Welcome to November’s edition of the Month in Books series! This month, we’re diving into a diverse collection of books that creatively spell out “November” with their titles. If you’re eager to cozy up with a mystery or, explore a new world, these notable November reads are sure to enrich your TBR.
In the fourth volume of the Fourth Talisman series, Nazafareen risks everything on a desperate gamble to stop the Vatras once and for all…
With Meb safely among her own people, Nazafareen has finally embraced her dangerous fire magic. She is the Fourth Talisman, destined to free the heirs from the wards binding their own extraordinary power. With Nocturne and Solis poised on the brink of war, the choices she makes will decide the fate of mortals and daevas alike.
Determined to confront Culach and make amends, Nazafareen goes to Val Moraine. This sets off a chain of events that ultimately leads her deep into the perilous wasteland called the Kiln. There she will confront an unseen enemy. But the ancient hatred that shattered the world a millennium before is alive and stronger than ever.
Is the Viper truly dead? And can Nazafareen triumph without facing the darkness that lurks within her own heart?
On Parson’s Creek by Richard Sutton
A new teenager in a small, Oregon logging town, Jack Taylor’s bored with school and living in his own head. Walking in the forest, he finds dark mysteries in an old-growth cedar grove near his new home.
The story handed down through several generations doesn’t tell the tale completely. Nor do tales of giants lurking in the trees, an Indian curse, or the abandoned locomotive deep in the woods. As Jack asks questions, he finds himself pushed into a corner from which there is only one way out. With the reluctant help of several locals, Jack begins to unravel the truth. The story implides a community conspiring to hide the entire truth from the world. But, is that wrong? Maybe the world doesn’t need to know.
Recommended for older teen readers on up to adults who haven’t forgotten the teenager inside.
A Voice for the Spirit Bears by Carmen Oliver & Katy Dockrill
As a child, Simon Jackson found navigating the world of the school playground difficult. He felt most at home in the woodlands, learning about and photographing wildlife. As a teenager, he became fascinated with spirit bears, a rare subspecies of black bear with creamy white fur. These elusive creatures were losing their habitat to deforestation, and Simon knew he had to do something to protect them. He decided he would become the voice for the spirit bears. But first, he would have to find his own. Carmen Oliver’s inspiring story is based on the early life of Simon Jackson, who founded the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition. On his remarkable journey to protect the spirit bears, he met Dr. Jane Goodall and eventually hiked the Great Bear Rainforest itself.
Katy Dockrill’s captivating art adds depth and beauty to the story. Photos and other details about Simon Jackson’s life and about spirit bears are included in the end matter. Part of the CitizenKid collection, this book demonstrates how one child can be a voice for change. Simon’s story is an excellent example of growth mindset at work, highlighting personal growth and overcoming obstacles through activism. This book can also be used to lead discussions about character education as it relates to courage, resilience and perseverance. Additionally, it has strong science curriculum links to the environment, animal habitats and the effects of clear-cutting.
Education of a Coroner by John Bateson
An “entertaining” (Booklist) account of the mysterious, hair-raising, and heartbreaking cases handled by the coroner of Marin County, California. Throughout his four decades on the job, Holmes has seen it all. From high-profile deaths and serial killers to inmate murders and Golden Gate Bridge suicides.
Marin County, California is a study in contradictions. Its natural beauty attracts celebrity residents and thousands of visitors every year. It’s also the county that’s home to San Quentin Prison, one of the oldest and largest penitentiaries in the US. Marin ranks in the top one percent of counties nationwide in terms of affluence and overall health. It is also far above the norm in drug overdoses and alcoholism. And that’s not to mention the large percentage of suicides that occur on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Ken Holmes worked in the Marin County Coroner’s Office for thirty-six years. He began as a death investigator and ended as the three-term, elected coroner. As he grew into the job—one far different from the forensics we see on television—Holmes learned myriad skills. These range from finding clues at death scenes to interviewing witnesses effectively, managing the public to preparing testimony for court. And most important, how to inform families of a death with sensitivity and compassion. He learned about different kinds of firearms, all types of drugs, and certain potentially fatal phenomena, like autoeroticism.
Filled with poignant anecdotes, The Education of a Coroner is “riveting and complex…supremely entertaining reading material and…a fascinating and wildly informative dive into the mysterious world of death and decay” (Kirkus Reviews).
Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller
“I love every aspect of this amazing book—a genderfluid hero, a deadly contest, and vicious courtly intrigue. Get! Read! Now!” —Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author
I needed to win. They needed to die.
Sallot Leon is a thief, and a good one at that. But Sal wants nothing more than to escape the drudgery of life as a highway robber. And to get closer to the nobles who destroyed their home.
Stealing a flyer for an audition to become a member of The Left Hand, Sal jumps at the chance to infiltrate the court. But the audition is a fight to the death filled with clever circus acrobats, lethal apothecaries, and vicious ex-soldiers. A childhood as a common criminal hardly prepared Sal for the trials. As Sal succeeds in the competition, they start to dream of a new life and a different future. But it’s one that Sal can have only if they survive.
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice c/o Laurie R King
In 1915, Sherlock Holmes is retired and quietly engaged in the study of honeybees in Sussex when a young woman literally stumbles onto him on the Sussex Downs. Fifteen years old, gawky, egotistical, and recently orphaned, the young Mary Russell displays an intellect to impress even Sherlock Holmes.
Under his reluctant tutelage, this very modern, twentieth-century woman proves a deft protégée for the Victorian detective. They are soon called to Wales to help Scotland Yard find the kidnapped daughter of an American senator. It’s a case of international significance with clues that dip deep into Holmes’s past.
Award-winning illustrator Torben Kuhlmann’s stunning new book transports readers to new depths where imagination lights the way! A long time ago, one mouse learned to fly, and another landed on the moon… What will happen in the next Mouse adventure?
From the creator of Lindbergh and Armstrong, comes Edison—The Mystery of the Missing Mouse Treasure. Two unlikely friends build a vessel capable of taking them to the bottom of the ocean. They find a missing treasure, but the truth turns out to be far more amazing.
The Rain Never Came by Lachlan Walters
In a thirsty, drought-stricken Australia, the country is well and truly sunburnt. As the Eastern states are evacuated to more appealing climates, a stubborn few resist the forced removal. They hide out in small country towns – where no one would ever bother looking.
Bill Cook and Tobe Cousins are united in their disregard of the law. Aussie larrikins, they pass their hot, monotonous existence drinking at the barely standing pub.
When strange lights manifest across the Western sky, it seems that those embittered by the drought are seeking revenge. And Bill and Tobe are in their path. In the heat of the moment secrets will be revealed, and survival can’t be guaranteed.
