Just One Word

Have you ever noticed how much a single word can say? One word has the power to spark curiosity, to hint at a mystery, or to make you want to know what story is hidden within. The library’s new display on the second floor, Just One Word, is devoted to books whose titles consist of a single word. While the titles may be short, the stories behind them are anything but.

For readers who like historical fiction, there are several memorable choices. “Weyward” by Emilia Hart (FIC Har) connects three women living centuries apart through family history and resilience. Ian McEwan’s “Atonement” (FIC McEwan) begins with one life-changing misunderstanding and explores how a single moment can echo through the years. “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi (FIC Gya) follows two family lines over several generations and shows how history continues to influence the present.

Looking for something with a touch of the extraordinary? Octavia E. Butler’s “Kindred” (FIC But) blends historical fiction with science fiction as a modern Black woman is unexpectedly transported from her home in California to a plantation in the South. “Uprooted” by Naomi Novik (FIC Nov) offers a fantasy filled with magic, folklore, and a young woman who discovers strengths she never knew she had. GennaRose Nethercott’s “Thistlefoot” (FIC Net) follows estranged siblings as they reunite to receive a mysterious inheritance. They soon discover their gift isn’t land or money, but a sentient house on chicken legs.

If suspense is more your style, several titles create tension in very different ways. “Room” by Emma Donoghue (FIC Donoghue) tells the story of a child whose entire world exists within one small space and the resilience it takes for him and his mother to execute their escape. Natasha Preston’s “Silence” (FIC Pre) follows a teenager whose life changes after a dangerous encounter leaves her unable to speak. “You” by Caroline Kepnes (FIC Kepnes Joe v.1) is a thriller told from the point of view of an obsessive bookstore clerk who becomes infatuated with a customer and uses social media to inject himself into her life.

Whether you’re in the mood for historical fiction, fantasy, suspense, or a thoughtful family story, you’ll find something to catch your attention on the second floor display. Stop by, see which title speaks to you, and discover how much can be said with just one word. Many of the displayed titles are also available to check out digitally on our free Libby app. The library is open Monday-Thursday 10am-8pm, and Friday-Saturday 10am-5pm.