Now that it’s December, it’s definitely winter. One of our favorite activities this time of year is curling up in front of the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book. Of course, with the many holidays coming, books do make great presents! Whether you’re buying gifts for others or for yourself, these are the books we’re excited to unwrap this month.
The following information is provided courtesy of the Arlington Public Library.
Fiction
 
Salt & Broom
By Sharon Lynn Fisher
A series of strange events at Thornfield Hall has Edward Rochester summoning a witch. When orphaned Jane Aire arrives, the two start off on the wrong foot, but Jane’s skills are desperately needed as the danger grows. The two grow closer as they unravel the mystery—is it a wronged fairy, or perhaps the ghost of Rochester’s late wife? This paranormal take on Jane Eyre is an atmospheric mystery filled with romance, with enough original twists to surprise even die-hard Brontë fans. // Available December 1. Library catalog link here.
The Great British Bump Off
By John Allison, illustrated by Max Sarin
Shauna Wickle knows she has her work cut out for her when she enters a most-beloved cooking competition. But when a fellow contestant is poisoned, Shauna realizes that being eliminated from the tent may be fatal. Now she has to simultaneously catch a murderer and delight the judges (one of whom is a talking cat). This delightfully funny graphic novel is filled with jokes and references to everyone’s favorite British baking show. // Available December 5. Library catalog link here.
Prophet Song
By Paul Lynch
This Booker Prize finalist takes place in a near-future Ireland, where a radical right-wing party has taken control. Eilish’s husband is arrested for participating in a protest march and her son has joined the rebel forces. As the country slowly unravels, Eilish is caught between the political horrors and everyday hardships of life, such as her daughter’s depression and father’s dementia. She faces impossible choices as she tries to hold her family together against all odds in this frightening and all-too-plausible dystopia. // Available December 5. Library catalog link here.
Raiders of the Lost Heart
By Jo Segura
Corrie MejÃa, a leading expert on the Aztec warrior Chimalli, is thrilled by a seemingly too-good-to-be-true offer to work on a dig to find Chimalli’s remains. The other shoe drops when she arrives on site, only to discover she’s meant to assist the dig’s lead, her academic rival Ford Matthews. As she and Matthews navigate their complicated past and growing attraction, someone is sabotaging the dig and stealing artifacts. This fun enemies-to-lovers romance is full of banter and action. // Available December 5. Library catalog link here.
Nonfiction
Airplane Mode: An Irreverent History of Travel
By Shahnaz Habib
Popular conceptions of frequent flyers and jetsetters rarely include people like Shahnaz Habib, even though the author travels frequently from her home in Brooklyn to her birthplace in India. In a series of essays, she weaves the Colonial histories of travel essentials like passports and guidebooks with her own travel experiences. The result is an engaging and thoughtful examination of the underlying power dynamics involved in travel, and who’s allowed to do it. // Available December 5. Library catalog link here.
Strike of the Sailfish: Two Sister Submarines and the Sinking of a Japanese Aircraft Carrier
By Stephen L. Moore
The USS Sculpin and the USS Squalus were both launched in 1938. When the Squalus sprung a leak and sank the following year, the Sculpin raced to save it, but 26 members of the crew perished. The Squalus was later recovered, refurbished and renamed the USS Sailfish. Sunken ships are usually considered cursed. The Sailfish’s exploits during WWII tell a different story, although, in a tragic twist of fate, one of its greatest achievements was sinking a Japanese aircraft carrier—which the Americans were unaware was carrying POWs from the recently sunk Sculpin’s crew. Author Stephen Moore’s gripping historic account highlights the lives of the sailors involved, their bonds, and daily life on a submarine during war. // Available December 5. Library catalog link here.
When I was Your Age: Life Lessons, Funny Stories and Questionable Parenting Advice from a Professional Clown
By Keenan Thompson
From his early days as a Nickleodeon star to Saturday Night Live’s longest-running cast member, Keenan Thompson has spent his life in the spotlight. At turns hilarious and poignant, this memoir looks at his life, career and the possibilities of what might come next. The notoriously private star opens up about his personal story (but don’t expect bombshells) and his approach to comedy, parenting, and family life. The result is a down-to-earth and enjoyable read. // Available December 5. Library catalog link here.
Into Siberia: George Keenan’s Epic Journey Through the Brutal, Frozen Heart of Russia
By Gregory J. Wallance
In 1885, journalist George Keenan traveled to Siberia to report on Tsarist Russia’s system of exiling dissidents and criminals for the magazine Century Illustrated Monthly. He went with the intent of defending the system before an international audience, but when faced with the horrific conditions and sympathetic exiles, he had to rethink all his assumptions. The resulting articles and lecture tour were a turning point in American-Russian relations with reverberations that continue today. Author Gregory Wallance’s historic account is part biography, part epic adventure, a tale of survival against nature, and an exposé revealing what being exiled to Siberia really meant. // Available December 5. Library catalog link here.
Middle Grade
Tasty: A History of Yummy Experiments
Written and illustrated by Victoria Grace Elliott
For readers who’ve ever wondered who pickled the first pickle, or who thought curdled milk would be delicious as cheese, this breezy and information-packed graphic novel looks at how experiments with food led to some very tasty results. Victoria Grace Elliot’s brightly colored, cheerful illustrations explore not only ancient forms of preservation and fermentation that we still use today, but also modern experiments in mass production leading to staples like SPAM and instant ramen. Fans of this delicious read will want to check out her earlier food-based graphic novel, Yummy: A History of Desserts. // Available December 5. Library catalog link here.
Teen
Seven Minutes in Candyland
By Brian Wasson
Though they host a popular couples therapy podcast, Kalvin’s psychologist parents are about to divorce. He’s pretty sure sending them on a romantic trip to Hawaii can fix their problems, if he can raise enough money to bankroll it. So he runs a successful side hustle sending candy grams at school. When his long-term crush ventures into his utility closet HQ, he starts a second business offering relationship advice. But Kalvin is so busy trying to fix everyone else, he might just break himself. An entertaining and heartwarming comedy. // Available December 12. Library catalog link here.