrealism of living in a totalitarian society. While this is a work of fiction, I could feel the oppression.