As October rolls in, the days are growing shorter, giving way to cozy nights with a book and a warm blanket. Whether you’re gearing up for spooky season, indulging in seasonal treats, or savoring the beauty of autumn’s final blaze, this month’s new book releases are perfect companions. Curl up and enjoy these fresh reads as the fall chill settles in. They’re all coming to the library this month.
The following information is provided courtesy of the Arlington Public Library.
Nonfiction
The Mighty Red
By Louise Erdrich
Crystal, a trucker hauling sugar beets, wants her daughter, Kismet to attend college, but the high school senior is caught between two love interests, one who’s pressuring marriage. Set in North Dakota’s Red River Valley, the characters’ futures play out against the crashing economy of 2008, worries about fracking and industrial agriculture, and the comic moments of small-town life. // Available October 1. Library catalog link here.
The Crescent Moon Tearoom
By Stacy Sivinski
In 1870s Chicago, the Quigley triplets run a magical tea room when the council of witches sends them on a quest. Along the way, they discover they may be cursed—something that seems to be coming true as their quest starts to pull them apart. Despite their differences, the sisters share a fierce love in this cozy fantasy about family, destiny, and a good cup of tea. // Available October 1. Library catalog link here.
The Wood at Midwinter
By Susanna Clarke
Merowdis wants a child but doesn’t want to marry her suitor. Her parents disapprove of her love of the woods and the number of pets she has, but this connection to nature makes her sister believe Merowdis may be a saint. When the sisters sneak out with a pig and two dogs to walk in the snowy woods, a sentient tree shows Merowdis a possible future that will give her what she wants, but at a cost. Set in the same world as Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, this illustrated short story is the perfect treat. // Available October 22. Library catalog link here.
How to Fall in Love in a Time of Unnamable Disaster
By Muriel Leung
Rocked by earthquakes and acid rain that causes fatal burns, New York lies in ruins. When Queens is declared an “At Risk” zone, Mira flees to her mother’s apartment in Manhattan, leaving behind her girlfriend, Mal, who refuses to leave. Mira starts a ham radio show, giving relationship advice and hoping Mal will hear, and understand why she left. Mira’s apartment building is populated with survivors and ghosts, as they find a way to live amongst the pain and chaos in this mesmerizing and profound debut. // Available October 22. Library catalog link here.
Fiction
Subpar Planet: The World’s Most Celebrated Landmarks and Their Most Disappointed Visitors
Written and illustrated by Amber Share
One has to wonder at the person who went to the Acropolis only to post a 1-star review saying, “you’ll just see some ruins.” Or the tourist disappointed that Mosi-ao-Tunya (also known as Victoria Falls) “was literally simply water and falls.” In this informative and humorous book, Share gorgeously illustrates each attraction in the style of vintage travel posters and juxtaposes information about each location with the bad reviews they’ve been given. Very funny and some good food for thought about the complicated issues surrounding tourism. // Available October 1. Library catalog link here.
The Elements of Marie Curie: How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science
By Dava Sobel
Marie Curie’s work in chemistry and physics led to her being the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and the first person and only woman to win it in two different fields. In this new look at her life, Sobel concentrates on the number of women Curie hired to work in her lab, and her efforts to mentor a new generation of female scientists. While these women are not the household name Curie is, they also discovered elements and were Nobel laureates. A fascinating look at a remarkable woman and those she inspired. // Available October 8. Library catalog link here.
What I Ate in One Year: (And Related Thoughts)
By Stanley Tucci
Structured as a food diary chronicling what actor Stanley Tucci ate in 2023, his meals mark the passage of time and are times to reflect on what got him to this point and where he goes next. In addition to descriptions of decadent meals around the world to craft services to using up wilting veggies from his own fridge, Tucci also discusses family, grief, and more. A charming follow up to Taste. // Available October 15. Library catalog link here.
Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me
By Glory Edim
Growing up in the DC suburbs, Glory Edim helped take care of her younger siblings when her father returned to Nigeria and her mother dealt with severe depression. After graduating from Howard, she founded Well-Read Black Girl. Throughout her life, Edim turned to books for escape and solace and uses her reading list as a lens to tell her life story. From the Berenstain Bears to James Baldwin, these books helped her find herself. A deeply personal and moving story, as well as a love letter to the power of reading. // Available October 29. Library catalog link here.
Middle Grade
Salt Pepper Season Spice: All the Flavors of the World
By Jacques Pasquet, illustrated by Claire Anghinolfi, translated from French by Ann Marie Boulanger
From salt to coffee, Pasquet introduces eleven common spices and seasonings, exploring where they come from, how people use them, common lore, and more. Full of fun facts and illustrations, readers can explore everything from using pepper to pay ransom to the invention of hot chocolate. You don’t have to be a child chef to enjoy this highly interesting read that shows how uncommon these everyday items are. // Available October 15. Library catalog link here.
Teen
Fatal Forecast: An Incredible True Story of Courage in a Savage Storm
By Michael J. Tougias
In November 1980, two lobster boats were caught in a storm off Cape Cod. Weather forecasting buoys weren’t working properly, so the crews had no warning when they were suddenly hit with 80 mile-per-hour winds and 70-foot waves. As the men try to survive, the Coast Guard and others also battle the storm to come to their rescue. Drawn from interviews with those that survived, Tougias tells a gripping tale of survival. // Available October 22. Library catalog link here.
Jennie Rothschild is a collection engagement librarian for Arlington Public Library.