The Pioneers
1776
Staff Picks

American Biographer

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, August 09
Author David G. McCullough, who died on 7 August, has left a rich legacy of biographies and histories that met with both critical and public acclaim.  The recipient of two Pulitzer Prizes and two National Book Awards, among many other literary prizes, McCullough published a series of best-selling books from 1968 to 2019, all still fresh and relevant for their insight and erudition.  Check out these landmark works from our collection.
In Search of a Prince
Jewel of the Nile
Staff Picks

Inspirational Romance

  • Mahogany S.
  • Friday, August 05
Enjoy some romance authors who are powerhouses in the Inspirational section and others who have written romances that are sure to make you dream of the one!
Gods of Want
Black Sci-fi Short Stories
Staff Picks

Love to Read, Short on Time

  • Morgan R.
  • Wednesday, August 03
Do you love to read but also have to work, eat, sleep, take the kids to school, make dinner, remember to call the vet and the plumber, mow the lawn, get your oil changed and just...don't have time? Try one of these short story collections! 
Post-traumatic
Brown Girls
Staff Picks

Center for Fiction 2022 First Novel Prize Longlist

  • Bland L.
  • Monday, August 01
The Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize was created in 2006 to honor the best debut fiction of the year.  The longlist for this year's prize has just been announced.  Check out these exciting new first novels from our collection.
Breathe and Count Back from Ten
Love from A to Z
Staff Picks

Disability Visibility

  • Kei G.
  • Monday, August 01
Disability visibility is an opportunity to honor each person’s uniqueness as a part of human diversity. With this selection of YA novels, we invite you to challenge ableism and enjoy a variety of books dedicated to disabled representation.
Assignment Russia
The Brink
Staff Picks

The Cold War

  • Bland L.
  • Friday, July 22
The Cold War was famously never a declared “war” but an ideological struggle that unfolded in a decades-long series of proxy conflicts.  Researchers are still uncovering new information from archives and other sources to better explain this strange period, which one historian has referred to as the “Fifty-Year Wound.”  Check out these recent titles from our collection if you’re curious to learn more.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Licorice Pizza
Staff Picks

Sandhills Staff Picks: Summer 2022 Edition

  • Morgan R.
  • Monday, July 18
Not sure what to read, watch or listen to? We can help! The staff at Sandhills love to give recommendations! Here are some of our favorites to talk about. Check out our Personalized Recommendation service here.
Lore
A Song for Ella Grey
Staff Picks

Greek Myth Retellings for Teens

  • Lily W.
  • Sunday, July 17
Gone through all of the Percy Jackson books? Looking for more YA books that retell and reinterpret Greek myths? Check out the titles below, which reimagine the stories of Persephone, Medusa, Orpheus, and all of your other favorites! For more great teen books, check out our personalized recommendation form or call us at 803-799-9084.
Dragons in a Bag
Going Down Home with Daddy.
Staff Picks

Great Books for Ages 7, 8, 9 | 2021

  • Richland Library
  • Thursday, July 14
Mama smiles sweetly and places her palm against the door. She speaks slowly and politely. “It’s just us, Ma. I called this morning and told you we were coming. Remember?” The woman behind the door barks at Mama, “Course I remember. You called and asked if you could leave the boy with me and I said NO!”--Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott
The Friend
Dog on It
Staff Picks

Dog Days of Summer

  • Kristin A.
  • Sunday, July 03
The Dog Days of Summer describes the most oppressive period of summer, between July 3rd and August 11th each year, around the time the constellation Sirius appears to rise alongside the sun. Beat the heat by staying indoors with one of these doggone good reads. Enjoyed by yourself, or curled up with your furry best friend. 
How to Read a Book
Get Good with Money
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2022 - Non-Celebrity Self-Discovery

  • Ariel H.
  • Wednesday, June 29
The #BroaderBookshelf challenge helps expand your reading habits to discover authors, genres and books you might not otherwise pick up. More #BroaderBookshelf booklists can be found here. Get personalized recommendations 
Below the Edge of Darkness
Bitch
Staff Picks

Nature is Neat!

  • Morgan R.
  • Wednesday, June 22
According to the super reliable and oh-so-scholarly Urban Dictionary, neature is "a combination of the words neat and nature. Best used to describe how neat nature is." I think this is a very fitting term for our wild and wonderful world and all the creatures that live in and on it. If you are a nature lover (and think it's pretty neat, too) or love being outdoors, or maybe just learning about Earth's many environments and ecosystems these titles are right up your alley.   
Who Killed Jane Stanford?
The Ghosts of Eden Park
Staff Picks

Historic True Crime

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, June 21
Many true crime books are roughly contemporary in setting.  But there’s a whole subgenre of nonfiction crime narrative drawn from historical cases, many of them scandalous in their day and some of them still unsolved.  A recent standout in this subgenre is Who Killed Jane Stanford? by respected historian Richard White, which explores the poisoning murder of the widow of Stanford University founder Leland
Black is a Rainbow Color
If You Come to Earth /.
Staff Picks

South Carolina Picture Book Award Nominees 2022-2023

  • Heather M.
  • Sunday, June 19
The South Carolina Picture Book Award is granted annually by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians (SCASL).  The nominees represent quality contemporary literature for 4K, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders, selected by students, parents, teachers, and librarians.  Below are the 2022-2023 nominees in print, audio, and ebook formats.
Isaiah Dunn is My Hero
Unspeakable
Staff Picks

South Carolina Children's Book Award Nominees 2022-2023

  • Heather M.
  • Sunday, June 19
The South Carolina Children's Book Award is granted annually by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians (SCASL).  The nominees represent quality contemporary literature for 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th graders, selected by students, parents, teachers, and librarians.  Below are the 2022-2023 nominees in print, audio, and ebook formats.
Hook, Line, and Sinker
Reunion Beach
Staff Picks

Beach Reads

  • Kristin A.
  • Saturday, June 11
Looking for the perfect book to take with you on summer vacation, or to take you away from it all when you're on a staycation? Whether you’re relaxing next to the ocean or in a lounge chair on your back porch, your summer reading will be more enjoyable with one of these books in your hand and another in your beach bag.
King and the Dragonflies
This is Our Rainbow
Staff Picks

Read All About It: LGBTQI2SA+ Middle Grade Books

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Friday, June 10
Read the rainbow and discover these LGBTQI2SA+ middle grade books that show us love is love and that we are truly free to be you and me. Looking for more good books? Get personalized reading recommendation lists  from children's literature experts. 
An Immense World
Bird
Staff Picks

New in Science

  • Bland L.
  • Monday, June 06
Atlantic staff writer Ed Yong is a rising star in the science-writing world.  He received a Pulitzer in 2021 for his reporting on the pandemic, and his first book, I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life, was a best seller.  Now his second book,
A Magic Steeped in Poison
Scout's Honor
Staff Picks

Awakened Myths for Teens

  • Diamond T.
  • Monday, June 06
Witches, demons & aliens galore. From Dragons to stars and everything in between. This book list has a little bit of everything. 
Kiss & Tell
Muted
Staff Picks

Jams to Go for Teen

  • Diamond T.
  • Monday, June 06
From K-Pop to Hip-Hop, turn up the volume and tune in to one of these great reads.
Primer
The Wild Ones
Staff Picks

Funky Hair, Don't Care

  • Diamond T.
  • Monday, June 06
With hair this fabulous, what's a bad hair day?  Rebel styles and adorned weaves aplenty!
Across a Field of Starlight
Himawari House
Staff Picks

#Stranded

  • Diamond T.
  • Monday, June 06
Isolated? Cut off” Left behind? Let one of these books come to your rescue.
Right Where I Left You
The Witch King
Staff Picks

YA Books Packed with Pride

  • Diamond T.
  • Monday, June 06
Join the journey as these characters learn, discover and grow as their true selves.
Dead Weight
Camp Murderface
Staff Picks

All Camped Out

  • Diamond T.
  • Monday, June 06
Grab your sleeping bag, sunscreen, and bug spray- we're heading to summer camp! Smores are optional. 
Level Up
The Good Retirement Guide 2022
Staff Picks

New Business Books

  • Bland L.
  • Friday, June 03
Noteworthy new titles include Level Up: Rise Above the Hidden Forces Holding Your Business Back, by Georgia politician (and serial entrepreneur) Stacey Abrams and her business partner, Lara Hodgson; Dade Hayes and Dawn Chmielewski’s Binge Times: Inside Hollywood's Furious Billion-Dol
Family of Liars
Bad Things Happen Here
Staff Picks

Highly Anticipated Teen Reads for June

  • Kei G.
  • Thursday, June 02
There’s always room left on your TBR list! From romances and mysteries to sci-fi and fantasy, there’s something for every reader to look forward to this Summer. Here are some of the most anticipated young adult books to watch out for in June. Reserve any of these titles today by placing a hold with your library card!
Body Talk
Disability Visibility /.
Staff Picks

Celebrating Every Body: Teen Body Positivity & Self Image

  • Kei G.
  • Wednesday, June 01
Body positivity encourages us to challenge how society views the body and promotes the acceptance of all bodies regardless of weight, complexion, skin texture, height, and disability. These teen titles invite us to embrace everything that makes us different and unique.
Never Simple
Beatrix Potter
Staff Picks

New in Biography and Memoir

  • Bland L.
  • Wednesday, June 01
Liz Scheier’s Never Simple, about her difficult upbringing as the child of a mother with Borderline Personality Disorder, has been getting a lot of notice, as has Mary Laura Philpott’s Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives, a set of
Charming As a Verb
Clap When You Land
Staff Picks

South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominees 2022-2023

  • Jennifer N.
  • Thursday, May 19
The South Carolina Young Adult Book Award is granted annually by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians (SCASL).  The nominees represent quality contemporary literature for high schoolers, selected by students, parents, teachers, and librarians.  Below are the 2022-2023 nominees in print, audio, and ebook formats.
Amari and the Night Brothers
Amari and the Night Brothers
Staff Picks

South Carolina Junior Book Award Nominees 2022-2023

  • Jennifer N.
  • Thursday, May 19
The South Carolina Junior Book Award is granted annually by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians (SCASL).  The nominees represent quality contemporary literature for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, selected by students, parents, teachers, and librarians.  Below are the 2022-2023 nominees in print, audio, and ebook formats.
Her Stories
African Folklore in the New World
Staff Picks

A Tale to Tell Thru Time: BIPOC Oral Literature

  • Kenyanah B.
  • Wednesday, May 18
Most people's first experience with oral literature or folk literature was most likely a lullaby, nursery rhyme or an urban legend. Oral literature is handed down orally through the word of mouth from one generation to another and serves to communicate ideas,  knowledge, cultural practices, emotions, beliefs, and the appreciation of life. Oral literature much like oral tradition is preserved by speaking, listening, and remembering.  The following booklist highlights African, African American, and indigenous people oral literature.  
Malibu Rising
Dead Dead Girls
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2022: Fiction Set in CA or NY

  • Morgan R.
  • Thursday, May 12
The #BroaderBookshelf challenge helps expand your reading habits to discover authors, genres and books you might not otherwise pick up. Read one of these fiction titles to fulfill the "Read a fiction or non-fiction book set in California or New York" prompt. Click on the title to see all available formats.
Samira Surfs
The Maps of Memory
Staff Picks

Great Books for Ages 11, 12, 13 | 2022

  • Richland Library
  • Wednesday, May 11
Middle school readers are still figuring out the world while trying to figure out themselves.  They may look for books that reflect their experience or give them a window or sliding glass
Stuntboy, in the Meantime
Ancestor Approved
Staff Picks

Great Books for Ages 9, 10, 11 | 2022

  • Richland Library
  • Wednesday, May 11
"This is Stuntboy. This guy, right here. Him. You can't tell just looking at him, but he's the greatest superhero you've never heard of."  --Stuntboy, in the Meantime by Jason Reynolds
Last Night at the Telegraph Club
Code Name Verity /.
Staff Picks

Great Books for Ages 16, 17, 18

  • Jennifer N.
  • Friday, May 06
The transition of the late teen years can be both joyful and confusing. Reading about someone like yourself or escaping into someone else’s shoes are both great ways to learn about the world around you. Check out some of our favorite reads for older teens in the list below.  Happy exploring!
Akata Witch
The Poet X
Staff Picks

Great Books for Ages 13, 14, 15

  • Jennifer N.
  • Friday, May 06
Looking for some great fiction for younger teens and don’t know where to start? Check out the list below for an overview of some of our favorites. With mysteries, romances, fantasies, nonfiction, and more there’s something for every reader! 
The One Day House
No Voice Too Small
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Connecting with Our Community

  • Heather M.
  • Wednesday, May 04
"One day," said Wilson. "I will fix the roof on Gigi's house to keep out the wind and snow."--The One Day House by Julia Durango Whether it's helping a neighbor, volunteering or bringing people together to fix a problem too big for any one person, these stories of community let us know that we have the ability to make a difference in the lives of the people around us.
A Magic Steeped in Poison
Inheritance
Staff Picks

Highly Anticipated Teen Reads for May

  • Kei G.
  • Wednesday, April 27
There’s always room left on your TBR list! From romances and mysteries to sci-fi and fantasy, there’s something for every reader to look forward to this Spring. Here are some of the most anticipated young adult books to watch out for in May. Reserve any of these titles today by placing a hold with your library card!
The Beauty That Remains
Freaking out
Staff Picks

Teen Books for Mental Health Awareness Month

  • Lily W.
  • Monday, April 25
A recent study from the CDC found that 37.1% of teenage students experienced poor mental health during the pandemic, often due to issues such as “school closures, social isolation, family economic hardship, family loss or illness, and reduced access to health care.” However, the report also found that “poor mental health, persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors were less prevalent among those who felt close to persons at school and were virtually connected with others during the pandemic.”
Portrait of a Thief
The Startup Wife
Staff Picks

Novels by Asian and Asian-American Authors

  • Morgan R.
  • Tuesday, April 19
Taking place everywhere from far and wide, to worlds built in fantasy, these titles written by authors of Asian descent are the perfect way to delve into a sliver of a different culture, background or experience. Don't forget to participate in the #BroaderBookshelf challenge or get more ideas about what to read by filling out a Personalized Recommendation form. 
No More Plastic
Reuse This Book!
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Taking Care of Mother Earth

  • Heather M.
  • Monday, April 18
"She took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and decided to make a change."--No More Plastic | Alma Fullerton Discover how pollution and litter damage the air, land and seas and what you can do each day to take care of our planet.  Earth day is every day when you read one of these books.  Find more great stories when you Read All About It:  This Land is Our Land.   
Jabari Jumps
Violet Shrink
Staff Picks

StoryWalk®: Jabari Jumps Read-Alikes

  • Richland Library
  • Thursday, April 14
Visit Richland Library's Jabari Jumps StoryWalk® at Caughman Road Park or pick up the book from your neighborhood library and find your courage to try something new.  Next, check out some of these good books to continue the stories at home! Looking for even more good books?  Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084. 
That Way Madness Lies
Saving Hamlet
Staff Picks

Borrowed from The Bard

  • Kei G.
  • Thursday, April 07
William Shakespeare’s plays have influenced television, cinema, and literature for centuries. From Romeo and Juliet, to The Taming of the Shrew, and Hamlet, Shakespeare masterfully and poetically captures the comedic and tragic drama of teen relationships. Enjoy these titles which highlight the timelessness of The Bard’s genius through modern retellings of his works. 
My Son John
The New Jim Crow
Staff Picks

Help! My Adult Child Talks Like a Communist!

  • Keith B.
  • Tuesday, April 05
In Leo McCarey's Red Scare cult classic, My Son John, John (Robert Walker) comes home from college with a raft of radical ideas. His devout Catholic mother Lucille (Helen Hayes) and American Legion member father Dan (Dean Jagger) become increasingly uneasy, unable to relate to John's leftist views. In one of the best, and most certainly melodramatic depictions of the possible gulf between generations caused by political differences, Lucille begins informing on John to the FBI agent played by Van Heflin. 
The Bridge
Thirteen Reasons Why
Staff Picks

Suicide In Teen Fiction

  • Thomas M.
  • Friday, April 01
According to the CDC, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-24. Silence will not make the problem go away.
Rolling Thunder Revue
Don't Look Back
Staff Picks

Like the Wind Blowin' Through 1703 Taylor St.

  • Keith B.
  • Friday, April 01
Did you leave a Bob Dylan concert mystified, unsure of what you just heard? Did you find his voice rough and his manners rowdy? Were you intrigued by his literary lyrics and the fanatical spectacle? Take a deeper dive into Dylanology with this selection of materials.   Bob Dylan Setlists for Shows at The Columbia Township Auditorium 2022-03-29 
Hard Reboot
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
Staff Picks

Robots, Love, and Queer People!

  • Garrett W.
  • Monday, March 28
Books for teens and adults featuring robots, space flight, and rogue artificial intelligence. 
Everything is Illuminated
Fahrenheit 9/11
Staff Picks

Rory Gilmore's Reading Challenge (List #9 - Starting with 'Eva Luna')

  • Ariel H.
  • Tuesday, March 15
☕ 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!
Eloise at the Plaza
Emma.
Staff Picks

Rory Gilmore's Reading Challenge (List #8 - Starting with 'The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test')

  • Ariel H.
  • Tuesday, March 08
☕ 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!
Divine Secrets of the Ya-ya Sisterhood.
Driving Miss Daisy.
Staff Picks

Rory Gilmore's Reading Challenge (List #7 - Starting with 'Deenie')

  • Ariel H.
  • Tuesday, March 01
☕ 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!
Sister Outsider
Light From Uncommon Stars
Staff Picks

LGBTQ eAudiobooks We Loved

  • Zita R.
  • Tuesday, February 22
Hoopla and Overdrive have lots of LGBTQ titles to listen to as Audiobooks but here is a short and fun list of Staff Picks that Richland Library workers loved listening to this past year.
The Crimson Petal and the White.
Crucible
Staff Picks

Rory Gilmore's Reading Challenge (List #6 - Starting with 'The Crimson Petal & The White')

  • Ariel H.
  • Tuesday, February 22
☕ 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!
How to Be Fine
Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead
Staff Picks

Mental Health Month

  • Morgan R.
  • Monday, February 21
If you are feeling depressed, lonely, or are just having a bad day, try one of these titles and let reading briefly take you out of reality. Whether you are looking for something to make you laugh, an out-of-this-world sci-fi, or need a little self-help action, we've got you covered. For personalized recommendations, click here. You are not alone. These resources may help you:
Dune
Dune.
Staff Picks

What to Read If You Like: 'DUNE'

  • Ariel H.
  • Friday, February 18
So, you've finally seen the movie and/or read the book. Great! Check out the rest of the Dune series or other series of similar themes!  Be careful with how much spice you consume...
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Count of Monte Cristo (2002.
Staff Picks

Rory Gilmore's Reading Challenge (List #5 - Starting with 'The Code of the Woosters')

  • Ariel H.
  • Friday, February 11
☕ 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!
Orwell's Roses
A Little Devil in America
Staff Picks

2021 National Book Critics Circle Award Finalists

  • Bland L.
  • Thursday, February 10
The finalists for the 2021 National Book Critics Circle Awards were recently announced.  Given annually since 1976, they are the only major book awards selected by critics.  The winners will be announced in March.  Check out the following finalists from our collection, in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, biography, autobiography, poetry, and criticism.  (The list also includes the finalists for the NBCC's John Leonard Prize for Best First Book.)
A Lot Like Adiós
Have We Met?
Staff Picks

Romance Novels by Authors of Color

  • Morgan R.
  • Saturday, January 22
Whether you are looking for something to read while getting cozy by the fire, or catching some rays at the beach, these books are sure to heat things up. 
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.
The Girl with the Louding Voice
Black Sunday
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2022: African Authors

  • Morgan R.
  • Tuesday, January 04
Fulfill the prompt, "Read a book by an author from an African nation" with one of these engaging books. Find out more information about the #BroaderBookshelf challenge here. Need more suggestions? Fill out a Personalized Reading Recommendation form. It's a quick and easy way to find your next favorite read. 
Moon of the Crusted Snow
No Exit
Staff Picks

Stone Cold Thrillers

  • Kristin A.
  • Monday, January 03
Winter is the perfect time to cozy up with a crime book. Whether you’re in the mood for chilling psychological suspense, Nordic Noir, or a good old fashioned detective story, there’s a little something for everyone in this reading list. Check out some of the best snowy page-turners below.
Patricia Highsmith
Redeeming Justice
Staff Picks

New in Biography and Memoir

  • Bland L.
  • Wednesday, December 29
Notable new releases include Chinese artist/activist Ai Weiwei’s 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows and Indian economist (and prolific author) Amartya Sen’s Home in the World.  Carole Angier’s
A Wrinkle in Time
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Staff Picks

Top Checkouts 2021: Children's Audiobooks 🎧

  • Richland Library
  • Wednesday, December 29
Curious as to what your friends' and neighbors' children were listening to in 2021? Us too!  Long story, short. It was a good year to be a teen with magical powers. 
Children of Blood and Bone
Firekeeper's Daughter
Staff Picks

Top Checkouts 2021: Teen Audiobooks 🎧

  • Richland Library
  • Wednesday, December 29
Curious as to what your friends and classmates were listening to in 2021? Us too!  Series seem to take top marks across teen formats this year--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.  
Anxious People
The Vanishing Half
Staff Picks

Top Checkouts 2021: Adult Audiobooks 🎧

  • Richland Library
  • Wednesday, December 29
Curious as to what your friends and neighbors were listening to in 2021? Us too!  No surprises here. The Four Winds, The Vanishing Half, and The Midnight Library took top honors across all adult fiction formats this year but there are lots of other titles to check out too. 
Naturalist
The Ants
Staff Picks

Naturalist: E. O. Wilson, 1929-2021

  • Bland L.
  • Tuesday, December 28
In his long and distinguished career, scientist and author Edward O. Wilson, who died on 26 December, wrote as much for a popular audience as he did for his academic peers.  In addition to several books on ants (on which he was a world authority), he published widely on evolutionary biology and conservation.  One of his collaborations with fellow ant expert Bert Hölldobler, The Ants, won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction.
Slouching Towards Bethlehem
After Henry
Staff Picks

Remembering Joan Didion

  • Bland L.
  • Monday, December 27
Joan Didion, who died at age 87 on 23 December, astutely sized up American culture from the 1960s onward in a series of nonfiction and fiction works that met with both critical and popular acclaim.  The prolific Didion is perhaps still best known for her first two essay collections, Slouching Towards Bethlehem and
Trillions
Get Good with Money
Staff Picks

New Business Books

  • Bland L.
  • Wednesday, December 22
This batch of new business books features some sharp corporate take-downs, including Peter Robison’s Flying Blind: The 737 MAX Tragedy and the Fall of Boeing and Bartow J.
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.
Homemade Love
Appalachian Elegy
Staff Picks

In Memoriam: bell hooks

  • Sarah C.
  • Thursday, December 16
The inimitable scholar, poet, critic, and activist bell hooks passed away on December 15, 2021 at the age of 69.  Celebrate the life of this groundbreaking thinker with one of her many works -- hooks wrote for all ages on topics ranging from feminism and gender to race and politics.  
The Beatles
The Beatles Anthology.
Staff Picks

Can't Get Enough Beatles?

  • Allison T.
  • Tuesday, December 14
After watching Get Back, Peter Jackson's film that reworks footage from the Beatles Let It Be sessions, are you craving more about the fab four? We have just the thing for you!
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!
Interview with the Vampire
Angel Time
Staff Picks

The Queen of the Vampires: Anne Rice

  • Kristin A.
  • Monday, December 13
Anne Rice, the queen of the vampires and Gothic literature, has passed away at the age of 80. She was best known for her best-selling series, the Vampire Chronicles and the Mayfair Witches. "Interview with the Vampire" was made into a successful feature film in 1994, helping to reignite interest in the vampire genre, which continues to this day.
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.
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.
Royal Holiday
The Christmas Train
Staff Picks

Merry and Bright: Festive Holiday Reads

  • Kristin A.
  • Friday, December 03
It's the most wonderful time of the year! What better way to get into the holiday spirit than with a festive read. From mysteries to romances, these books are wrapped up with loads of holiday cheer.
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.
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.
Now Beacon, Now Sea
The Secret to Superhuman Strength
Staff Picks

New York Times Books of the Year: Biography and Memoir

  • Bland L.
  • Sunday, November 28
The recently released list of the New York Times notable books of 2021 includes a number of compelling biographies and memoirs you won't want to miss.  Check these titles out from our collection.
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.
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!
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.
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!🌱
The Promise
A Passage North
Staff Picks

2021 Booker Prizewinner

  • Bland L.
  • Friday, November 05
South African novelist/playwright Damon Galgut has won the 2021 Booker Prize, England's most prestigious literary award, for his epic novel The Promise, the intergenerational story of an Afrikaner farming family torn apart by an unfulfilled bequest of the family matriarch.  (Galgut has twice before been shortlisted for the prize.)
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
It's Getting Scot in Here.
Cockatiels at Seven
Staff Picks

That's So Punny!

  • Kristin A.
  • Monday, November 01
If you're looking for a bit of comedic relief, here are a few titles that will either make you groan, or make you laugh out loud and say "that's so punny!"
The Last Thing He Told Me
Malibu
Staff Picks

Sandhills Staff Picks

  • 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".  
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!
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. 
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. 
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.