Staff Picks 2021, Part III

by | | Staff Picks

This is the next to last installation of staff favorites from last year and in this roundup we share top picks from Mariah, Cyndi, and Dale.

Mariah’s Top Picks:

How to Change Your Mind : what the new science of psychedelics teaches us about consciousness, dying, addiction, depression, and transcendence by Michael Pollan
Wink : surviving middle school with one eye open by Rob Harrell
The House That Wasn’t There by Elana K. Arnold
Midnight Mass, Netflix series

Ted Lasso, Apple TV series

Dale’s Top Picks:

Once & Future created by Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora (graphic novel)
Silver Coin by Michael Walsh et al. (graphic novel)
Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin, streaming on Paramount Plus
Squid Game, Netflix series
The Silent Sea, Netflix series

Cyndi’s Top Picks:

Teen Fiction:

The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep by Allan Wolf:
Wolf’s skill as an author places the reader into the middle of the blizzard. The descriptions of frigid temperatures and lack food drove me to reading this book under a blanket, with a steaming cup of tea.
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer:
This fantasy has everything, strong character development, court intrigue, rebellions, betrayals, and romance. It was a great escape read.
Not Here to Be Liked by Michelle Quach: This book gave me a lot to think about. The labels and pressures from society verses the internal narrative of who we are and what we expect of ourselves.

Teen Graphic Novels:

SPY×FAMILY 1 by Tatsuya Endo: This manga is a quirky, dark, action, comedy.
The Crossroads at Midnight by Abby Howard: This is a collection of five creepy short stories.
Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang: Not a big fan of basketball, but this autobiographical story was a pleasure to read.

Adult Non-Fiction:

Olive, Mabel and Me: Life and Adventures with Two Very Good Dogs by Andrew Cotter:
I must admit I am NOT a fan of social media, but I am a fan of dogs. I somehow stumbled across a video of Olive and Mable, adeptly narrated by Cotter, and I was hooked. This book and the various videos on YouTube will bring a smile to the face of anyone who has ever loved a dog.

Later this week, for the final installation of Staff Picks, we’ll learn the 2021 favorites of Linda and Monique.