The Librarian Recommends - October 2023

By Rebecca Strauss, Library Director
October 10, 2023

Our Library Director curates great reads for our students every day. Now, she's sharing some recommendations for the rest of our community to enjoy. Stay tuned for new suggestions!

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

My favorite author, Moreno-Garcia, has done it again and just in time for spooky season!  Set in 1990s Mexico, the novel follows two friends, Monserrat and Tristán, as they navigate the world of classic horror and Nazi occultism. The two find themselves way over their heads, however, when they awaken a dark force contained in a cursed lost film.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

The first book club pick of 2023 for the CDH book club might be a slim novel but it packs a powerful story into those 200 some pages. A multi award winning book based on the idea of the late Siobhan Dowd, this tale of a boy navigating grief and healing will stay with you long after the final page.

Dressing Barbie: A Celebration of the Clothes That Made America's Favorite Doll and the Incredible Woman Behind Them by Carol Spencer

Expect to see quite a few Barbies out and about this halloween, but first, explore the world of Barbie by diving into this beautiful coffee table book written by longtime Barbie fashion designer herself, Carol Spencer. Each decade of Barbie fashion is chronicled with great detail, including photos and never before seen pieces.

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird

If you were one of the many who experienced Barbenheimer this summer, you might be eager to learn even more about the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer.  Mirroring the tragic myth that inspired it, this biography is one of the best out there, containing exhaustive records through interviews and letters.  Here is the story of a deeply complex and deeply conflicted man, a tale of mythic proportions.