Modish March Staff Picks
Mush these muchachos in your man-satchel for all of Modish March. Enjoy our staff picks!
Check out our audiobook playlist HERE.
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As a kid I was always mesmerized by the Circus that would roll into northern MN. It seemed like such a cool life! Reader, enter into the circus culture, people living on the run to get to the next place, who have no apparent ties, but do they? Teenage Nell’s life changes in an unexpected way after her father sells her to a circus, to be used in the freak show. This book prodded me to reflect on acceptance, community, friendship and the ties of siblings. It’s an interesting read!
-Virgie
A common way book reviewers describe She Who Became The Sun is as a marriage of The Ballad of Mulan and Song of Achilles, but I think it's more like Game of Thrones- if GOT was written by a well-adjusted adult.
She Who Became The Sun is the dual story of Zhu Chongba, an impoverished peasant, prophesied to achieve greatness, and his little sister, an unnamed girl who will do anything to survive despite her own prophesied fate of nothingness. Their journey to achieve Zhu’s fate, and escape his sister’s, leads them through Monasteries and into the battlefield of the Red Turban Rebellion.
With not one, but two non-binary lead characters, two queer relationships, and all of the political world-building of A Song of Ice and Fire, She Who Became The Sun is the novel I tell all my friends to read, while never lending out my own copy.
-McKenna
It doesn’t take long to determine that Melissa and Matthew Bishop are NOT the Golden couple they appear to be! Once they start marriage therapy, the claws come out. There are so many secrets inside their marriage, and one doesn’t know which character to believe! This psychological thriller kept me on the edge until the very end. This is definitely a book for those who enjoyed The Silent Patient.
-Virgie
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I actually picked this book up because I binged the first season of the television series, and obviously the book is always better than the show, so I figured the book must be excellent! I wasn’t disappointed! A Discovery of Witches was just the mix of magic, mystery, and romance that I needed. I ripped through this first book in the trilogy, only to immediately check to see if I could find the second on OTBP shelves (we were out) then I checked the library (it was on hold) and when I tell you waiting was actual torture, you should believe me. I loved all the characters, even when they were infuriating. The pacing is excellent and the premise of the story is entertaining. This will be a supremely satisfying choice that I certainly recommend for any reader who likes fast paced stories with swoony characters, a la Outlander! Just make sure you grab the whole trilogy at once, or you’ll be left in impatient agony like I was. I do not recommend that.
-Jenna
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Storm Peak has been around for several years, but if you’re vacationing in Steamboat, or if you’re a local and missed it when it came out, I suggest you pick up this book! This thriller, which takes place in Steamboat Springs, is a fun but nerve-racking read! Brutal murders are happening at Mt Werner … on the chairlifts! After reading this I honestly vowed to NEVER ride the chairlift with a random person, ever again! The story has a real local feel. Check out the mention of Off the Beaten Path Bookstore within the pages!
-Virgie
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Jackson is a master of unsettling storytelling. This book tells a completely different story of Hill House than the Netflix series of the same name, with a new set of ghosts, haunts, and lore surrounding the titular home. The narrative follows Elenor Vance as she joins a scientific study of supernatural happenings in and around Hill House, along with psychic Theodorah, Professor Montague, and the home’s heir, Luke Sanderson. What follows is several weeks of precursory boredom, intangible horror, and a warping descent into madness.
-McKenna
Do you need a bit of brightness in your life to offset the doom that lurks in the shadows? Robin Roberts, co-anchor of GMA, greets her viewers each morning with that upbeat, heartfelt message; “Good Morning America.” Roberts has had enough disaster in her personal life, yet she knows she’s survived by exercising her “optimism muscle” which only gets stronger with use and practice. Roberts shares the simple concept that your mind is your greatest resource. If you need a “cheerleader” to uplift your life, read the wisdom of Robin Roberts! It can make a difference in how you approach your day!
This selection is for readers who enjoyed Heart Code by Wade or Journey to the Heart by Beattie.
-Virgie
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You can hear the breathing, almost as if it follows behind you. Yet when you turn around nothing is there. People have gone mad, or just vanished, but what really lurks in the old mine shaft at Moon basin? Clem and her friends are here to find out.
When Piper's dad is assigned to work on the mine, the town doesn't hide their dissatisfaction. When he starts coming back from the mine acting strange, the girls decide to try to figure out why and put an end to it. The only question is, will friendship be enough for what drives the mine, or will they fall victim to its darkness?
ss. This book is for horror fans that are sick of the tropes, and it passes the Bechdel test.
-Patty
I picked up this book after googling “best sapphic novels”, and let me tell you it did not disappoint. The Mermaid, The Witch, and The Sea is the story of Lady Evelyn Hasegawa, as she is unknowingly sent across the sea on a pirate-slaver ship. During this journey, she captures the heart of the pirate Florian, and together they challenge Imperial Navies and privateers alike for their freedom.
Maggie Tokunda-Hall weaves a spell-binding fantastical world with lore and magic completely unique to itself. This swashbuckling story expertly explores ideas surrounding colonialism, animation of Nature, gender identity, and gender fluidity.
-McKenna
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Victories Greater Than Death is a great young adult introduction to science fiction. If you’re looking to go on a romp across the galaxy with a misfit crew led by the clone of a legendary space general on the run from an interstellar blood purist sect, this is the book for you. The strongest part of this one is that it touches on a bit of everything - gender identity, young friendship, the corruption of absolute power, and the unyielding power of love and sacrifice. It really is a first-class space adventure!
-Jenna
Special Order Only (subject to availability) - Email or Call for Price
I’ve always been obsessed with dragons and everything magical so, when I discovered this book as a child, I immediately fell in love. With just the right amount of wholesomeness and suspense, 9-year-old me couldn’t put it down! The story follows five young dragons who have been raised knowing that their one purpose is to fulfill the dragonet prophecy and unite the warring dragon tribes by choosing the next queen of Pyrrhia. But when one of them is threatened, they decide to risk it all and escape the cave they had been kept in their whole lives. Will they choose to abandon their part in the prophecy with their newfound freedom? Or will they continue to fight for the future of their cruel world? A great read for all ages, the Wings of Fire series has a very special place in my heart and I truly enjoyed reading it again.
-Isabella
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This is one of my favorite middle grade books I’ve ever read! When Life Gives You Mangos deals with the challenges and pain of friendship and community in the face of all of life’s hardships, and the victories that happen when people come together in the face of tragedy. Everyone who picks this up will love to follow Clara, who is suffering from memory loss, as she adventures through her island home and interacts with all the colorful characters in her small town. Just like a hurricane, Clara’s story is not to be underestimated, as the ending is an explosive piece of catharsis, forgiveness, and learning to trust and love yourself again. For fans of mysteries and stories that are never quite what they seem!
-Jenna
I love books that not only help with beginning reading comprehension, but also show kids that they can do anything! In this case Racing Ace is a little girl building and racing her own car, which is typically an activity that is promoted to little boys. Ace is a great role model for anyone though, as she follows her dreams and works to overcome obstacles that (literally) pop up in front of her. Ace is a model of perseverance and quick thinking in this excellent beginning readers book. Plus the book’s artist shows you how to draw Ace herself in the back of the book! Perfect for rambunctious kids with a creative streak! If you like it, I’m happy to tell you this is the first in a new series for young readers.
-Jenna
Calling all little “stewards of the Earth!” Beautifully illustrated, this Ojibwe story conveys the message of defending the earth by protecting our waters from harm and waste. The final page includes a “Pledge” which your child can read and sign, to become an “official protector of water.”
-Virgie
We read so many books to our little ones. Now it’s THEIR turn to read to us! This book has no script, but upon looking at the beautiful illustrations, the reader comes to understand that both a girl and a wolf are lost in the snow. Give your child the opportunity to “read the pictures” and create his own story. Then do it over again, to allow your “creative juices” to flow, and alter your original text to tell a different story. How fun is this?
-Virgie
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This tender story about an elderly zookeeper and the many animal friends he cares for, illustrates the message of acceptance and taking time for friends. It is simply delightful!
-Virgie
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What child does NOT love to look at the moon? This stunning book tells a tale about the many phases of the moon. The illustrations grabbed my attention immediately!
After reading it, one cannot help but check out the moon each night and wonder how many bites Little Star has nibbled?
-Virgie
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This book has been around for a long time, but it’s still one of my favorite winter stories for kids! We’ve had a lot of Steamboat snow this year, and it’s fun to follow Peter’s creative play with snow. It just might encourage your own children to get outside and do something creative in our Steamboat wonderland!
-Virgie
Check out the audiobook!
