August Staff Picks

From heartwarming fantasy to heartrending memoirs, from books to movies to even board games, our staff at the Crawfordsville District Public Library have some fabulous recommendations from our collection this month.

Ivette kicks us off with her recommendation of “The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches” by Sangu Mandanna (FIC Mandanna): “A warm magic tale of chosen family, kindness, love, and all the right reasons to break with the rules of tradition.” And if you love this cozy fantasy romance, this author just released another bestselling title last month, “A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping” (FIC Mandanna). Another don’t-miss for our fantasy lovers is The Sins of the Zodiac series by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti. Joni says, “I love everything this author duo has written and this new series does not disappoint. A modern fantasy that follows two rival fae women destined to lead in a centuries-long war. Unforgettable characters and outlandish humor. A blast to read!” Start with the first book in the series “Never Keep” (FIC Peckham Sins v.1).

While Susanna usually reads fantasy, she found herself greatly enjoying a realistic fiction title from our collection this month, “Woodworking” by Emily St. James (FIC St. James): “the characters proved charming and complex the more I read.” This wonderful and humorous book has been longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize 2025.

Bryanna recommends another engaging realistic fiction title that is also a police procedural and thriller: “Long Bright River” by Liz Moore (FIC Moo). In a Philadelphia neighborhood, a police officer becomes obsessed with solving a string of murders and trying to find her missing sister. Plus, if you love to read a book then compare it to the TV show, this book is the inspiration for the Peacock drama miniseries starring Amanda Seyfried.

Moving to nonfiction, Dennis, as always, has a timely recommendation: With the recent passing of Hulk Hogan, he suggests looking back at the history of “The WWE Championship” by Kevin Sullivan (796.812 Sul). “See page 38 for the chapter on Hulkmania!”

Dive deep into an intimate memoir on grief written by Pulitzer Prize winning fiction author Geraldine Brooks with “Memorial Days” (155.937 Brooks). Brenda says this is the “true story of how the author deals with the sudden death of her 60-year-old husband on Memorial Day 2019 on a Washington D.C. street. This all happened while Brooks was writing her much loved novel ‘Horse.’ This beautifully written memoir is a good reminder that we need to cherish every day!”

If getting outside is one way that you cherish your days, Steph, our library naturalist, suggests checking out “The Everyday Naturalist: How to Identify Plants, Animals, and Fungi Wherever You Go” by Lupa, which includes several full color photos and drawings. Montica recommends the “Guide to State Parks” (917.3 Nat), which is helpfully arranged by region and accompanied by color maps and photographs, and includes information on camping, lodging, and things to see and do.

If you are staying in, grab your friends and have a game night! Christie recommends trying out “Songburst 70s and 80s Edition” (Board Games Song 70s & 80s) from our new board game collection. She says, “if you are a music enthusiast, you’ll love this game!” Discover several more board games to check out with your library card on our second floor!

From our DVD collection, Dennis recommends having a movie night with the classic “Jaws” (DVD FIC Jaws): This Steven Spielberg thriller is now 50 years old. And yes, you’re gonna need a bigger boat! Enjoy!” Love anime? Crystal enjoys watching “Tales of Zestiria” (BR ANIME FIC Tales s.1) from our anime collection. This series is available as a Blu-Ray and DVD combo.

Discover these titles and more currently on display on the first floor of the library through the end of the month. Several are also available digitally on our free Libby app. The library’s regular open hours are Monday-Thursday 9am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 9am-5pm, and Sunday 1-5pm.