Get ready to go on a road trip or fall in love for the first time as our librarians explore the genre of contemporary fiction. Without the flare of dragons, swords, and magic, how do these realistic reads hold up? Are these fluffy stories really just surface-level entertainment or is there a deeper theme to discover? From John Green to the renowned titles of Simon vs. the Homosapiens Agenda and The Hate U Give, our librarians offer up their advice, perspective, and feedback on this underestimated category.

Recommended and Mentioned Titles: 
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli 
Leah on the Off Beat by Becky Albertalli
Love, Simon (2018 Film) 
Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven
Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
Paper Towns by John Green
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
The Upside of the Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Dubliners by James Joyce
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
What If It's Us by Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli
Five Feet Apart by Mikki Daughtry, Rachael Lippincott, and Tobias Iaconis
George by Alex Gino
Tash Hearts Tolstoy by K. E. Ormsbee
Top Ten by Katie Cotugno
Shuffle Repeat by Jen Klein
Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Sophomore Year Is Greek to Me by Meredith Zeitlin
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum
Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
Mosquitoland by David Arnold
Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson 
Alex Approximately by Jenn Bennett
Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Maycie's Goodreads: 
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/34572362-maycie

Novel Ideas: The Library Podcast

Episode 2.07 Lessons in Contemporary Fiction

Whether you've wanted to try an audiobook or you're looking for narrator recommendations, this episode covers it all! Our librarians discuss why they listen to audiobooks, what qualities in an audiobook are important to them, and share their hot take on the controversial question; is listening to a book really reading it? 

Mentioned Works/Recommendations: 
www.audible.com
www.rbdigital.com
www.hoopladigital.com
Libby/Overdrive App

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger, read by Moira Quirk
Harry Potter series by JK Rowling, read by Stephen Fry or Jim Dale
The Last Letter From Your Lover by Jojo Moyes
Works by Diana Palmer 
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, read by Roy Dotrice
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot, read by Anne Hathaway
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
Audio Recordings by Narrator Lorelai King
Audio Recordings by Narrator Susan Eriksen
The Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich
Thrones by Glass by Sarah J Maas, read by Elizabeth Evans
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, read by Ensemble Cast
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, read by Davina Porter
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, read by Anne Hathaway
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, read by Maggie Gyllenhaal
Becoming by Michelle Obama, read by Michelle Obama
Down the Rabbit Hole by Holly Madison, read by Holly Madison
Works by David Sedaris, read by David Sedaris
Bossypants by Tina Fey, read by Tina Fey
Yes Please by Amy Poehler, read by Amy Poehler
Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris, read by Neil Patrick Harris
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus, read by Ensemble Cast
The Help by Kathryn Stockett, read by Ensemble Cast
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, read by Ensemble Cast
Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough, read by Ensemble Cast
Carmilla (Audible Original) by Joseph Sheridan Le Fans, read by Ensemble Cast
The Charley Davidson Series by Darynda Jones, read by Lorelai King
The Cat Who series by Lillian Jackson Braun, read by George Guidall
In Death series by JD Robb, read by Susan Ericksen
Some Girls by Jillian Lauren, read by Tavia Gilbert
Sebastian St. Syr series by C.S. Harris, read by Davina Porter
BBC Radio Dramatization, The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
Focus on the Family Radio Theater's adaptation of The Horse and His Boy by CS Lewis 
Audible - YouTube Channel

Episode 2.08 All About Audiobooks

Summertime approaches, and we want to know what you're packing in your suitcases for those vacations and staycations! Our librarians share their favorite vacations and their upcoming Summer 2019 plans, plus how they balance summer fun and reading. Listen in for some great tips and recommendations for your summer reading list! 

Mentioned Books/Authors: 

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
Rhett and Link's Book of Mythicality by Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal
Two Hours by Ed Caesar
Dracula by Bram Stoker 
Nos4A2 by Joe Hill
The Stand by Stephen King
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Final Girls by Riley Sager
Author Dan Brown's works
The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
Author Janet Evanovich's works
Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen 
Sick Puppy by Carl Hiassen 
Hoot by Carl Hiassen
Razor Girl by Carl Hiassen
Dracul by Dacre Stoker 
Author Maria V. Snyder's works
Author Jeff Wheeler's works
Endure by Alex Hutchinson
The Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan
Some Girls: My Life in a Harem by Jillian Lauren 
Author Susan Mallery's works
Author Jennifer Weiner's works
Author Lianne Moriarty's works
Jaws by Peter Benchley
Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Author Amanda Steven's works
Author Deanna Raybourn's works
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Salem's Lot by Stephen King
Author Agatha Christie's works
Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
Author Greg Isles' works
The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Seven and Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
Finale by by Stephanie Garber
Rising Strong by Brene Brown 

Summer Reading starts Tuesday, May 28th! 
ww.derbylibrary.com/kids-and-teens/summer-reading

Episode 2.09 Vacation Reads

This is a special episode of the podcast featuring the kids of the library! We've interviewed some of our staff's children to get the inside scoop on their favorite books, what they like about reading, and what it's really like to have a librarian in the family! 

John and Mark's Recommendations - 0:55
Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne
The Magisterium Series by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling
Wings of Fire series by Tui Sutherland
Finding Gobi by Dion Leonard
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Ballet
Horizon series by Scott Westerfeld
Ghost series by Jason Reynolds
The Missing series by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

Sophie's Recommendations - 11:47
The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
The Wicked King by Holly Black
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Battle Angel Alita manga series by Yukito Kishiro
A Centaur's Life manga series by Kei Murayama
The Sandman by Neil Gaiman

Ellie's Recommendations - 23:43
Whatever After series by Sarah Mlynowski
Ripley's Believe It Or Not series
Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan
Treasury of Egyptian Mythology by Donna Jo Napoli
Flora and Ulysses by Kate Dicamillo
Big Nate series by Lincoln Peirce

Bella's Recommendations - 29:40
Zoo Books magazines
Mermaid Tails by Debbie Daddy (suggested after interview) 
Magic Kitten series by Sue Bentley (suggested after interview) 
Eyewitness Books: Birds by David Burnie

Hayden's Recommendations - 33:35
Rescue Bots series by Trey King
Blaze series by Ines C. Mangual
Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Emma Garcia

Carla's Recommandations - 35:18
Warriors series by Erin Hunter
Pigeon series by Mo Willems
Pete the Cat books by James Dean
Max and Ruby series by Rosemary Wells
Day the Crayons series by Drew Daywait
Eragon series by Christopher Paolini
Redwall series by Brian Jaques
How to Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell
Dragonology by Ernest Drake
Wayside School series by Louis Sachar
Geronimo Stilton/Thea Stilton series by Geronimo Stilton

Episode 2.10 Library Kids Take Over

Novel Ideas: The Library Podcast is made by librarians for readers and bookish fanatics of all kinds!  We are an amazing public library that has been serving Derby, KS and all surrounding cities including Wichita since 1958. We offer many resources, services, and programs to our patrons. Check out the podcast for reading inspiration, tips and tricks for parents, segments such as Author Spotlight and Teens Talk, and so much more!

Novel Ideas: The Library Podcast

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