T.S. Eliot famously wrote that April is the cruelest month, but with this many great books hitting the shelves, we have to disagree. Whether you’re stocking up for a spring break road trip or looking for a lunch hour escape, check out these new titles!
The following information is provided courtesy of the Arlington Public Library.
Fiction
Anna Maria and the Fox
By Liana De La Rosa
During the French occupation of Mexico, the Luna sisters are sent to safety in London. An ocean away from her father’s rules, Ana MarÃa enjoys her first taste of freedom and finds herself attracted to progressive MP Gideon Fox. The swirling skirts of the ballrooms mask a swirling storm of politics and danger in this smoldering series opener. // Available April 4. Library catalog link here.
Untethered Sky
By Fonda Lee
Terrorized by man-eating manticores, the Kingdom of Dartha sees the rocs as its best line of defense. Ester longs to become a ruhker and works to raise the roc fledgling Zahra in the hopes she’ll be able to ride her and hunt the manticores that killed her family. Succeeding in her chosen path will require more perseverance and sacrifice than Ester ever imagined. // Available April 11. Library catalog link here.
Sisters of the Lost Nation
By Nick Medina
Something is stalking Anna. A tribal myth has come to life and seems intent on devouring her. Could this same disembodied entity be what’s causing the young women of the Takoda tribe to disappear? When Anna begins investigating the disappearance of her own sister, she realizes that not all the horrors on the reservation are ancient. Some are new and all too human. // Available April 18. Library catalog link here.
Symphony of Secrets
By Brendan Slocumb
Frederick Delaney was one of America’s best composers, but his final opera was a massive flop, leaving scholars to wonder how he went astray. A century later, the Delaney Foundation discovers a different version of the opera and asks scholar Bern Hendricks to authenticate it and prepare it for a new performance. With the help of his friend Eboni, Bern makes a shattering discovery: Much of Delaney’s work was stolen from jazz musician Josephine Reed. How far will the Delaney Foundation go to keep this discovery hidden? // Available April 18. Library catalog link here.
Nonfiction
The Peking Express: The Bandits Who Stole a Train, Stunned the West, and Broke the Republic of China
By James M. Zimmerman
On May 6, 1923, peasant rebel leader Sun Mei-Yao and his army of followers hijacked a luxury train traveling from Shanghai to Beijing. After robbing the train, they marched its passengers to their mountain base, sparking a weeks-long hostage crisis. Zimmerman interweaves the stories of the bandits, the passengers and the political turmoil of northern China in the 1920s. // Available April 4. Library catalog link here.
Tasting History: Explore the Past Through 4,000 Years of Recipes
By Max Miller
From a cake found on the walls of an Egyptian tomb to Elizabethan gingerbread, YouTube personality Max Miller explores both ancient and modern history through the lens of food. His brief and engaging lessons are followed by recipes that allow readers to taste for themselves.  // Available April 18. Library catalog link here.
Under Alien Skies: A Sightseer’s Guide to the Universe
By Philip Plait
How does the natural world intersect with urban landscapes? Author Ben Wilson explores the damaging impact (past and present) of cities on the environment while also highlighting how nature and cities are co-existing. The book explores some of the ways urban areas can incorporate nature to combat climate change, from rewilding abandoned lots and eliminating waste to creating new water infrastructure. Real-life case studies present a hopeful way forward. // Available March 7. Library catalog link here.
Knowing What we Know: The Transmission of Knowledge: From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Magic
By Simon Winchester
Author Simon Winchester traces the ways we’ve stored and shared knowledge throughout our history, from cuneiform to Wikipedia. Filled with fun facts and deep dives, the narrative covers great thinkers from Confucius to Tim Berners-Lee, while also exploring topics such as misinformation, censorship, artificial intelligence and more. Throughout this wide-ranging history, Winchester considers how our current use of technology could impact our ability to think. // Available April 25. Library catalog link here.
Middle Grade
School Trip
By Jerry Craft
In author Jerry Craft’s third book about Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan gets into art school. Is he ready to be the new kid again? With this decision looming over him, he and his friends try to enjoy a school trip to Paris in spite of last minute faculty advisor changes, language barriers and unwelcome roommates. Jordan is excited to see the amazing art museums, but realizes that navigating a new country may be easier than navigating tricky friendships. // Available April 4. Library catalog link here.
Don’t miss author Jerry Craft at the Arlington Central Library on April 27!
Teen
Bones of Birka: Unraveling the Mystery of a Female Viking Warrior
By C.M. Surrisi
In 1878, an Iron Age mummy was discovered in Birka, Sweden, occupying a nearly intact burial chamber, complete with horses and weapons. One of the most significant finds in history, archaeologists named the site Bj 581 and assumed the mummy was male. But more than a century later, scientists realized the mummy was a woman. Surrisi offers a fascinating look at Viking life and history, as well as research bias and the history of Bj 581. // Available April 18. Library catalog link here.