From romance to history, fantasy to pop culture, we’re thankful for books and those who make them. Whether you enjoy them on paper or audio, curled up by the fire or on the metro, books keep giving year-round and there are some great ones this month!
The following information is provided courtesy of the Arlington Public Library.
Nonfiction
The Teller of Small Fortunes
By Julia Leong
Tao, a cautious immigrant fortune teller, travels the kingdom of Eshtera with only her mule for company. Tao prefers to offer small fortunes—innocuous predictions to avoid dangerous attention. But her quiet life shifts when she foretells a vision for Mash, an ex-mercenary searching for his lost daughter. Joined by Mash, his friend Silt, a baker named Kina, and a clever cat, Tao finds herself on an unexpected quest filled with friendship and magical encounters. This cozy fantasy balances adventure and humor with heartfelt reflections on belonging, loyalty, and the bonds that create found family. // Available November 5. Library catalog link here.
Pony Confidential
By Christina Lynch
After years of being sold from one owner to the next, Pony breaks free and embarks on a journey to find Penny, his favorite human, only to discover Penny is now an adult and accused of a crime from her childhood. As Penny faces trial, Pony leverages his wit (and cuteness) and enlists animal allies to unravel the real mystery. With humor and
heart, Lynch’s quirky mystery brings together a memorable cast of animals and offers a rollicking, feel-good read.
// Available November 5. Library catalog link here.
Pickleballers
By Illana Long
After her husband leaves her, Meg’s best friend introduces her to pickleball to lift her spirits, leading to new friendships and a chance encounter with Ethan, an attractive environmental consultant. Their playful connection is soon complicated when Meg discovers Ethan’s role in a project threatening her beloved pickleball courts. With humor, puns, and romantic tension, Long’s debut mixes Meg’s journey to empowerment with court-side romance, bringing pickleball’s unique charm to life. Fans of fun, sports- themed romances will enjoy this lighthearted read with strong character dynamics and relatable conflicts.
// Available November 12. Library catalog link here.
Taiwan Travelogue by Shuang-Zi Yang, translated from Mandarin Chinese
By Lin King
This metatextual novel set in 1930s Taiwan is framed as a rediscovered Japanese novel by Aoyama Chizuko, a young writer invited to tour Taiwan by its Japanese rulers. Aoyama’s journey, guided by her reserved Taiwanese translator Chizuru, explores the island’s rich cuisine, landscapes, and complex social tensions under Japanese rule. Their relationship deepens as Aoyama’s curiosity about Chizuru’s past grows, revealing cultural and personal divides shaped by colonial power. Yang’s novel blends humor, intimacy, and reflection on colonialism and language, creating a poignant narrative about friendship, identity, and the complexities of cross-cultural connection. A sensation when it was published in Mandarin, it won Taiwan’s highest literary honor and is a finalist for the 2024 National Book Award for translated literature. // Available November 12. Library catalog link here.
Fiction
Believe: The Untold Story Behind Ted Lasso, the Show that Kicked its Way Into our Hearts
By Jeremy Enger
Amid rumors of a possible fourth season, Ted Lasso fans will delight in this affectionate and insightful oral history. Through interviews with cast, creators, and crew, Egner explores the show’s origins, from its beginnings as a quirky NBC Sports promo to becoming a multi-Emmy-winning sensation. Egner highlights the heartfelt moments and behind-the-scenes stories, like Jason Sudeikis’s dedication to a positive narrative and Hannah Waddingham’s emotional connection to her role. While Egner critiques some elements, such as the pacing in season three, he ultimately celebrates Ted Lasso’s themes of optimism and teamwork, making the book a treat for fans of the show’s uplifting spirit. // Available November 12. Library catalog link here.
TV fans will also want to look at Jim O’Heir’s upcoming memoir of his time playing Jerry/Larry/Terry/Barry/Garry Gergich on Parks and Recreation, Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation. // Available November 19. Library catalog link here.
Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures
By Katherine Rundell
Full of passion and flair, this bestiary explores 22 endangered species. Each chapter delves into the unique traits and struggles of animals like the swift, Greenland shark, and pangolin, painting a vibrant portrait of the natural wonders we risk losing. With awe-inspiring facts—such as lemurs forming “lemur balls” for warmth or the coconut hermit crab’s intricate social life—Katherine Rundell highlights both their beauty and fragility. Beautifully illustrated, the engaging, witty prose, combined with a sense of urgency, calls for preservation and invites readers to marvel at the world’s vanishing biodiversity. // Available November 12. Library catalog link here.
Golden Years: How Americans Invented and Reinvented Old Age
By James Chappel
This lively account traces the evolution of retirement and old age in America, exploring how this phase of life shifted from an inevitability of work-until-death, to one that promises dignity and security—though still precariously so today. Historian James Chappel examines the development of government pensions and Social Security after WWII, which allowed Americans to retire en masse, and how this model weakened over subsequent decades, pushing many older adults back into the workforce. Through historical analysis and cultural insights, Golden Years highlights the critical need for more equitable aging policies, advocating for better care systems, fair retirement benefits, and housing solutions to secure a dignified old age for all Americans. // Available November 19. Library catalog link here.
The Last Stand of the Raven Clan: A Story of Imperial Ambition, Native Resistance and How the Tlingit-Russian War Shaped a Continent
By Gerald Easter and Mara Vorhees
Czarist Russia had grand designs on expanding into North America, but never got beyond Alaska, as its attempts to dominate the fur trade and Indigenous lands were met with fierce opposition from the Tlingit, who defended their homeland with remarkable resilience. Through a mix of Indigenous oral histories and Russian accounts, Easter and Vorhees detail key events, including the Battle of Sitka and other confrontations, framing the Tlingit-Russian conflict as a defining moment in North American history. This narrative highlights the strength of Indigenous resistance against colonial powers, providing an immersive and powerful account of Tlingit culture and survival amidst encroaching European expansion. // Available November 29. Library catalog link here.
Middle Grade
The Ribbon Skirt
Written and illustrated by Cameron Mukwa
Anang, a two-spirited, nonbinary Ojibwe tween, dreams of wearing a ribbon skirt at an upcoming powwow, despite societal expectations and peer judgment. Gathering strength and materials with the guidance of family, spiritual animal helpers, and the natural world, Anang goes on journey to make their skirt. Navigating complicated relationships with community and friends, Anang finds new confidence in themselves in this empowering story about identity and acceptance. // Available November 12. Library catalog link here.
Teen
Thanks for Listening
By Molly Horan
Mia, an ace high school senior and stage manager, is known for giving great advice to her friends, even though they rarely take it. Frustrated, Mia starts an anonymous social media account, HereToHelp, where she dispenses advice that her friends finally listen to, unaware it’s her. Amid this, Mia begins a relationship with Sadie, a perceptive new student, and faces challenges with her friends, whose support feels increasingly one- sided. At turns hilarious and deeply insightful, this romance is a joy to read. // Available November 19. Library catalog link here.
Jennie Rothschild is a collection engagement librarian for Arlington Public Library.