Ernest Cline finally released Ready Player Two in November! In our latest book talk, Jimi shares why he loves this sequel to the acclaimed Ready Player One, and why he thinks you will, too! Place a hold on Ready Player Two and let us know if you like it. It’s available from FDL in multiple formats, including audiobook, large print, eBook, and eAudiobook!
If your holidays are incomplete without a cozy little murder to solve, try one these!
A Garland of Bones by Carolyn Haines
Sarah Booth Delaney, the spunky private eye, tackles a series of strange “accidents” as she and her besties travel during the holidays. Holiday cheer turns quickly into holiday fear in the latest in holiday mysteries by Haines. Available in both print and on Libby.
Christmas Sweets by Joanne Fluke
Three of the most prolific and best-known cozy mystery writers, Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine and Leslie Meier, have combined forces in this enjoyable short story collection. Grab some treats and hot chocolate. Curl up and read. Available in large print, Axis 360, and Libby.
The Darling Dahlias and the Poinsettia Puzzle by Susan Wittig Albert
Investigative reporter Charlie Dickens faces the most challenging puzzles of career and they involve his wife. His investigation parallels the activities of
the Dahlia Garden Club as they pursue their activities and the mysteries unfold. Also available in large print and on Libby.
Dachshund Through the Snow by David Rosenfelt
Lawyer Andy Carpenter helps with a young boy’s Christmas dream of obtaining a coat for his mother, a sweater for his dachshund, and finding his father. Also available from Axis 360 and on Libby.
Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier
Who killed Sam Miller? Lucy Stone takes time from her busy holiday schedule to try to solve this mystery. Also available on Libby.
Murder in Her Stocking by G.A. McKevett
When Stella (Granny) Reid finds Prissy Carr murdered in McGill, Georgia, she stirs the gossip pot for clues to the murder. Also available from Libby
-Becky, Reference Assistant
Get crafty at home this year! We have a wide variety of craft books at our library. These are actually just a few from our holiday craft collection. Create easy, trendy crafts from items found in nature or around your house to cheer up your home this holiday season.
Place one or more of these books on hold and pick them up through our drive-up window or the atrium.
Included are over 40 whimsical felt crafts to celebrate Christmas with handmade style. Create pretty ornaments like Beaded Star Baubles, Sparkly Icicles, a Shining Star Tree Topper (and a partridge in a pear tree) to a pink poinsettia wreath, Yule log, snow bunny tree skirt, and lots of stockings to hang by the chimney with care.
Christmas and Hanukkah Origami
Even novice folders will be able to create some of the simple projects in these volumes, although more-experienced enthusiasts will find little in the way of challenges. These are solid sources for some basic objects: heart, egg, small basket, star, pinwheel, etc. Introductory pages outline tips for success and offer inspiration in the form of pictures of advanced origami by master folders.
I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Gifts, decorations, and recipes that use less and mean more
This holiday season, Anna Getty chef, mother, organic living expert, environmental advocate, and writer helps families save money and reduce their carbon footprint without sacrificing style or tradition. She shares favorite holiday recipes for organic appetizers and homemade craft ideas such as pinecone wreaths and recycled sweater pillows.
Christmas Joys: Decorating, Crafts, and Recipes
Make this Christmas the best and brightest yet, with hundreds of gorgeous decorating ideas and delicious recipes. From holiday house tours and ways to deck the halls to handmade gifts and festive feasts, this beautiful book will help you celebrate Christmas in Country Living style. Create stunning wreaths, turn saltshakers into sparkling snow globes, craft Advent calendars from tiny envelopes, bake gourmet-store-worthy cookies, and more to make a truly happy holiday.
The Big Book of Holiday Paper Crafts
Major holidays and all the seasons are the focus of more than 450 paper crafted cards, gift bags, boxes, wall hangings, mini albums, journals, frames, party d’cor and more. This jumbo book from the editors of Paper Crafts magazine has hundreds of ideas for not only Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween, but also Easter, Thanksgiving, and New Year celebrations. Seasonal themes (spring, summer, fall, and winter) are also covered, plus a special section with ideas to show patriotic pride.
Christmas at Home: Holiday Decorating, Crafts, and Recipes
This book has decorating ideas, recipes, and crafts, plus tips galore. Stunning photos show festive table settings; splendidly decorated trees; fun and easy Christmas projects, from wreaths to no-sew stockings; gifts from the kitchen; and gourmet-worthy recipes like Turkey Roulade with Sausage-Cornbread Filling, Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes, Slow-Cooker Apple Cider, and sweet treats like Red Velvet Snowballs and Chocolate & Cranberry Fudge.
Post by Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist
#FDL is a weekly update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen 
Reviewed by: Atlas Agunod, Circulation Assistant
Genre: LGBTQ, Graphic Novel
Suggested age: Teens and Adults
What is This Book About? This book is about 13-year-old Tien, the son of two Vietnamese immigrants. Tien’s mother speaks mainly Vietnamese and Tien speaks mainly English. This makes it hard for Tien and his mother to communicate, but it makes it even harder for Tien to come out as gay. The story follows Tien as he comes to terms with his identity and figures out how to tell his parents.
My Review: I loved this book so much. I identify as LGBTQ myself, so I related to the concept of coming out a lot, but I can’t imagine how hard it would be if there was also a language barrier between me and my parents. The author told this story so beautifully, and the art was just beautiful. I really appreciated this story and I think anybody who is struggling with their identity should give it a read.
Rating: 5/5
Three Words That Describe This Book: moving, beautiful, touching
Give this a try if you like: The Princess and the Dressmaker, The Witch Boy, Heartstopper
The Friends of Fondulac District Library are hosting their annual Holiday Gift Basket Drawing! This year, participants may enter the drawing online by filling out the form below by 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 16.
The Friends have made two large baskets this year, stuffed with holiday treats for any family to enjoy, including games, movies, books, socks, masks, Star Wars items, crafts, and more! There are even Kroger, Visa, Chipotle, and Game Stop gift cards!! Two winners will be randomly selected and notified on Thursday, December 17. Participants must be 18 years of age or older and must be able to pick up their basket from the library atrium by 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 23, 2020. Happy Holidays from the Friends of FDL!
If you’ve not been an audiobook fan in the past, or you’d like to try something different, try one of the hundreds of GraphicAudio recordings that have recently been added to hoopla’s digital catalog. GraphicAudio is a publisher of eAudiobooks that are not the run-of-the-mill audiobooks. Their motto is “A movie in your mind,” and they’re not exaggerating. If you’ve ever heard an old-fashioned radio play, then you have an idea of what to expect. These audio recordings include a full cast of actors, not just one. You’ll also hear narration, sound effects, and cinematic music.
You may see the GraphicAudio titles come up when you are searching hoopla for your typical selections, or you can browse them specifically by entering “graphicaudio” in hoopla’s search bar. Search results can be narrowed by listener ratings, popularity, or date of release. Many titles have been split into 2 or 3 recordings, each of which will count as one of your eight monthly hoopla checkouts. And don’t be surprised if there is a brief recorded preview advertising another title that plays before your selection.
What kinds of titles does GraphicAudio offer? There’s a bit of everything available from hoopla, spanning most genres.
Do you like westerns? Try A Lone Star Christmas by William W. Johnstone.
“Smoke Jensen, Matt Jensen, Falcon and Duff MacCallister together for the first time. They just wanted to get home for Christmas… but fate had other plans. It’s December 1890. A Texas rancher named Big Jim Conyers has a deal with Scottish-born, Wyoming cattleman named Duff MacCallister. Along with Smoke and Matt Jensen, the party bears down on Dodge, Kansas, to make a cattle drive back to Forth Worth. But before they can get out of Dodge, guns go off and a rich man’s son is killed. Soon the drive turns into a deadly pursuit, then a staggering series of clashes with bloodthirsty Indians and trigger-happy rustlers. And the worst is yet to come. The party rides into a devastating blizzard, a storm so fierce that their very survival is at stake. From America’s greatest Western author, here is an epic tale of the unforgiving American frontier and how, amidst fierce storms of man and nature, miracles can still happen.”
Want to try a graphic novel performed as a dramatization? There’s Cemetery Girl by Charlaine Harris and Christopher Golden.
“She calls herself Calexa Rose Dunhill, names taken from the grim surroundings where she awoke, bruised and bloody, with no memory of who she is, how she got there, or who left her for dead. She has made the cemetery her home, living in a crypt and avoiding human contact. But Calexa can’t hide from the dead and because she can see spirits, they can’t hide from her. Then one night, Calexa spies a group of teenagers vandalizing a grave and watches in horror as they commit murder. As the victim’s spirit rises from her body, it flows into Calexa, overwhelming her mind with visions and memories not her own. Now Calexa must make a decision: continue to hide to protect herselfor come forward to bring justice to the sad spirit who has reached out to her for help…”
Are you interested in science fiction instead? Check out S. M. Stirling’s post-apocalyptic Emberverse saga with the first title, Dies the Fire.
“The Change occurred when an electrical storm centered over the island of Nantucket produced a blinding white flash that rendered all electronic devices and fuels inoperable and plunged the world into a dark age humanity was unprepared to face… Michael Havel was flying over Idaho en route to the holiday home of his passengers when the plane’s engines inexplicably died, forcing a less than perfect landing in the wilderness. And as Michael leads his charges to safety, he begins to realize that the engine failure was not an isolated incident. Juniper Mackenzie was singing and playing guitar in a pub when her small Oregon town was thrust into darkness. Now, taking refuge in her family’s cabin with her daughter and a growing circle of friends, Juniper is determined to create a farming community to benefit the survivors of this crisis. But even as people band together to help one another, others are building armies for conquest…”
Personally, I’m a dedicated audiobook fan, but I’m currently listening to GraphicAudio’s version of a book whose CD book recording left something to be desired. I’m enjoying the GraphicAudio version much more. Whether you’re a diehard audiobook fan or giving audio a chance for the first time, you may be pleasantly surprised by GraphicAudio’s offerings, too.
– Melissa, Reference Assistant
*Annotations provided by each publisher
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
Reviewed by: Becky Houghton, Reference Assistant
Genre: Social issues thriller
Suggested Age: Adult
What is This Book About?: American Dirt is the story of a mother and son and their journey to escape cartel violence in Acapulco, Mexico that has killed their entire family. Lydia and her son Luca witness the violent murder of Sebastian, their husband and father, after he publishes a newspaper story about the Los Jardineros and their leader Javier. Sebastian along with eleven members of his extended family are killed by the cartel. Escape is the only avenue left to them – escape to the United States. The remainder of the book details the journey northward and the other migrants that they encounter on that journey.
My Review: I highly recommend this book. Lydia and her son, Luca are very realistic, sympathetic and well- developed characters and their struggle to escape from a Mexican cartel that murdered their family is a frightening, thriller tale, but this book is so much more than just an exciting and riveting tale. Cummins has written an almost poetic book filled with the love between a mother and son and those that they come to view as “family.” The journey that Lydia and Luca undertake from their home in Acapulco to Mexico City and on north toward Nogales and eventually into the United States is filled with danger and fear, but it is also filled with people–other migrants from throughout Central America. Many of these men, women and children on the train known as “La Bestia” become a new family as they share the trials and atrocities encountered along the journey. There is violence, rape, hunger, death and most of all fear throughout their travels, but the love between mother and son and their companions over shadows and triumphs over trials. Human courage is displayed. American Dirt was called “the most anticipated book of 2020” and “The Grapes of Wrath of our times” in its early reviews. I agree that it is a beautifully written, but violent tale of the struggles faced by some citizens of Mexico and other Central American countries forcing them to seek a better life in the United States. The book and author have also been criticized as unauthentic. I strongly disagree with this characterization. This is a work of fiction and Cummins never portrayed it as “truth.” Neither is this a treatise on immigration. It is a well-written work of fiction and one that I am glad to have read!
Three Words That Describe This Book: Heroic, Compassionate, Dramatic
Give This a Try if You Like: John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath or Griffin’s Hazardous Duty
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
We know that one of the best things about coming to the library is looking at all the books and taking a big stack home. While we can’t do things exactly like we used to, there are plenty of ways for you to figure out what to put on hold next and always have something for you or your kids to read. Try any of these options if you’re wondering how to select books from home.
Do you usually like to ask a librarian to help you find books for you or your kids? You can still do that! We are still here to help you find the books you want and/or need, and there are multiple ways for you to get in touch with us. One option is to submit an FDL Match request through our website. Simply tell us some of the books you or your child currently likes, and we will pick out five new books for them to read.
You can also call the Adult Services department (ext. 2251 or option 1) or the Youth Services department (ext.1291 or option 2) or contact us via live chat during service hours. Let us know what kind of books you are looking for, and we will place some on hold for you. We’ll notify you when your books are ready, and you can pick them up from the drive-up window or the in the Atrium.
Do you normally find books by coming in to the library and browsing the shelves? You can still look at everything we have through our online catalog!
Start by going to the catalog and logging in with your library card and pin number. Use the carousel feature on the home page of the catalog to browse recently added titles. Select from the drop down menu to see categories like fiction or nonfiction for adults and children, DVDs, music – even NYT Bestseller lists! Then place a hold and pick up!
You can also search books similar to those you’ve already enjoyed by using the brand new Unbound Content
feature in the catalog. Search for a book you like, click on the book, then go to the Unbound Content tab in the middle of the page. From this tab, you can do all kinds of browsing. You can see what other books that author has written, a list of books in the same reading level, and other works in the same genre. You can also read excerpts, reviews, and more. Keep scrolling to the bottom of the page to the Browse Shelf section, select the See Full Shelf button, and you can literally see what’s on the shelf around that book and explore by selecting the book covers or using the arrow tabs. 
There’s so much information available in the catalog; you may be surprised at how easy it can be to discover new books on there. Then all you have to do is click the Place Hold button for each book you want to get, and you’ll be notified when it’s ready for pickup. The RSAcat Mobile app is another great option for exploring our catalog when you’re on the go. It links directly to your account so you can search, place holds, and even scan any book’s barcode to see if it’s available at FDL.
Your FDL library card gives you access to tons of children’s eBooks and eAudiobooks – even graphic novels, movies, TV shows, and music from hoopla. Download and log in to the Axis 360, Libby, and hoopla apps on your preferred device, filter for adults or children, and start browsing. The items on these apps are organized for browsing by new releases and genres in a similar way to Netflix and other streaming services, or you can search by format, title, author, and subject. These collections are also linked on our website under the Digital Collections tab so you can browse and search these collections using a tablet or computer. Some titles will be available immediately but some may require placing a hold. If you’re unfamiliar with the library’s apps, Susie has provided a great overview of the options here, or you can call the library for assistance getting started.
Another way to figure out what to check out next is by reading blogs and online reviews. We regularly provide book recommendations here on the FDL website in our weekly FDL Reads blog, Book Talk videos, and more. You can check our Kids’ Corner or Teen Space for recommendations and content specific to kids and teens. We also post New and Upcoming Titles by popular authors quarterly under the Books & More tab so you know when to expect the latest Patterson or Perry release. Some other places to find book lists, reviews, and recommendations online include:
New York Times Bestseller Lists
American Library Association Award Winners
When you find a book online that you’re interested in, you can even use Google to find the book in our online catalog! Search for the title with Google, and on the right side of the search results where it shows general information like author and publication date, it now also shows if the book is available to borrow from your local library! Select the Borrow link to head directly to our catalog to place a hold.
– Cindy, Youth Services Assistant
November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to pay tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans. Honor the diverse experiences and perspectives of Indigenous people by exploring books by Native American authors available from your library.
Young Adult Titles:
An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Irtiz (also available on Axis 360)
Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith
If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric Gansworth
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline (also available on Overdrive)
Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection Volumes 1 and 2
#NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale
Adult Titles: 
Atlas of Indian Nations by Anton Treuer
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko
Crooked Hallelujah by Kelli Jo Ford (also available on Axis 360)
The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee by David Treuer
House Made of Dawn by N. Scott Momaday
The Journey of Crazy Horse by Joseph M. Marshall III
The Night Watchman by Louise Erdich (available in all formats)
Shapes of Native Nonfiction edited by Elissa Washuta
Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq
There There by Tommy Orange (also available on Axis 360 and Overdrive)
Where the Dead Sit Talking by Brandon Hobson
Jimi explains one of his favorite games in our latest FDL Games Review! Legendary is a cooperative deck-building game that can be played solo or with friends and customized with all your favorite Marvel super heroes and villains. Check it out from the library and try it for yourself!