Library Buzz: These are a Few of Our Favorite Things

(Although this article was originally published 12/6/12, and the "upcoming" and "new" titles mentioned are old news by now, these recommendations are still good. Please note that this year's Hometown Christmas is December 12. "Library Buzz" is written by Toria Hamilton.)

I recently saw this gift-giving advice online: “One thing they want, one thing they need, one thing to wear, and one thing to read.” I can’t help you with the first three items, but for giftable book ideas, I’ve got you covered. Here are a few titles you might not have heard about for the readers in your life.

Elementary and middle grade readers may enjoy “Dragonbreath” by Ursula Vernon, about a young dragon’s encounters with monsters, ninjas, ghosts, and other oddball antagonists, making these the sort of off-the-wall, non sequitur stories that some kids can’t resist. Peppered with humorous illustrations like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, the Dragonbreath series currently consists of seven books, with more scheduled to come out next year.

For history buffs, I recommend Simon Winchester. Winchester’s books are well researched but cover events that don’t come up in history class. Personal favorites are “The Professor and the Madman”, about the creators of the Oxford English Dictionary, and “The Map that Changed the World”, about a pioneer in the geological sciences. Winchester’s books read like novels and will appeal to fans of adventure stories as well as historical fiction.

For fantasy fans, go for Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, starting with “The Eye of the World”. With a politically charged, pseudo-medieval fantasy setting, this series will appeal to fans of George R.R. Martin’s “A Game of Thrones”, but with less sex and violence, making it safe for younger advanced readers who have already enjoyed “Eragon” or “Lord of the Rings”. The fourteenth and final book, “A Memory of Light” co-written by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan’s death, is due out in January.

Mystery readers might enjoy Louise Penny, whose 2005 debut “Still Life” introduces readers to Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, a Canadian officer in a small village in Quebec. This elegantly written series, currently eight books, will appeal to fans of Alexander McCall Smith with its diverse characters and cozy plots. The newest book, New York Times bestseller “The Beautiful Mystery”, came out in September.

If you need other gift suggestions, check out the booklists on our website, www.andoverlibrary.org/APLreadinglists, or ask a librarian during Hometown Christmas, Thursday December 13, from 5:30PM to 8:00PM. From all of us at the Andover Public Library, we hope you’ll give the gift of reading this Christmas, and we wish you and yours a safe and happy holiday season.