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Staff favorites from 2018

Use the filters below to explore more than 100 titles staff loved this year. Want even more recommendations? Check out our favorite books from 2017 or request a custom reading list from our librarians.

“A little boy finally finds the one thing that scares Darth Vader.”
Read Nancy N.'s full recommendation »
Are You Scared, Darth Vader?
“This nonfiction picture book tells the story of Ken Nedimyer's efforts to rebuild the world's dying …”
Read Amy W.'s full recommendation »
The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World's Coral Reefs: the Story of Ken Nedimyer and the Coral Restoration Foundation
“Investigative journalist Beth Macy weaves together the history of OxyContin and the personal stories of …”
Read Marvel M.'s full recommendation »
Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America
“Wittels Wachs gives a very raw, very personal account of losing her famous comedian/writer/actor brother …”
Read Beth S.'s full recommendation »
Everything Is Horrible and Wonderful: A Tragicomic Memoir of Genius, Heroin, Love and Loss
“Rosling upends your preconceived ideas about the developed and developing worlds by putting them into four …”
Read Theresa J.'s full recommendation »
Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong about the World -- and Why Things are Better Than You Think
“Helou offers a culinary tour of Muslim communities from North Africa to Indonesia. Strongly recommended …”
Read Mark S.'s full recommendation »
Feast: Food of the Islamic World
“This is a must read for anyone interested 1970s Omaha history, its social justice issues and those who …”
Read Joanne F.C.'s full recommendation »
Framed: J. Edgar Hoover, COINTELPRO & the Omaha Two Story
“Kann's writing is funny and relatable. Alice's experience might be different than yours, but haven't …”
Read Abigail B.'s full recommendation »
Let's Talk About Love
“"The Line Becomes a River" is a biography about a young man's experience as a border patrol agent after …”
Read Beth S.'s full recommendation »
The Line Becomes a River
“Originally written and published in her native German, Britta Teckentrup's "Look at the Weather" is …”
Read Colby J.'s full recommendation »
Look at the Weather
“A novel told in letters between an English farm wife and a museum curator in Denmark. Gently, the …”
Read Rose Ann F.'s full recommendation »
Meet Me at the Museum
“In this book of essays, Mayle reflects on the 25 years he and his wife have spent living in Provence …”
Read Lindsey B.'s full recommendation »
My Twenty-Five Years in Provence: Reflections on Then and Now
“Since Ehrenreich has decided she’s reached the age that one can die, she takes a hard, objective look …”
Read Theresa J.'s full recommendation »
Natural Causes: An Epidemic of Wellness, the Certainty of Dying, and Killing Ourselves to Live Longer
“An action-packed survival story set in the Alaskan wilderness with a little bit of romance thrown in …”
Read Kris C.'s full recommendation »
Not If I Save You First
“For anyone who grew up listening to Paul Simon's music this is a great biography of his life and times …”
Read Jean S.'s full recommendation »
Paul Simon: The Life
“"The Perfect Couple" is both a complete page turner and a thoughtful character study. The Nantucket …”
Read Elizabeth J.'s full recommendation »
The Perfect Couple
“A group of mothers' lives are forever changed when one of their six-week-old babies goes missing. They …”
Read Casey K.'s full recommendation »
The Perfect Mother
“The author, a second-wave feminist and a founding mother of Women's Studies, looks back on her life ...”
Read Rose Ann F.'s full recommendation »
A Politically Incorrect Feminist: Creating a Movement with Bitches, Lunatics, Dykes, Prodigies, Warriors, and Wonder Women
“"Prince & Knight" reads like a classic fairytale, only there are no princesses to save and the heroes rescue …”
Read Cally O.'s full recommendation »
Prince & Knight
“A story of family, jealously and magic. It's Shakespeare meets "Game of Thrones."”
Read Sylvia S.'s full recommendation »
The Queens of Innis Lear
“This is a dramatic and compelling account of the uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto. It is well written and …”
Read Kris C.'s full recommendation »
Resistance
“Vaughan and Staples' masterwork graphic novel series continues with its flawed and complex characters …”
Read David D.'s full recommendation »
Saga Volume Nine
“Part memoir, part cultural study, "Small Animals" presents a thought-provoking look at our society …”
Read Melanie S.'s full recommendation »
Small Animals: Parenthood in the Age of Fear
“This powerful, wordless graphic novel shows the struggle of childhood anxiety and all the little demons …”
Read Amy W.'s full recommendation »
Small Things
“Marvin Deitz, the reincarnation of Joan of Arc's executioner, and alcoholic artist Mike Vale travel …”
Read Samuel E.'s full recommendation »
Smoke City
“A passionate, powerful message advising people to have difficult conversations about race. Oluo includes …”
Read Melanie S.'s full recommendation »
So You Want to Talk about Race
“Emma and Josh discuss with their respective families about a recent police shooting of a local black …”
Read Michelle C.'s full recommendation »
Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story About Racial Injustice
“Imagine Earth is on the brink of being destroyed by an intergalactic federation of planets (a message …”
Read Erin D.'s full recommendation »
Space Opera
“Ducky Ducklings' day is filled with visiting friends to swim, splash, jump and say "Quack, Quack, Quack." …”
Read Cally O.'s full recommendation »
Splish, Splash, Ducky!
“A sweet, optimistic introduction to Rachel Carson, the researcher and writer whose work deeply influences …”
Read Elly R.'s full recommendation »
Spring After Spring: How Rachel Carson Inspired the Environmental Movement
“A young stegothesaurus feels misunderstood by his siblings - the stegosauruses. He is an avid lover …”
Read Melanie W.'s full recommendation »
Stegothesaurus
“Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, the story follows Zane and his friends as they try to recapture Ah-Puch …”
Read Beth S.'s full recommendation »
The Storm Runner
“This thoroughly researched book traces the influence of science fiction on music from many genres, …”
Read David D.'s full recommendation »
Strange Stars: David Bowie, Pop Music, and the Decade Sci-Fi Exploded
“Young black men are so often thought of in terms of stereotypes. Through short, five line poems and incredible …”
Read Amy W.'s full recommendation »
Thirteen Ways of Looking at A Black Boy
“Rivals for the Emperor's political favor, Darth Vadar and Grand Admiral Thrawn are forced to work together …”
Read Samuel E.'s full recommendation »
Thrawn: Alliances
“This interview with the recently deceased Le Guin shows warmth and humor. Recommended for fans of science …”
Read David D.'s full recommendation »
Ursula K. Le Guin: Conversations on Writing
“Ondaatje takes a familiar setting, London in 1945, and mixes in the off-beat, such as parents who abandon …”
Read Deirdre R.'s full recommendation »
Warlight
“Weiss's political thriller perfectly captures the fight for the last state needed to ratify the 19th …”
Read Lindsey B.'s full recommendation »
The Woman's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote
“A beautifully illustrated tale of the life of two young polar bears with their very wise mother who …”
Read Melanie W.'s full recommendation »
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