"The Other Woman" by Eric Jerome Dickey – The central couple's biggest challenge is timing: He works days; she works nights. Instead of growing together, they're rapidly drifting apart. When she finds out about his affair-and starts her own-the delicate fabric of their marriage is torn irrevocably asunder. Or is it?







 

"72 Hour Hold" by Bebe Moore Campbell – Trina is eighteen and suffers from bi-polar disorder, making her paranoid, wild, and violent. Frightened by her own child, Keri searches for help, quickly learning that the mental health community can only offer her a seventy-two hour hold. Fed up with the bureaucracy and determined to save her daughter by any means necessary, Keri signs on for an illegal intervention known as The Program, launching them both on a terrifying journey.





 

"Stand Your Ground" by Victoria Christopher Murray – fter a seventeen-year-old African American boy is shot dead by a white man, the boy's mother and the shooter's wife face difficulties.









 

"The Mother" by Yvette Edwards – The unimaginable has happened to Marcia Williams. Her bright and beautiful sixteen-year-old son, Ryan, has been brutally murdered. Consumed by grief and rage, she must bridle her dark feelings and endure something no mother should ever have to experience: she must go to court for the trial of the killer.







 

"Salvage the Bones" by Jesmyn Ward – Enduring a hardscrabble existence as the children of alcoholic and absent parents, four siblings from a coastal Mississippi town prepare their meager stores for the arrival of Hurricane Katrina while struggling with such challenges as a teen pregnancy and a dying litter of prize pups.






 

"Third Girl from the Left" by Martha Southgate – At the center of this dazzling novel is Angela, a twenty-year-old beauty who leaves the stifling conformity of Oklahoma to search for fame during the rise of blaxploitation cinema in Los Angeles. But for her mother, Mildred, a strait-laced survivor of the 1921 Tulsa race riots, Angela's acting career is unforgivable, and the distance between them grows into a silence that lasts for years







 

"The Women of Brewster Place" by Gloria Naylor – Once the home of poor Irish and Italian immigrants, Brewster Place, a rotting tenement on a dead-end street, now shelters black families. This novel portrays the courage, the fear, and the anguish of some of the women there who hold their families together, trying to make a home.







 

"November Blues" by Sharon M. Draper – A teenaged boy's death in a hazing accident has lasting effects on his pregnant girlfriend and his guilt-ridden cousin, who gives up a promising music career to play football during his senior year in high school.









 

"Revenge of a Not So Pretty Girl" by Carolita Blythe –Fourteen-year-old Faye, an African American living in 1984 Brooklyn, New York, copes with her mother's abuse by stealing with her friends, but when robbing an elderly woman almost turns to murder, she gains an opportunity to learn new truths about life.







 

"The Steep and Thorny Way" by Cat Winters – A sixteen-year-old biracial girl in rural Oregon in the 1920s searches for the truth about her father's death while avoiding trouble from the Ku Klux Klan in this YA historical novel inspired by Shakespeare's 'Hamlet.'








 

"Shadowshaper" by Daniel Jose Older – When the murals painted on the walls of her Brooklyn neighborhood start to change and fade in front of her, Sierra Santiago realizes that something strange is going on--then she discovers her Puerto Rican family are shadowshapers and finds herself in a battle with an evil anthropologist for the lives of her family and friends.

]]> Dan Richter, Library Services Thu, 19 May 2016 11:35:31 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=1769&BlogID=112&BlogPostID=15239 The popular HBO television series "Game of Thrones" is back for its sixth season! Based on the popular fantasy book series by author George R.R. Martin, "Game of Thrones" seems to appeal to both adult and teen readers alike. If you can’t get enough of the dragons, schemes and drama that fill Westeros in the HBO hit, check out these young adult read-a-likes recommended by the Young Adult Library Services Association!
 

"An Ember in the Ashes series " by Sabaa Tahir – Laia is a Scholar, the lowest of the low, and her brother has been taken by The Masks. He is her only living family member and she will risk her life to find him. Elias is a Mask but he doesn’t want to be. Laia and Elias’ paths cross when Laia goes undercover as a slave at Elias’ military school to get information on her brother.





 

"Falling Kingdoms series " by Morgan Rhodes – King Gaius has a plan to take over Mytica at the expense of everyone including his son, Magus.








 

"Throne of Glass series" by Sarah J. Maas – Celaena Sardothian is plucked from the salt mines prisons as The Crowned Prince’s Champion to compete to be the king’s personal assassin. Calaena must fight men three times her size, magical queens, and her own demons to become champion.






 

"Kiss of Deception (Remnant Chronicles series)" by Mary E. Pearson – Lia, a First Daughter, is betrothed to a prince she has never met to bring peace to the kingdoms. Lia believes in love and doesn’t want to be used as a pawn so she runs. In her new life, Lia meets two charming men; however, one is the prince determined win her love and bring her back and one is an assassin who is hired to kill her.





 

"Queen of the Tearling series " by Erika Johansen – Kelsea, the daughter of dead Queen Elyssa, reemerges to claim the throne. Her uncle, the Red Queen, of the neighboring kingdom, and others will stop at nothing to kill Kelsea.







 

"His Fair Assassin series" by Robin LaFavers – Ismae, Sybella, and Annith have escaped horrible circumstances to join a convent of assassin nuns to fight for St. Mortain, the God of Death.






 

"Truthwitch (Witchlands series)" by Susan Dennard – Safi, a Truthwitch, and Iseult, a Threadwitch, just want to escape their lives as they know it to be free and live in peace but Safi made a big mistake and now they are on the run.







 

"Seraphina series " by Rachel Hartman – Seraphina has a secret; she’s half draconian. When a member of the royal family is murdered by a dragon, Seraphina must keep her secret while finding the murderer even if it’s her family.







 

"The Novice (Summoner series)" by Taran Mathieu – Fletcher, an orphan, learns he has the unique ability to summon demons. After a near attack from neighborhood teens, Fletcher goes to an elite school to train but he soon finds out that he must compete with noble’s kids who will stop at nothing to be the best.








 

"The Mark of the Thief series" by Jennifer Neilsen – Nic is a slave in Ancient Rome and on a mission to raid Julius Caesar’s tomb, he finds Caeser’s bulla. After he puts the bulla around his neck, he gains world ending powers that are coveted by the good and the bad.








 

"Midnight Thief series" by Livia Blackburne – Kyra is an orphan and a fast climber and she survives by her whits. Once day, she is summed by the Assassin’s Guild to become an assassin but she realizes that this might be a mistake.







 

"A Court of Thorns and Roses " by Sarah J. Maas – After killing a wolf, Feyra’s punishment is to live in a giant mansion. She soon discovers that her captor isn’t an animal but an honorable fey.







 

"Winner’s Curse (Winner's Trilogy)" by Marie Rutkoski – Kestral is a Valorian and the General’s daughter. Arin is a Herrani slave who is purchased by Kestral. Kestral has the gift of seeing lies but can she see Arin’s lies?







 

"The Red Queen series" by Victoria Aveyard – Mare Barrow is a Red-a lowly, uneducated, slave with disgusting red blood. The Silvers are like gods because they have powers and their veins run with silver blood. Mare doesn’t want to be drafted but she has no choice until a stranger changes her life. She soon finds herself betrothed to a Silver prince and forced to maintain the oppression of the Reds.






 

"Snow Like Ashes series" by Sara Raasch – The Kingdom of Winter has been overturned and stripped of their magic. The eight survivors go on a quest to retake their kingdom and their magic.







 

"The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy)" by Jennifer Neilsen – The royal family has been murdered and their confidant, Connor, goes on a mission to find their missing eldest son to take the throne. The crowned prince, however, is lost and Connor finds orphans to train to impersonate the prince.






 

"Assassin's Heart" by Sarah Ahiers – Lea is a hired assassin and a devout follower of Safraella, the goddess of death and resurrection. Lea’s relationship with a member of a feuding family causes strife and Lea finds herself fighting to survive.







 

"The Witch Hunter series" by Virginia Boecker – Elizabeth is a witch hunter and when she is accused of witchcraft; she becomes the hunted.








 

"Graceling (Graceling Realm)" by Kristin Cashmore – Katsa is a graceling-someone who can kill with one touch. She’s the king, her uncle’s, personal assassin but when she meets Po she discovers new things about herself.







 

"The Orphan Queen series" by Jodi Meadows – Wilhelmina was a princess until her parents and her country was destroyed by the King. Now orphaned, Wil and has been tasked to spy on the royal family and if their cover is blown, it could mean death.








 

"Darker Shade of Magic " by VE Schwab – Kel can walk through worlds and he uses this special ability to smuggle and trade antiques. When his smuggling almost kills him, Delilah comes to his rescue.

]]> Taylor W., Library Services Tue, 26 Apr 2016 12:01:49 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=1769&BlogID=112&BlogPostID=15143 As you might guess, many of the library's staff are avid readers!

If you'd like to read our opinions of a variety of books – from children's picture books to adult nonfiction – check out our regularly-updated Staff Reviews webpage, follow us at Goodreads.com or subscribe to our Staff Reviews e-newsletter.

Read Staff Reviews: www.mcpl.us/catalogs/books/reviews.

(from the MCPL E-Newsletter)

]]> Ben Krombholz / Library Services Mon, 21 Mar 2016 10:56:34 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=1769&BlogID=112&BlogPostID=14809 Our staff at the Marathon County Public Library has launched a new service aimed at helping our patrons find their next favorite books.
The library recently set up a new page within our website called Personalized Reading Suggestions, through which we’ll rack our brains and a vast pool of online reading resources, to recommend three books based on just a few clues provided by you, the patron.
Our staff is surrounded by books all day and each of us has our own favorite genres that run the gamut, so chances are someone here shares your reading tastes. Plus, we love these kinds of challenges that usually starts a little something like this…
“I just finished The Hunger Games and Matched trilogies. Do have anything else like that?”
“I like Lee Child’s stuff, who are some other authors like him?”
Or even…
“I need something good to read, what can you recommend?”
Here’s how the Personalized Reading Suggestions works:

• Go to the Personalized Reading Suggestions page at www.mcpl.us/prs
• Tell us your name and email address, whether you prefer fiction or non-fiction and the format you prefer to read it in (such as books, audiobooks, or e-books)
• Give us the titles or authors of the last few books you read that you really liked, and why you liked them
• If you want, write a few specifics that will help us find the right books to match your taste. For example, maybe you prefer suspense and mystery novels but don’t care for excessive sex or violence. Or perhaps you’d rather read stories straight from the source in autobiographies, rather than someone else’s take in a biography. The more details we have, the better chance we have of finding good matches.
• Click submit and we promise to come back with three suggestions within four days, because (as we all know) sometimes you just don’t want to wait long before diving into a new book!

]]> Chad Dally / Library Services Mon, 17 Aug 2015 14:32:35 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=1769&BlogID=112&BlogPostID=14584
Synopsis: “Shakespeare professor and prison volunteer Laura Bates thought she had seen it all. That is, until she decided to teach Shakespeare in a place the bard had never been before — supermax solitary confinement. In this unwelcoming place, surrounded by inmates known as the worst of the worst, is Larry Newton. A convicted murderer with several escape attempts under his belt and a brilliantly agile mind on his shoulders, Larry was trying to break out of prison at the same time Laura was fighting to get her program started behind bars.
Thus begins the most unlikely of friendships, one bonded by Shakespeare and lasting years—a friendship that, in the end, would save more than one life.”

For more information on OverDrive’s Big Library Read, visit their website.

Need help downloading OverDrive to your new device? Check out detailed instructions here.

{{2015-03-31}} 
 

]]> Kathleen Kosiec / Library Services Fri, 13 Mar 2015 09:27:09 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=1769&BlogID=112&BlogPostID=14477 Downton Abbey is here, and so is our 2015 Downton Abbey reading list! All of these titles are available in the V-cat catalog.  Contact us with any questions, or for help locating these titles.

“I want to read more about Highclere castle, the real castle where they film Downton Abbey.” Try:

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle 
by Fiona Carnarvon

“Anna and Bates are my two favorite characters! I want to read about life downstairs!” Try:

Upstairs & Downstairs: An Illustrated Guide to the Real World of Downton Abbey by Sarah Warwick
 
“Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid’s Memoir That Inspired “Upstairs, Downstairs” and Downton Abbey” by Margaret Powell

“I want to read something romantic that reminds me of Downton.” Try:

The House at Riverton: A Novel by Kate Morton

Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed

Summerset Abbey by T. J. Brown
 
“Sybil was my favorite character!” Try:

A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller

“I’d like to read about American heiresses.” Try:

The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen
 
“I heard that Julian Fellowes (Downton’s creator) wrote a book.”  Yes, he did!

Snobs by Julian Fellowes

“My friend recommended a book that has Downton in the title, but I think it is set in more modern times.”  We've got it!

While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax

“Masterpiece Theatre is amazing. I want to read more about these PBS shows.” Try:

Making Masterpiece: 25 years behind the scenes at Masterpiece and Mystery on PBS by Rebecca Eaton


 

]]> Kathleen Kosiec / Library Services Sun, 04 Jan 2015 08:34:08 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=1769&BlogID=112&BlogPostID=13768 Patrons of the Marathon County Public Library have a chance to get lucky and check out hotly anticipated new releases of books, music and movies with no waiting list!

MCPL Wausau recently started a "Lucky Day" shelf on which we put one or more copies of popular new releases. These are items that can't be reserved; once they are on the shelf, they are up for grabs.

Are you one of the hundreds who request James Patterson's or Janet Evanovich's newest novels? Keep an eye on the first-come, first-served Lucky Day shelf, and you may not have to wait. And, with some patrons finding that lucky copy, the wait for other patrons on a book or DVD request list should be reduced.

Call 715-261-7200 for more information.

(from the MCPL Newsletter, Jan. - Mar., 2014)

]]> Chad Dally / MCPL Library Services Mon, 20 Jan 2014 11:24:39 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=1769&BlogID=112&BlogPostID=13678 Sometimes after you read a really good book, you want to share it with as many people as possible. On April 23, 2014, you might have a chance with the World Book Night giveaway.

Each year, a WBN committee selects 30-35 titles (it's 35 in 2014) made up of adult and young adult fiction, non-fiction and poetry. The books' authors agree to waive royalties and publishers print special World Book Night editions free-of-charge – all with the goal of encouraging reading among non-readers. If your favorite book is on the list, you can apply to be a WBN volunteer for the chance to pass out 20 copies of the book at a location of your choice to people who seldom read books or never read books.

All Marathon County Public Library locations are encouraging their community members to apply, and the deadline is Jan. 5. Answer a few questions – why you want to participate, to whom you want to give the books, etc. – and choose the MCPL location where you plan to pick up the books. If you're chosen, WBN will ship your books to that library and we'll host receptions for volunteers about one week before the April 23 giveaway. Books cannot be distributed before April 23, and they cannot be sold.

Applications can only be filled out online at http://www.us.worldbooknight.org. If you don't have a computer and the Internet at home, stop by any MCPL location and we'll help you get started. Applicants will be notified in February. (About 95 percent of applicants are accepted, so you have a pretty good shot at being chosen.)

Here is the list of 2014 World Book Night titles:

• "The Zookeeper's Wife" by Diane Ackerman
• "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" by Jesse Andrews
• "Zora and Me" by Victoria Bond & T.R. Simon
• "Kitchen Confidential" by Anthony Bourdain
• "The Weird Sisters" by Eleanor Brown
• "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky
• "After the Funeral" by Agatha Christie
• "The Ruins of Gorlan: The Ranger's Apprentice, Book 1" by John Flanagan
• "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford
• "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" (Large Print edition) by Jamie Ford
• "The Lighthouse Road" by Peter Geye
• "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell
• "Wait Till Next Year" by Doris Kearns Goodwin
• "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
• "The Dog Stars" by Peter Heller
• "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen
• "Pontoon" by Garrison Keillor
• "Same Difference" by Derek Kirk Kim
• "Enchanted" by Alethea Kontis
• "Miss Darcy Falls in Love" by Sharon Lathan
• "Bobcat and Other Stories" by Rebecca Lee
• "Young Men and Fire" by Norman Maclean
• "Tales of the City" by Armistead Maupin
• "Waiting to Exhale" by Terry McMillan
• "Sunrise Over Fallujah" by Walter Dean Myers
• "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson
• "The Botany of Desire" by Michael Pollan
• "The Raven's Warrior" by Vincent Pratchett
• "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs
• "When I was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago
• "Cuando Era Puertorriquena" by Esmeralda Santiago
• "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" by Maria Semple
• "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" (Large Print edition) by Maria Semple
• "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed
• "Presumed Innocent" by Scott Turow
• "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
• "This Boy's Life" by Tobias Wolff
• "100 Best-Loved Poems" edited by Philip Smith

Is one of your favorites on the list? Stop by any MCPL location or contact us for more information. We'll help you help others by sharing your love of reading!

]]> Chad Dally / MCPL Library Services Mon, 09 Dec 2013 13:50:52 GMT