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Coming Soon for Children

This list is regularly updated and shows items that have been ordered and will soon be available for checkout.
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Coming Soon for Teens

This list is regularly updated and shows items that have been ordered and will soon be available for checkout.
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New in Science

What did dinosaurs think about? What would living on Mars entail? What if there are cells in your body that are not really your own? For the answers to these and other intriguing questions, check out the latest in science reading from Richland Library’s collection (recently acquired or coming soon).
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AYoT: Coming of Age Graphic Novels

If you've been following my blog post than you'd know I'm all about tropes this year! And one of my absolute favorite tropes is "Coming of Age"! This list serves as a companion piece to my most recent blog post which you can find here. Below I have some of my favorites from this list highlighted! Enjoy~
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Love, Madness, and the Moors

Step into shadowed halls, windswept moors, and houses that seem to breathe with secrets. These gothic tales explore obsession, isolation, and the dark corners of the human heart—where love and terror often walk hand in hand.
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Stone Cold Thrillers

When the temperature drops, danger rises. Step into stories where the cold bites, the dark closes in, and every shadow hides a threat. These chill-laden thrillers prove that the most gripping mysteries unfold far below freezing.
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Just Checked In

This list is regularly updated and shows some of the latest items that have been checked in at the library.
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Coming Soon for Adults

This list is regularly updated and shows items that have been ordered and will soon be available for checkout.
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Coming Soon

This list is regularly updated and shows items that have been ordered and will soon be available for checkout.
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Most Popular

This list is regularly updated and shows 500 of the most popular items being checked out at the library.
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[___] of [___] and [___]

Everyone's favorite naming convention. Tales of fantasy and magic!
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The Luck of the Irish

From windswept villages to electric city streets, Irish writers have a knack for turning the ordinary into something luminous—and occasionally devastating. Expect fierce humor, quiet longing, sharp social insight, and prose that lingers. These Irish authors prove that small islands can produce very big stories.
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Books for the Start of Baseball Season

There's no shortage of books written about the sport of baseball. In anticipation of the new season, here are some picks, both fiction and non-fiction, to get you ready!
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New in Biography & Memoir

Check out these biographies and memoirs recently added to our collection, including the latest from the award-winning Jeanette Winterson and a compelling memoir by Orangeburg native and Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson about his family's history in South Carolina.
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Broader Bookshelf 2026 - Read a Romance Novella

Check out a book from this list to fulfill the 2026 Broader Bookshelf prompt 14. "Read a novella."Whether a stand-alone story, a group of novellas making up a miniature world, or a cute interstice in an established series, let these romance novellas take you on a tiny adventure!
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Best Business Books of 2025

Check out these notable business books of the year just concluded, as chosen by the New York Times, Forbes, and Kirkus. There's even a book about Taylor Swift, There's Nothing Like This, about which the reviewer in Forbes notes, it "takes you on this incredible and improbable journey of personal success, easily translated to business. Lesson number one: when you get started, find a niche and dominate it."
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Broader Bookshelf 2026 - Read a Speculative Fiction Novella

Check out a book from this list to fulfill the 2026 Broader Bookshelf prompt 14. "Read a novella."Speculative fiction is an umbrella term for science fiction, fantasy, and horror! Sometimes the genres blend - so all are being highlighted here.
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Broader Bookshelf 2026 - Read an Award-Winning Novella

Check out a book from this list to fulfill the 2026 Broader Bookshelf prompt 14. "Read a novella."From the Nebulas to the Nommos, from the Shirley Jackson Awards to the Paris Literary Prize, all of these stories have been recognized for being the top of their year.
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What year is this?!?

To celebrate the passage of time and the brand new year, this list features novels that contain either time travel or nonlinear storytelling.
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Best Biographies & Memoirs of 2025

Check out this year's best biographies and memoirs, as selected by Kirkus, the New York Times, the Guardian, and the Observer.
Staff Picks

Best Science Books of 2025

Check out the best science books of the year, as chosen by Smithsonian Magazine, the Guardian, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal.
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Books That Work: Reads for National Career Development Month

Looking to kick your career into gear? During National Career Development Month, there's no time like the present! Rejuvenate your professional life with these helpful reads, curated with help from Richland Library's Career Coaches!
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The Eyes Have It: Books that Look

Spooky season never ends! Coming up just after Halloween, November is National Eye Donation Month. To mark these observances, this list of books with eyes or eyeballs on the cover offers everything from spine-tingling horror and a creeping sense of dread to poignant stories about the power and symbolism of vision.
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Native Narratives: Honoring Indigenous Voices

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month by exploring stories that honor Indigenous voices, histories, and futures. From powerful memoirs to sweeping novels, these narratives shine a light on resilience, identity, and the enduring strength of Indigenous storytelling.
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Comfy & Cozy

Put on your comfiest stretchy pants, grab a blanket and your favorite hot beverage and cuddle up with one of these cozy reads.
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Diaspora Stories

This list highlights both fictionalized stories and memoirs of the experiences of diaspora – that is, of populations that have been dispersed to different places. Most people living in the United States today are descended from people such as these who have moved their entire lives for various reasons – sometimes involuntarily – making these types of stories part of us all. Check out a book and allow yourself to take a walk in the shoes of these brave families and individuals who have carried cultures and traditions widely.
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The 2024 Lambda Literary Prize Finalists in Youth Categories

The Lambda Literary Prize finalists in the children's and young adult categories showcase the profound impact of storytelling on young minds. By addressing themes of diversity and inclusion, these books play a crucial role in helping young readers feel understood and less alone.
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The 2025 Booker Prize Longlist and Winner

The longlist for the 2025 Booker Prize is below. This major award recognizes English-language fiction.The winner of the 2025 Booker Prize is Flesh by David Szalay.
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Once Upon a Sparkle: Tales of Dragons, Fairies, Mermaids & Unicorns

This booklist is perfect for young readers who love magical beings like dragons, fairies, mermaids and unicorns. Each story brings gentle adventures, sparkly surprises and whimsical illustrations that spark imagination and wonder. These picture books are full of friendly creatures, fun messages about kindness and bravery and just the right touch of magic to enchant early readers.
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From Perimenopause to Empty Nest: Reads that Embrace Midlife

Remember when we thought that puberty, becoming new parents, and mere adulting were hard? Try hitting perimenopause, empty nest, and midlife - oh my! Here are some reads that help navigate this mixed-up stage of life as we age.
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Booklist: PEN America 2025 Nominees: Nonfiction

Explore the work of PEN America award-nominated contemporary nonfiction. You'll find fresh perspectives, vibrant language, and the inventive spirit that PEN America champions.PEN America Award winners in this list include:Every Living Thing: The Great and Deadly Race to Know All Life by Jason RobertsCharlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball by Keith O’BrienIn The Shadow of Liberty by Ana Raquel Minian
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Booklist: PEN America 2025 Awards: Fiction, Poetry, and Short Stories

Explore the work of PEN America award-nominated contemporary fiction, poetry, and short stories. You'll find fresh perspectives, vibrant language, and the inventive spirit that PEN America champions.PEN America Award winners in this list include:Load in Nine Times: Poems by Frank X. WalkerEarly Sobrieties by Michael DeaglerPEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature Winner: Mia Couto
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It's Not Just AI—Authors Love Em Dashes, Too

In this age of generative AI, some readers have grown suspicious of text with em dashes—they're incorrectly viewed as a sure sign of machine-written text. But em dashes aren’t new—many skilled authors use them to enhance their writing. This list highlights authors who know the power of the em dash and have wielded 'em for a long time—way before the bots—with purpose and flair.
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Disability Pride: Adult Fiction Titles

These titles celebrate resilience and challenge assumptions about living with disabilities. Join these complex characters as they navigate identity, access, and agency in a world that doesn’t always accommodate them.
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Queer Slipstream Fiction

Slipstream is a literary genre that's similar to, but distinct from science fiction, magical realism, and fantasy. It's what happens when literary fiction takes a long look in the mirror and suddenly sees something a bit… off. It's a quiet, often disorienting, weirdness that nudges at the corners of otherwise ordinary lives. That gentle, uncanny distortion, can mirror the experiences of outsiders like queer folks, who are used to navigating a world that doesn't always reflect back their reality.
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It's Giving Yellowjackets

Already binged Yellowjackets and can't get enough? This list is for you!
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Hi Hungry, I'm Dad!

I joined forces with Richland Northeast's own Chef Floyd Jeffcoat to create a cookbook list to inspire Father's Day plans (and more)!
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Afterlife Leads: Books Where the Main Character is Dead

Whether they're helping solve their own murder from beyond the grave or learning how to navigate a bizarre new afterlife, these stories show that death is far from the final chapter for these unforgettable characters. What happens when the end is only the beginning?
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I Beg Your Garden?

May is National Garden for Wildlife Month, celebrate with these nonfiction titles.
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Comics For Fans of "The Last of Us"

With the second season of "The Last of Us" returning viewers to a world of post-apocalyptic contagion, survival, trauma, revenge, and young love, this is a great time to check out the comics below. Come for the high-stakes parent-child connections and violent road trips, stay for hard-won maturity and friends made along the way.
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2025 Pulitzer Prizewinners

The 2025 Pulitzer Prizewinners have just been announced. Check out these winners and finalists in the categories of fiction, history, biography, memoir/autobiography, poetry, and general nonfiction.
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The 2025 International Booker Prize Longlist and Winner

The International Booker Prize recognizes outstanding translated fiction, honoring both the author and the translator. The award recognizes books that bring global perspectives to English-speaking audiences. A selection of works longlisted for the 2025 International Booker Prize is below. The winner is Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq and translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi.
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The 2025 Women's Prize for Fiction Longlist and Winner

The Women's Prize for Fiction is an annual award that celebrates outstanding, original full-length fiction written by women in English from around the world. Established in 1996, the prize aims to promote diversity and excellence in literature, offering a platform for women's voices to be heard and recognized. It not only highlights the literary achievements of women writers, but also encourages a wider readership for their work.
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Getting To Know Daredevil

Matt Murdock, the man without fear, the devil of Hell's Kitchen, and attorney-at-law. After being blinded by a radioactive substance as a child, he gained superhuman hearing abilities and uses them along with martial arts training to fight crime as Daredevil. His stories tend to be either drenched in noir, pulpy ninja action, or legal battles that require out-of-court settlement. In every case, you can count on Matt fighting to do right by his friends, clients, and New York City, often with a side of Irish Catholic guilt.
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National Women and Girls in Sports Day

This February 5th celebrate the 39th annual National Women and Girls in Sports Day by reading or watching one of these true stories about Women in sports. As the Women's Sports Federation says, "when girls play, they lead, and we all win."
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Blerd (Black Nerd) Comics

This booklist is full of stories about and by black artists, gamers, and inventors. The importance of inclusion and belonging extends to creative spaces, and black nerds can be found in all of them. While this list is intended for teens, older nerds may recognize themselves in these young adult and middle grade stories.
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Best Business Books of 2024

Check out the best business titles of the year just past, as selected by the Financial Times, Forbes, and McKinsey & Company.
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Best Graphic Novels of 2024

Comics, graphic novels, the funny papers, call them whatever you want, 2024 had a killer lineup of titles from wave after wave of talented artists, writers, and letterers who brought this year's stories to life. Below is a list of graphic novels combining titles from a number of best-of lists across the web, including The Beat, Book Riot, NPR, Forbes, Library Journal, New York Public Library, Polygon, The Guardian, and Publishers Weekly. The subject matter ranges from biography and family trauma to horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and literary adaptations.
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Best Teen Fiction of 2024

December is a great month for reflecting on the year that was - and all the great books that came out! Below is a list chock full of quality titles for teens as selected and given starred reviews by School Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus Reviews.
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Best Comics For Kids 2024

December is a great month for reflecting on the year that was - and all the great comics that came out! Below is a list chock full of quality titles for kids as selected by School Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus Reviews.
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Best Manga and Graphic Novels For Teens 2024

December is a great month for reflecting on the year that was - and all the great comics that came out! Below is a list chock full of quality titles for teens as selected by School Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus Reviews.
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If You Liked... That Superman (2025) Trailer

It will be a while before the latest Superman movie hits theaters (July 11, 2025, not that anyone's counting), but the teaser trailer has given fans a glimpse of the characters and tone they can expect. It seems to feature a balance between drama, comedy, and romance, an ensemble of heroes, Superman as a protector of children, and of course the power of hope.
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The Best of the best of the 21st Century

Did you miss it? I have compiled a list of some of the best books of the 21st century, so far! This list will get you started or maybe remind you to read that book again! The list is diverse and includes children's fiction, teen fiction, science fiction and adult fiction. Best of reading to you and enjoy!
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Picture Books with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Characters

Check out these fiction and nonfiction picture books about deaf and hard-of-hearing characters and real people who found ways to communicate, to make friends, to accomplish their goals, and to create change in the world. Looking for even more good books? Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-929-3434.
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Best Biographies & Memoirs of 2024

Check out this year's most noteworthy biographies and memoirs, as selected by the New York Times, Esquire, and the Guardian.
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Best Science Books of 2024

These titles have been selected by Smithsonian Magazine, the Guardian, and Amazon as the best science books of 2024 (although a couple were actually published in 2023, they still made it onto the lists). Check them out from our collection.
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Assassins, Hitmen, and Killers, Oh My

There's just something about a (literal) killer character, right? They exist outside the boundaries of everyday life, bring tension and suspense everywhere they go, and usually have a direct conflict to resolve that will get messy. Their stories are also ripe for unexpected humor and heart, though the action and violence might take center stage. The characters in the booklist below are either vigilantes, contract killers, or assassins, including active and lapsed killers. Some of them might even have a conscience! But don't count on it.
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2024 National Book Awards

The winners of the 2024 National Book Awards have just been announced. Check out these winners and finalists from our collection in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated literature, and young people's literature.
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Getting To Know Sam Wilson, From The Falcon to Captain America

Sam Wilson, enemy of Nazis since his introduction in 1969, indispensable crime-fighting partner of Steve Rogers as The Falcon, and nowadays bearing the mantle of Captain America. He is a skilled brawler, agile in the air with metal wings, passionate about justice, and balances the weight of everyone's expectations for what Captain America should be like. He's also been known to light up streaming and theater screens. Get to know him better through some of his iconic adventures below.
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Taking On Dares In Teen Fiction

Friends shaking up their lives with a little excitement. Letters from distant family members with tantalizing tasks. These books share in common dares, promises, and racing into uncertain situations. Just the sort of chaos where teen fiction thrives.
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Celebrating University Press Week 2024

In 1978 President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the first University Press week, “to honor the important role of university presses in advancing and preserving knowledge.” In 2012 the Association of University Presses decided to revive the concept of a weeklong celebration of their members’ contributions to publishing, and it has been observed yearly ever since. This year’s University Press Week falls on 11-15 November.
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Queer Horror for Teens

Celebrate LGBTQIA+ History Month and Halloween with these spooky (and gay) reads for teens.
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If You Like... The Penguin

Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin, or Oz Cobb if you're referring to the recent spinoff from The Batman. He's a master at playing both sides in a conflict and escaping death by the skin of his teeth. In crime-ridden Gotham City, is there any other way to live? If you like watching The Penguin's crime-noir lifestyle, the graphic novels below are recommended reading. Many are good stories from the world of Batman in general, plus there are some other crime stories that are birds of a feather with Penguin.
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Han Kang, 2024 Nobel Prizewinner

South Korean novelist Han Kang has just been named the recipient of this year's Nobel Prize in Literature. She is the first Korean author and the first Asian woman to receive this distinguished award. Her novels have also won and been shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. Her fifth book, The Vegetarian (2007; English translation, 2016) was also recently named by The New York Times as one of the "100 Best Books of the 21st Century."Check out these thought-provoking novels by Han Kang from our collection.
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2024 Charleston Literary Festival Authors

This year's Charleston Literary Festival, which will run from 1-10 November, has a stellar cast of fiction and nonfiction authors scheduled as speakers. Whether or not you're planning to attend, you can check out many of these writers' works from our collection, including these titles.
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2024 First Novel Prize Long List

The long list for the 2024 First Novel Prize has just been announced. This prize, created by the Center for Fiction in 2006, is given to the best debut novel of the year. The winner will be announced in December. In the meantime, check out these long-listed titles from our collection.
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Getting To Know Deadpool

Waid Wilson, the merc with a mouth, aka Deadpool. An assassin by trade, he is no stranger to blood, bullets, and mayhem, and he has a healing factor that keeps him whole. He's known for cracking jokes about everyone around him, even the reader when he breaks the fourth wall. Don't let his humor and gore fool you: he has a vulnerable side too, especially with regards to outcasts and redemption. While some heroes unite over shawarma after a hard day's heroism, Deadpool is a chimichanga of chaos ready to explode. Enjoy some of its many flavors below.
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Getting To Know Dr. Doom

Victor von Doom, ruler of Latveria, eternal nemesis of the Fantastic Four... and making headlines for being played by Robert Downey, Jr.? What makes this villain tick, anyway? As it turns out, he has a colorful history of egomania and revenge, often pitting him against multiple Marvel heroes at once. He has enough pride to consider everyone else beneath him, but also enough pettiness to never let go of a grudge. Actually, "enough" is probably a word he would never apply to himself.
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2024 Eisner Award Winners

Check out the winners of the 2024 Eisner Awards, announced each year at San Diego Comic-Con. You can see a full list of categories, nominees, and winners here. Hoopla has a collection of the winners here. Keep in mind that Eisner categories span across various creative roles, formats, and target age ranges.
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New Business Reads

New releases include books on women's issues in the workforce (15 Lies Women Are Told at Work, Fair Shake: Women and the Fight to Build a Just Economy,
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New and Notable Biographies and Memoirs

Some of these titles have already received a lot of notice (memoirs by Anthony Fauci and Griffin Dunne, for instance), but others may have escaped your attention and are worth a look too.
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Teen Sports Romances

Game, set, matchmaking! The characters in these books are competitive, passionate, and dedicated - sometimes they also play sports. Swoon from the sidelines or on the field in these sports romances.
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Remembering D-Day

June 6th marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, the largest, most ambitious such invasion in military history. Check out these exciting titles from our collection, including books by noted contemporary historians such as Antony Beevor and Alex Kershaw, classics such as Cornelius Ryan’s
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2024 Pulitzer Prizewinners

The 2024 Pulitzer Prizes have just been announced. Check out these winners and finalists in the categories of fiction, history, biography, memoir/autobiography, poetry, and general nonfiction.
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Memoirs for Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month is observed in the US each May. Inaugurated in 1949 by the National Association for Mental Health (now Mental Health America), it features a different theme each year. For 2024, the theme is Where to Start, “For anyone struggling with the pressure of today’s world, feeling alone, or wondering if they can feel better.” For one good place to start, check out these moving autobiographies and memoirs that explore the challenges of mental i
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Read All About It: Month of the Military Child

"There's a special day, a thank-you day, honoring kids for their service while the folks are away."--Purple Up!: We Salute Our Friends by Sarah Lynn ScheergerWe often recognize the sacrifice made by people serving in our military--both at home and abroad. We thank them for their service. Military children and their sacrifices are sometimes overlooked.
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Teen Books to Celebrate AAPI Month

May is Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month and what better way to honor that community than with stories? These book are by and about the AAPI community with a focus on the teen years. Enjoy!
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2023 Eisner Award Winners

Check out the winners of the 2023 Eisner Awards, announced each year at San Diego Comic-Con. You can see a full list of categories, nominees, and winners here. Keep in mind that Eisner categories span across various creative roles, formats, and target age ranges. Digital copies of the 2023 Eisner Award winners can also be found on Hoopla.
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Naruto Readalikes for Teens

The Naruto manga series has long been popular with teens--and for good reason! It's got magic, friendship, action, and it's a coming of age story. While manga reading still counts as reading, here are some novels with similar themes for fans ready to branch out. Believe it!
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Black Comics & Creators

Every year brings new and returning black comics creators, and all of them are opportunities to experience great and eye-opening stories. Previous years have seen lists about Black Superheroes, Comics With Black Protagonists, and Black History In Comics.
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South Carolina Voices

A voice of South Carolina can be many different things. Slow and melodic with a rhythmic cadence, these authors voices bring to life varied stories from long ago to just yesterday. You will find books from South Carolina writers about history to vampires to stories of injustice. A little something for everyone. So, listen closely to these voices and see what you hear.
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Smithsonian Magazine Best Science Books of 2023

Check out these recently published science titles that Smithsonian Magazine has singled out for praise. The list includes Of Time and Turtles, by best-selling author Sy Montgomery, and the thought-provoking Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of O
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2024 New Year, New Me: Middle Grade and Teen Books

Recommended by Richland Library staff, this list is what happens when we decide to kick-off the new year with a challenge--reading outside of our comfort zones. From nonfiction to manga, romance to historical fiction, we stretched ourselves and our reading habits to explore new genres and authors.
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Austen-tacious: YA Adaptations of Jane Austen

There's no rizz like Jane Austen rizz. Perhaps that's why Jane Austen retellings have enduring appeal to young romantics. Check out this list curated by my colleage Hannah C. and me for a Valentine's read.
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"Where are your drama books?"

What makes a "drama" book? The Teen Center is used to this question, but the answer shifts from person to person. As best we can tell, "drama" as a teen fiction category includes some combination of the following:contemporary settingflawed main characterbullyinggossipmysterycrimecharacters who are put through a series of ordealsreal consequencesThe list below represents teen fiction that fits these descriptors. One thing's for sure: these books are made to be shared like hot gossip.
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Financial Times Best Business Books of 2023

London’s Financial Times has released a list of the year’s best business titles. It includes books treating such timely topics as AI (The Coming Wave), cryptocurrency (