Skin of the Sea
Skin of the Sea
Staff Picks

Teen Mermaids & Sirens

  • Alison B.
  • Thursday, January 13
Stories of mermaids and sirens are prevalent in myths and legends all around the world. Dive into some YA titles about living below water, iridescent scales of all colors, and the alluring appeal of these mythical beings.
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Staff Picks

RM's Reading List

  • Alison B.
  • Thursday, January 13
Kim Namjoon, also known by his stage name RM, is the leader of the worldwide famous K-pop group BTS. Beyond being a talented rapper, creative songwriter/producer, team mentor, and impressive dancer, he is also an avid reader. Below is a list of reading recommendations he has shared spanning across genres and countries of origin.
My Heart is a Chainsaw
The Shining Girls
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2022 - The Horror of Final Girls

  • Sara M.
  • Thursday, January 13
What's a final girl?  In a horror movie, usually in slasher films, the final girl is the last survivor who confronts the killer and usually lives to tell the tale.  Think Laurie Strode from Halloween, Nancy Thompson from A Nightmare on Elm Street, and even Ellen Ripley from Alien.  They exist in books too - and there's a bit of a trend lately of books with characters meta-aware of the trope.  Check out this list of horror books with tough ladies who fight back.  
Collected Ghost Stories
The Exorcist
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2022 - Classic Horror

  • Sara M.
  • Thursday, January 06
If you want to understand where any genre is going, you have to understand where it's been.  This list of classic horror novels (arbitrary cutoff: pre-Stephen King) includes a little bit of everything: psychological thrillers, sexy vampires, cosmic horror, haunted houses, and of course g-g-g-ghosts! Learn more about the Broader Bookshelf challenge and see more lists here.
The Sun is Also a Star
The 5th Wave
Staff Picks

Young Adult Book To Movie Adaptations

  • Thomas M.
  • Wednesday, January 05
Is the book always better than the movie? What if the book is young adult fiction? Sometimes the author's voice is too unique on paper to be translated to the silver screen. Or can actors and visual style add a fresh, new angle? Reading and then watching a story (or vice versa) can lead to interesting insights about what makes one version of a story better... or worse.
Blog
Richland Library Sandhills

#BrainBreak: List Your Loved Ones

  • Emily Barber
  • Wednesday, January 05

When you're feeling overwhelmed and need some time alone, but also struggle with loneliness, just listing the people you could call can be soothing.

Blog
Richland Library Edgewood

#OwnVoices: Children's Books Reflection of 2021

  • Taelor J.
  • Thursday, June 23

Missed out on 2021 book releases? Don't worry, you can find #OwnVoices books published in 2021 for both younger and older children here. I don't forget to look out for what's to come in 2022!

Bad Boys for Life
The Croods, a New Age
Staff Picks

Top Checkouts 2021: Films 🎬

  • Richland Library
  • Wednesday, December 29
Curious as to what your friends and neighbors were watching in 2021? Us too!  From animated films to superhero favorites, books-to-movies and beyond, library customers got their fill of films this year. 
Blog
Richland Library North Main

2022

  • Zsuzsanna C.
  • Thursday, December 30
Ruin and Rising
Shadow and Bone
Staff Picks

Top Checkouts 2021: Teen eBooks 📱

  • Richland Library
  • Wednesday, December 29
Curious as to what your friends and classmates were reading in 2021? Us too!  Series seem to take top marks across teen formats in 2021--with lots of checkouts of The Grisha Trilogy and A Court of Thorns and Roses Series as well as older favorites like the Twilight series and The Hunger Games.  
Blog
Richland Library Main

Top Checkouts of 2021

  • Richland Library
  • Thursday, December 30

2021 ushered in a year of stellar new releases from old favorites, a barrage of debut authors, and lots of titles that broadened our bookshelves (and minds) and filled up our streaming queues. Here's a look at the top 10 books, movies, and songs by age group and format. 

The Ballad of Black Tom
Dreams from the Witch House
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2022 - Horror After Lovecraft

  • Sara M.
  • Thursday, December 23
H.P. Lovecraft was a brilliant innovator who created a popular horror subgenre and influenced generations of writers.  He was also xenophobic and racist, and his stories are full of prejudice.  In the last few decades, many have wrestled with his legacy through transformative fiction - writing their own cosmic horror as a direct answer to the problems underlying Lovecraft's own work.  If you liked the HBO series Lovecraft Country, these are great readalikes; if you're new to cosmic horror entirely, these are a great place to start!
Super Volcanoes
The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2021
Staff Picks

New in Science

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, December 21
Check out the latest in science writing from our collection.  Notable titles include Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law, by best-selling author Mary Roach (dubbed "America's funniest science writer" by the WaPo) and Scientist: E. O.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Fairy Tale Comics
Staff Picks

Graphic Novel Adaptations

  • Thomas M.
  • Monday, December 20
How does an artist take the descriptions and inner lives of prose characters and translate them into pictures and poses against backgrounds? This list represents a wide range of stylistic adaptations of prose stories and poems, including manga versions of several classics. Visual elements and speech bubbles can also help developing readers comfortably navigate the text. These graphic novels are great for fresh takes on old favorites as well as gateways for new readers to get hooked.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
Howl's Moving Castle.
Staff Picks

Celebrating Chosen Family

  • Emily Barber
  • Wednesday, December 15
"Found or chosen families play an important role in the lives of queer people ... For these people, family becomes not a biological happenstance, but a group of supportive people providing unconditional support." — Pallas Gutierrez, GLAAD Campus Ambassador Sometimes family doesn't end up being who you're born with. Celebrate the family you choose with these titles.
Tokyo Ghoul. Vol. 01
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. Part 4, Diamond is Unbreakable, Vol. 1
Staff Picks

Most Popular Manga of 2021

  • Thomas M.
  • Monday, December 13
2021 was the year of the great manga shortage, but Richland County found plenty to enjoy from their local library's shelves! Data from every Richland Library location was tabulated to form the list of popular manga series below. Each series is listed by its first volume so that new readers can catch up to the hottest manga. In some cases, volumes from much later in a series ranked highly, which is a great sign that fans stuck around.
Carrie
Carrie.
Staff Picks

Rory Gilmore's Reading Challenge (List #4 - Starting with 'Carrie')

  • Ariel H.
  • Monday, December 13
☕ Take a deep dive into all the books seen and referenced on the Gilmore Girls from Season 1 to A Year in the Life.  📚 Just in time for our winter weather. So, grab your books, a cup of coffee (or hot cocoa), and bundle up by the fire. ❄️Smells Like Snow❄️ (except for SC)   Since there are 408 titles, there will be multiple lists sent out over the next few months. Enjoy!
Beloved
Bel Canto
Staff Picks

Rory Gilmore's Reading Challenge (List #3 - Starting with 'Bambi')

  • Ariel H.
  • Monday, December 13
☕ Take a deep dive into all the books seen and referenced on the Gilmore Girls from Season 1 to A Year in the Life.  📚 Just in time for our winter weather. So, grab your books, a cup of coffee (or hot cocoa), and bundle up by the fire. ❄️Smells Like Snow❄️ (except for SC)   Since there are 408 titles, there will be multiple lists sent out over the next few months. Enjoy!
You Should See Me in a Crown
The Poet X
Staff Picks

Teen Fiction For Dormant Readers

  • Thomas M.
  • Wednesday, December 08
Lifelong reading can be a rewarding habit, but some young people may not see themselves as readers. Sometimes called "dormant readers," these teens seem to read and write just fine, but they do not read books for pleasure. Fortunately for them, there are plenty of compelling stories in print, online, and audio. Below is a list of Quick Picks For Reluctant Young Adult Readers titles from the past three years of the Young Adult Library Services Association's selections.
Devil's Pass
Drawn Away
Staff Picks

HiLo Teen Fiction

  • Thomas M.
  • Wednesday, December 08
HiLo fiction stands for High interest, Low reading level. Most HiLo books have certain storytelling techniques in common. Their sentences and paragraphs are short, with generous line spacing. Vocabulary is fairly simple. These features make the text easy to follow. Plots are driven by action and a linear sequence of events. HiLo books are, to use a popular expression, "the books where stuff happens." They can be a building block in the development of a growing reader as well as an engaging, fast-paced read. You won't believe some of the sudden twists and turns these stories take!
Blog
Richland Library Main

Peppermint Catapults

  • Richland Library
  • Saturday, December 18

Launch yourself into the holiday spirit by learning how to create a peppermint catapult.

Boys Run the Riot. Vol. 01
A School Frozen in Time. Vol. 01
Staff Picks

Manga Debuts of 2021

  • Thomas M.
  • Friday, December 03
A lot of manga series kicked off in 2021. Pick up a new favorite across many different genres for teens and up.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Children of Blood and Bone
Staff Picks

Most Popular Teen Fiction of 2021

  • Thomas M.
  • Friday, December 03
What have been the most popular teen fiction titles of 2021? We put together data from every Richland Library location to create the following list. You might recognize some of these titles, while others may surprise you.
Ikigai for Teens
You Don't Have to Be Everything
Staff Picks

New Teen Nonfiction of 2021

  • Thomas M.
  • Friday, December 03
Teens will run the world someday, and there will be plenty for them to build, change, and maintain as they come of age. Teen nonfiction throughout 2021 instructed readers on representation and social change, including room for teen impact.
Concrete Rose
Ace of Spades
Staff Picks

2021 Teen Audio Favorites

  • Jennifer N.
  • Thursday, December 02
Whatever you’re in the mood for, there’s an audiobook on this list for you.  Looking for a great mystery? Try out They’ll Never Catch Us or Ace of Spades.  Want a good scare?  Check out White Smoke or The Taking of Jake Livingston.  Have your heart broken with You’ve Reached Sam, then piece it back together with It All Comes Back to You or She Drives Me Crazy.  Happy listening! 
The Jasmine Project
Perfectly Parvin
Staff Picks

2021 Teen Books for Younger Readers

  • Jennifer N.
  • Thursday, December 02
Check out the titles below for the same thrilling twists and turns you’ve come to love in young adult literature, with gentle romances and bold adventures.
The Upper World
The Righteous
Staff Picks

New Teen Books for December 2021

  • Jennifer N.
  • Thursday, December 02
Hot off the presses, these titles are the very latest in YA publishing.  Read new works from Karen McManus, Renee Ahdieh, and Kiersten White, plus a debut work from Femi Fadugba that’s already set to become a Netflix film.   
Last Night at the Telegraph Club
Clap When You Land
Staff Picks

2021 Teen Award Winners

  • Jennifer N.
  • Thursday, December 02
Get to know a recent award winner with this list.  Compiled from Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) award lists and the South Carolina Book Awards, these titles encapsulate the best of what young adult literature has to offer this year, and the breadth of talent among YA authors. 
This Indian Kid
#NotYourPrincess
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Indigenous and Native Biographies & History for Older Readers

  • Thursday, December 02
Discover the true stories and history of Indigenous and Native people of the Americas in these titles for middle grade and teen readers.   Looking for even more good books?  Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084. Find more resources on race, equity, and inclusion, here.
Ace of Spades
Ace of Spades
Staff Picks

2021 Teen Fiction Debut Authors

  • Brittany C.
  • Wednesday, December 01
Already read everything by your favorite authors? Check out something new and exciting from one of 2021's newest authors below! Looking for more recommendations? Find more with our Great Gifts for Teen Readers guide.
This Poison Heart
This Poison Heart
Staff Picks

Teen Science Fiction and Fantasy 2021

  • Brittany C.
  • Wednesday, December 01
From tales of witches raising the dead to rebels on a deadly mission, 2021 has been a great year for science fiction and fantasy for young adults. If you're looking for an adventure into another place (and maybe time!), grab one of our favorite science fiction and fantasy titles below! Looking for more recommendations? Find more with our Great Gifts for Teen Readers guide.
Life After Life
The Shining Girls
Staff Picks

Time Travel Adventures

  • Ariel H.
  • Monday, November 29
Take a journey with these characters and travel through time for the ultimate adventure!
The Art of War & Other Classics of Eastern Philosophy
Anna Karenina.
Staff Picks

Rory Gilmore's Reading Challenge (List #2 - Starting with 'Angela's Ashes')

  • Ariel H.
  • Wednesday, November 24
☕ Take a deep dive into all the books seen and referenced on the Gilmore Girls from Season 1 to A Year in the Life.  📚 Just in time for our winter weather. So, grab your books, a cup of coffee (or hot cocoa), and bundle up by the fire. ❄️Smells Like Snow❄️ (except for SC)   Since there are 408 titles, there will be multiple lists sent out over the next few months. Enjoy!
Bicycling with Butterflies
Water
Staff Picks

Expand Your Knowledge of the World

  • Ariel H.
  • Wednesday, November 24
🌎Take a look at some titles that will continue to grow and challenge what you think you know about the world. Keep seeking to grow and learn more about the world you live in. These books will hopefully change how you see the world, and may encourage you to help build a better world for all (if you haven't already done so). Take a look below, and enjoy!
Feminist Af
Every Body Shines
Staff Picks

Issue-Driven Teen Titles

  • Richland Library
  • Tuesday, November 23
Issue-driven and thought-provoking topics have become mainstays within contemporary teen books. Check out these selections that tackle subjects like race, gender equality, LGBTQIA+ rights, and environmentalism for titles that will inspire you to take action and stay conscious. Access even more information on these topics and other perspectives using the Gale Opposing Viewpoints database.
Blog
Richland Library Main

A-maize-ing Corn Husk Dolls

  • Richland Library
  • Monday, November 29

A perfect Fall activity to spice up your holiday; the art of corn husk doll making is steeped in tradition and fun for the whole family. 

The Other Black Girl
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Staff Picks

Book-to-TV In Development: Part IV

  • Ariel H.
  • Tuesday, November 23
As of November 2021, these are the current highly anticipated titles that are being transformed for TV.
Mexican Gothic
Americanah
Staff Picks

Book-to-TV In Development: Part II

  • Ariel H.
  • Tuesday, November 23
As of November 2021, these are the current highly anticipated titles that are being transformed for TV.
The Vanishing Half
The Power
Staff Picks

Book-to-TV In Development: Part I

  • Ariel H.
  • Tuesday, November 23
As of November 2021, these are the current highly anticipated titles that are being transformed for TV.
Winterkeep
Rule of Wolves
Staff Picks

New Additions to Popular Teen Series

  • Alison B.
  • Monday, November 22
Your favorites go on in these latest additions to popular YA series. From epic fantasy conclusions (A Vow So Bold and Deadly & The Desolations of the Devil's Acre) to anxiously awaited thriller continuations (The Hawthorne Legacy & The Box in the Woods), you won't want to miss the next books in these addictive teen series.  
The Holiday Switch
Let It Snow
Staff Picks

Teen Holiday Romances

  • Alison B.
  • Monday, November 22
Looking for some holiday spirit? Grab a mug of hot cocoa, your favorite fuzzy blanket, and curl up beneath some twinkling lights with one of these sweet, festive romances that'll have you wishing you too could be caught under the mistletoe or snowed in together with your crush. 
Blog
Richland Library Main

Jobs vs Careers

  • Thomas M.
  • Friday, November 19

“What’s the difference between applying to a basic job versus applying for the job you want to be your career?”

1984
1984
Staff Picks

Rory Gilmore's Reading Challenge (List #1 - Starting with '1984')

  • Ariel H.
  • Thursday, November 18
☕ Take a deep dive into all the books seen and referenced on the Gilmore Girls from Season 1 to A Year in the Life.  📚 Just in time for our winter weather. So, grab your books, a cup of coffee (or hot cocoa), and bundle up by the fire. ❄️Smells Like Snow❄️ (except for SC)   Since there are 408 titles, there will be multiple lists sent out over the next few months. Enjoy!
#NotYourPrincess
Native American Voices on Identity, Art, and Culture
Staff Picks

Soaring Voices

  • Helene F.
  • Friday, November 12
Many First Nation voices, past and present tell us of their worlds, experiences and dreams.  Some of these titles are available as ebooks and other formats. You can also get personalized reading recommendations by email.
Apple
#NotYourPrincess
Staff Picks

YA Reads for Native American Heritage Month

  • Kenyanah B.
  • Friday, November 12
  November is Native American Heritage Month/American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. This month celebrates the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, histories, and important contributions of Native people. It also educates the public about the unique challenges that Native people have historically and presently face.
Blog
Richland Library Blythewood

A Filmmaker's Journey

  • Jessica M.
  • Saturday, January 22

“You have to find something that you love enough to be able to take risks.” – George Lucas, Film Director. 

Braiding Sweetgrass
The Botany of Desire.
Staff Picks

If You Like...Braiding Sweetgrass

  • Ariel H.
  • Monday, November 08
📚Below you'll find a variety of books that share a theme or more with Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Enjoy!🌱
Blog
Richland Library Edgewood

Dinner Table Talks: Dear Martin

  • Taelor J.
    Heather M.
    Jocelyn T.
  • Thursday, June 23

Dinner Table Talks create the opportunity for families to have important conversations centered around books.  This conversation focuses on the New York Times bestselling YA novel, Dear Martin by Nic Stone.  

Blog
Richland Library North Main

Native American Heritage Month

  • Zsuzsanna C.
  • Monday, November 07

There are 9.7 million Native Americans belonging to 562 federally recognized nations or tribes that live in the US, each with a unique history.

All That She Carried
A Little Devil in America
Staff Picks

2021 National Book Award Finalists

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, November 02
The 2021 National Book Award finalists in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated literature, and young people’s literature have recently been announced.  While you're waiting to learn who the winners will be (to be announced on 17 November), check out these finalists from our collection. 2021 National Book Awards
Blog
Richland Library Ballentine

Native Plants at Ballentine: Crane-Fly Orchid

  • Melissa Sprenne
  • Saturday, September 03

Native Plant Spotlight: Crane-Fly Orchids

Did you know that South Carolina has several species of native orchids? They're not as flashy as the tropical orchids you typically see for sale in grocery stores or at garden centers, but it is fun to stumble across them when you're walking in the woods. 

Blog
Richland Library Main

Sandhills Staff Picks of 2021

  • Morgan R.
  • Wednesday, October 27

Curious to know what our staff read, watch, and listen to? Well you’re in luck, because we can’t wait to share some of our favorites with you!  Bonus: You can use one of these titles to fulfil the #BroaderBookshelf 2021 prompt to "Read a book suggested by a Library staff member".  

Blog
Richland Library Main

#OwnVoices: The Death of Vivek Oji

  • Ronisha J.
  • Thursday, June 23

"The Death of Vivek Oji is a propulsive, titanic book. Emezi doesn't simply tell stories; they create genres, making new stories, new characters, feel as forever as thunder, clouds, and betrayal." -Kiese Laymon

No One is Talking About This
Call Me by Your Name
Staff Picks

If you can't make it to the Charleston Literary Festival . . .

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, October 21
This year's Charleston Literary Festival, running from 5-14 November, features a stellar lineup of speakers, with an admirable mix of fiction and nonfiction authors, ranging from icons such as Paul Auster and Walter Isaacson to recent stars such as Yaa Gyasi and Patricia Lockwood. But if you can't make it to the festival, don't worry - Richland Library features many titles by the participating authors.  Check out the list below; given the variety of the author list, you're sure to find something to intrigue you.
Dear Martin
Black Enough
Staff Picks

Introducing: Nic Stone

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Wednesday, October 20
Author Nic Stone is a YA favorite, and it's no surprise, as her debut novel, Dear Martin, openly and honestly tackles the reality that teens (especially Black teens) face on a daily basis. This book, which is also one of Time Magazine's 100 Best YA Books of All Time, has led to other great titles that you are sure to enjoy reading. Below are the many titles written by Stone, as well as other titles that include her work that are available for check out from Richland Library!
Dear Martin
Everything Within and in Between
Staff Picks

Books for Fans of Nic Stone

  • Brittany C.
  • Tuesday, October 19
Acclaimed YA author NIC STONE is inspiring the next generation of social activists with her vivid and painfully timely novels. Her debut Dear Martin—a #1 New York Times bestseller taught in classrooms across the country—and its stunning sequel Dear Justyce, deftly explore themes of oppression, liberation, and race relations in America. Find more information about Nic Stone and her works here!
K-pop Confidential
Wicked Fox
Staff Picks

For Fans of K-Pop

  • Alison B.
  • Tuesday, October 19
Are you a BLINK? ARMY? NCTzen? ONCE? Or just curious about the K-Pop phenomena sweeping the globe with catchy beats, synchronized dancing, idol personas, and more? Do you love swooning over romantic and thrilling K-dramas? Explore the world of Korean pop music and the city of Seoul with the titles below as teens audition to debut, train vigorously, balance fame, date secretly, and chase their dreams.
The Hazel Wood
The Darkest Part of the Forest
Staff Picks

YA Woods to be Wary of

  • Kenyanah B.
  • Monday, October 18
Get lost in the woods with this festive fall titles. 
Haikyu! Vol. 01
A Map to the Sun
Staff Picks

Thrilling Sports Graphic Novels and Manga

  • Alex B.
  • Friday, October 15
Even non-sports fans will get swept up in the tension, drama, and emotions of these books. They’re all slam dunks...or touchdowns...or goals...you get the point. Enjoy! 
Hatchet
Alida's Song
Staff Picks

Remembering Gary Paulsen (May 1939 - October 2021)

  • Ariel H.
  • Thursday, October 14
            Gary Paulsen, a well-known YA fiction author, passed away on the morning of October 13, 2021.  A list has been created to recognized the amazing contributions he has made to many readers throughout the world. 
Blog
Richland Library Wheatley

Is A Four-Year College the Best Choice For You?

  • Jessica Daly
  • Monday, November 15

The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic challenged traditionally held notions of almost every aspect of our lives – work and education not least among them. Read on to find out if a four-year degree is worth it, and if not, what are your options?

Blog
Richland Library Lower Richland

Author Spotlight: Junji Ito

  • Bryan B.
  • Friday, June 24

Junji Ito might just be the most important scare-crafter in Japan. Learn what frights he can offer you inside.

Blog
Richland Library Main

#OwnVoices: Clean Getaway by Nic Stone (A Review)

  • Ariel H.
  • Thursday, June 23

How to Go on an Unplanned Road Trip with Your Grandma:
    Grab a Suitcase: Prepacked from the big spring break trip that got CANCELLED.
    Fasten Your Seatbelt: G'ma's never conventional, so this trip won't be either.
    Use the Green Book: G'ma's most treasured possession. It holds history, memories, and most important, the way home.

What Not to Bring:
    A Cell Phone: Avoid contact with Dad at all costs. Even when G'ma starts acting stranger than usual.

Blog
Richland Library Sandhills

#BrainBreak: Caption Contest

  • Emily Barber
  • Friday, June 24

Practice your creativity with a quick caption contest. Get others in on the fun for a friendly competition!

Gearbreakers
The Candle and the Flame
Staff Picks

Altered Bingo: YA edition Booklist

  • Diamond T.
  • Tuesday, October 12
Looking for your next must read? From Classic Categories like Fairy Tale Retellings, myster​ies and books that make you cry, to fun ones like a book with an incredible fight scene, an unreliable narrator and even a space opera.  This list has them all. Have fun linking each title with a Book Bingo Category or filling your own chart with new ones. 
Legendborn
Speak
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2021 - One Word Titles (Young Adult)

  • Mahogany S.
  • Tuesday, October 12
Books with One Word Titles span genres. Here are some fiction titles that are typically marketed to young adults.   Learn more about the Broader Bookshelf challenge and see more lists here.