Staff Picks

New in Science

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.
Staff Picks

Graphic Novel Adaptations

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.
Staff Picks

35 Best Book Club Picks of 2021

Book clubs are a great way to spark conversations and connect with people. After reading a really good book, I am always curious to know what other people thought of it. It is interesting to see how each person interprets a book differently and the animated discussions which follow based on how you relate to the book. 
Staff Picks

In Memoriam: bell hooks

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.  
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Richland Library Main

#OwnVoices: The Mistress of Spices (Book Review)

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s bestselling book, The Mistress of Spices is an evocative classic; a magical, mystical tale of a clairvoyant who sells spices that can soothe your soul. The author says that she wrote this novel “in a spirit of play, collapsing the divisions between the realistic world of twentieth century America and the timeless one of myth and magic” in her “attempt to create a modern fable."

Staff Picks

Holiday Mental Health

The holidays aren’t always the joyful experience they’re meant to be; in fact, they can exacerbate feelings of grief, anxiety, and depression.  If you or someone you love is dealing with holiday blues this year, check out some of the titles below for helpful tips to ease the struggle.  You are not alone! If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.  Help is always available.  
Staff Picks

Most Popular Manga of 2021

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.
Staff Picks

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

☕ 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!
Staff Picks

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

☕ 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!
Blog
Richland Library Main

All Her Little Secrets: A Book Review

Wanda M Morris’s stunning debut Mystery/Thriller 'All Her Little Secrets' published on November 2, 2021, is riveting. I cannot stop talking about this book and recommending it to my friends. As an addict of psychological suspense, I am always looking forward to the next adrenaline pumping read. This one kept me up at night, navigating its unpredictable twists and turns and I just had to finish the book in one sitting to know how the story ends.

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Richland Library North Main

#OwnVoices: The City We Became - A Review

What we are, what we’re made of, is many worlds coming together. Reality and legends. This world where we’re just people, and that world, where we can be miles-wide cities that just happen to be sitting a couple of feet across from each other because the laws of space, physics, don’t work the same way.

Staff Picks

Teen Fiction For Dormant Readers

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.
Staff Picks

HiLo Teen Fiction

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!
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Richland Library Edgewood

Dinner Table Talks: Buffalo Bird Girl: A Hidatsa Story

Dinner Table Talks create the opportunity for families to have important conversations centered around books.  This conversation focuses on the nonfiction children's biography, Buffalo Bird Girl:  A Hidatsa Story by S.D. Nelson.  

Staff Picks

Manga Debuts of 2021

A lot of manga series kicked off in 2021. Pick up a new favorite across many different genres for teens and up.
Staff Picks

Most Popular Teen Fiction of 2021

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.
Staff Picks

New Teen Nonfiction of 2021

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.
Staff Picks

Handmade Holidays

Is there anything better than receiving a handmade gift from someone knowing they personalized it just for you and put their time, effort and thought into it? Return the favor by creating something one-of-a-kind for someone who is one-of-a-kind. 
Staff Picks

2021 Teen Audio Favorites

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! 
Staff Picks

2021 Teen Books for Younger Readers

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.
Staff Picks

New Teen Books for December 2021

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.   
Staff Picks

2021 Teen Award Winners

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. 
Staff Picks

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

Discover the true stories and history of Indigenous and Native people of the Americas in these picture book titles.   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.
Staff Picks

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

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.
Staff Picks

Time Travel Adventures

Take a journey with these characters and travel through time for the ultimate adventure!
Staff Picks

New York Times Books of the Year: Biography and Memoir

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.
Staff Picks

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

☕ 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!
Staff Picks

Expand Your Knowledge of the World

🌎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!
Staff Picks

Issue-Driven Teen Titles

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.
Staff Picks

Book-to-TV In Development: Part IV

As of November 2021, these are the current highly anticipated titles that are being transformed for TV.
Staff Picks

Book-to-TV In Development: Part II

As of November 2021, these are the current highly anticipated titles that are being transformed for TV.
Staff Picks

Book-to-TV In Development: Part I

As of November 2021, these are the current highly anticipated titles that are being transformed for TV.
Staff Picks

New Additions to Popular Teen Series

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.  
Staff Picks

Teen Holiday Romances

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. 
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Richland Library Main

Facing Difficult Family During the Holidays

The carols, commercials, and TV shows flooding the airwaves currently want us to believe that “it’s the most wonderful time of the year.” And yet for many people reality is drastically different. Expectations are high, individuals are stressed, loved ones yell, and blame, and spread guilt. Discover some titles to help you deal with difficult people and learn a breathing technique to manage anxiety. 

Staff Picks

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

☕ 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!
Staff Picks

Speedy Reads

Are you rushing to complete your reading challenge for the year? Short on time? Check out one of these speedy reads that are under 250 pages and get back to crushing your reading goals. 
Staff Picks

Who's Your Superhero?

Some are mutants, some are aliens, some have tapped into the fabric of the universe, and some are just people with money or gadgets - what do they all have in common? They come to the rescue when needed! Peruse this list and see the world from a different perspective - one where superheroes live among us and try to make the world a better place.
Staff Picks

Soaring Voices

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.
Staff Picks

StoryWalk®: I Am a Bird Read-Alikes

Visit Richland Library's I Am a Bird StoryWalk® at Doko Meadows Park or pick up the book from your neighborhood library and get your family soaring and gliding while enjoying a great story.  Next, check out some of these good books to continue the fun at home! 
Staff Picks

YA Reads for Native American Heritage Month

  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.
Staff Picks

If You Like...Braiding Sweetgrass

📚Below you'll find a variety of books that share a theme or more with Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Enjoy!🌱
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Richland Library Edgewood

Dinner Table Talks: Dear Martin

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.  

Staff Picks

2021 Booker Prizewinner

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.)
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Richland Library North Main

#OwnVoices: Me & Mama

In Cozbi A. Cabrera's Coretta Scott King Award-winning Me & Mama, the day begins with Mama sings "bright as sun" to welcome her young child to a brand new, exciting day.

Staff Picks

2021 National Book Award Finalists

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
Staff Picks

For the Birds

Check out these great reads about our fine feathered friends and those who love to watch them!
Staff Picks

Sandhills Staff Picks

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".  
Staff Picks

LibraryReads for November 2021

Each month, LibraryReads lists the top upcoming titles recommended by librarians across the country.  All these books will be published in November 2021, so stay ahead of the curve and get on the holds list now!
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Richland Library Main

Sandhills Staff Picks of 2021

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".  

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Richland Library Main

#OwnVoices: The Death of Vivek Oji

"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

Staff Picks

35 Horror Reads For Halloween

These terrifying novels will get you in the mood for Halloween. If you are looking for spine tingling fear and dread, creepy chills and the thrill of feeling spooked, do check out these titles which include timeless horror classics mixed with contemporary scary fiction. Warning: After reading one or more of these books you may want to sleep with your lights on!
Staff Picks

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

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.
Staff Picks

Introducing: Nic Stone

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!
Staff Picks

Picks from Reese's Book Club 🌞

Check out these selections from Reese Witherspoon's popular book club. The March 2024 pick is Anita De Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez 
Staff Picks

For Fans of K-Pop

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.
Staff Picks

YA Woods to be Wary of

Get lost in the woods with this festive fall titles. 
Staff Picks

Remembering Gary Paulsen (May 1939 - October 2021)

            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. 
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Richland Library Lower Richland

Author Spotlight: Junji Ito

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

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Richland Library Main

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

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.

Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2021 - One Word Titles (Translations)

Books with One Word Titles span genres. Here are some Translated titles that are only one word.    Learn more about the Broader Bookshelf challenge and see more lists here.
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2021 - One Word Titles (Poetry)

Books with One Word Titles span genres. Here are some Poetry titles that are only one word.    Learn more about the Broader Bookshelf challenge and see more lists here.
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2021 - One Word Titles (Romance)

Books with One Word Titles span genres. Here are some Romance titles that are only one word.    Learn more about the Broader Bookshelf challenge and see more lists here.
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2021 - One Word Titles (Fiction)

Books with One Word Titles span genres. Here are some General Fiction titles that are only one word.    Learn more about the Broader Bookshelf challenge and see more lists here.
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2021 - One Word Titles (Horror)

Books with One Word Titles span genres. Here are some Horror Fiction titles that are only one word.    Learn more about the Broader Bookshelf challenge and see more lists here.
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2021 - One Word Titles (Fantasy)

Books with One Word Titles span genres. Here are some Fantasy titles that are only one word.   Learn more about the Broader Bookshelf challenge and see more lists here.
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2021 - One Word Titles (Young Adult)

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.
Staff Picks

#BroaderBookshelf 2021 - One Word Titles (Nonfiction)

Books with One Word Titles span genres. Here are some non-fiction titles that are only one word. (Some have subtitles but we're not counting those.)    Learn more about the Broader Bookshelf challenge and see more lists here.
Staff Picks

Anxiety is overwhelming. These books can help.

Anxiety comes in many forms, all of them personal. Recognizing and describing anxiety is an important step in learning how to manage it. The books below include fictional stories where characters struggle with and confront their anxiety, as well as nonfiction books that deal directly with causes and solutions regarding anxiety.
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Richland Library Main

DIY Storytime: How Do You Wokka-Wokka?

Curated storytimes that families can share at home with an ebook (How Do You Wokka-Wokka?)songs and rhymes ( Peel Banana | Drama Warm Up, Banana Banana Meatball Song by Blazer Fresh and If All of The Raindrops by Old Town School of Folk Music) and activity (Learn 5 dance sequences choreographed by Barbara Howse-Diemer)

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Richland Library North Main

Book Talk: Dear Martin

Justyce is a Black teen who is ivy school-bound, a good friend, and always tries to do the right thing. Going to a predominately white, upper-class school, however, poses difficulties that lead to Justyce trying to make sense of the injustices that he regularly witnesses.

Staff Picks

Latest YA Horror for Teens

October is here so it's time for some spooky reads! Whether your cup of tea (or pumpkin spice flavored beverage) is horrific hauntings or supernatural scares, this list of YA horror for teens is sure to add a chill to your fall.
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Multiracial Families in Middle Grade Novels

“Tell the Court I love my wife, and it is just unfair that I can’t live with her in Virginia.” --Richard Loving In 1967, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of interracial marriage in all 50 states in the case known as Loving v. Virginia.  Our families may look different, may worship differently and may speak a different language.  Check out one these middle grade novels and discover that, no matter our differences, love connects us all.
Staff Picks

If You Like... Squid Game

Squid Game has taken the streaming world by storm. The mixture of gruesome survival games, social commentary, and colorful cast of characters means there's never a dull moment. Check out some of the titles below that are related to themes from the show.
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Multiracial Families in Picture Books

Families across the world might look different from yours or have different customs, and they might even have different challenges that you might not know much about or fully understand. Some of these families might consist of people from different races, however, at the root of it all, is love. Below is a list of beautiful and thoughtful picture books about multiracial families that you and your family are sure to enjoy and learn from!
Staff Picks

New Teen Fantasy From Your Favorite Authors

Red Queen, Legend, The Raven Boys, The Darkest Minds, and more. These titles are YA fan favorites from years past that made us fall in love with unique characters, unforgettable worldbuilding, shocking plot twists, and each writer's way with words. But these authors aren't done yet! There's more up their sleeves as they delve into new worlds and stories in their latest published releases. Make room on your TBR list for these fantasy series from your favorite teen authors!