Book Reviews

Meet Jessica – Jessica is a Library Services Assistant who loves to read mystery and crime, thriller and horror, and fantasy books. She loves listening to audiobooks when her eyes get tired or when she has to do other mundane tasks that take away from reading. She will never finish her TBR list! She enjoys relaxing at home with her dogs and shopping online at Amazon! She also frequents the Dollar Tree to see what goodies she can find. This month, Jessica reviewed the mystery

Meet Jennifer – Jennifer is the Youth Services Coordinator for the Washington County Public Libraries. Outside of work, she loves being outdoors, playing games of all kinds, and spending time with her husband and cat. This month, Jennifer reviewed The Wheel of the Year: An Illustrated Guide to Nature’s Rhythms by Fiona Cook, illustrated by Jessica Roux! “Magic is real. It’s all around you; it’s inside of you.” The Wheel of the Year by Fiona Cook invites readers to capture th

Meet Phyllis – Phyllis is a library services specialist at the Gray Branch Library. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her dog, walking, reading cozy mysteries, novels, and nonfiction, and listening to or watching podcasts and YouTube videos. This month, Phyllis reviews The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More by Jefferson Fisher! A trial lawyer in Texas, Jefferson Fisher started filming short videos with tips on everyday conversation, while sitting in his parked

Meet our Gray Branch Library Manager, Christy – Christy is a professional book nerd who has worked in public libraries for 35 years. She lives in Virginia with a menagerie of family members and fur-grandbabies. When not at work, she can be found reading and writing mysteries, solving puzzles, and watching trash TV. This month, Christy reviews Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson! Reuben Hill is a man on a mission. Abandoned by his father thirty years ago, he hires a private

In recognition of National Poetry Month, we have a special guest book review from Dr. Jesse Graves, Professor and Poet in Residence at ETSU. He began teaching at ETSU in 2009, after completing a PhD at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Graves is the author of three poetry collections, Tennessee Landscape with Blighted Pine, Basin Ghosts, and Specter Mountain, co-authored with William Wright. Dr. Graves received the 2014 Philip H. Freund Prize for Creative Writing from Cornell

Meet Mandy – Mandy works at the Jonesborough library, loves her fur baby, Ellie May, and writes children's and adult books. This month, Mandy reviews a beloved children's book, Hazel the Handful, by Jamie Michalak! "Hazel the Handful" is a children's picture book written by Jamie Michalak and illustrated by Matt Myers. In this beautifully written book, you'll meet Hazel, a tiny dog with a huge personality. Hazel's life is more than perfect - it's sensational! Especially with

Meet TJ – TJ served as the Technical Services Coordinator for both branches of the Washington County Public Library. When he is not cataloging, TJ can be found researching plants, specifically carnivorous flora and orchids; spending time with his cat, Lucy; and reading his favorite genre of books, fantasy. We wish TJ all the best as he moves on to his next adventure! This month, TJ reviews The House in The Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, the first book in the Cerulean Chronicles!

Meet Laura – Laura is the new Library Director for both Washington County Public Library branches. She loves to learn new things, especially about art and history, escape into the creativity of others’ stories, spend time with family, and, to her own surprise, watch college sports. This month, Laura reviews The Thefts of the Mona Lisa: The Complete Story of the World’s Most Famous Artwork by Noah Charney, Pulitzer Finalist and author of the popular 2007 novel The Art Thief.

Meet Christy - Christy is the Library Services Manager at WCPL. She is a professional book nerd who has worked in public libraries for 35 years. She lives in Virginia with a menagerie of family members and fur-grandchildren. When not at work, she can be found reading and writing mysteries, solving puzzles, and watching trash TV. This month, Christy reviewed "Small Things Like These" by Claire Keegan, a powerful novella set in an Irish town during Christmas. This book inspir

Meet Kayla - Kayla is the Communications Coordinator at WCPL. When she is not at the library, you can find her in her metalsmithing studio, creating jewelry or snuggling up with her pets and a good audiobook. This month, Kayla reviewed The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. The first book in the Winternight Trilogy! "Reading The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden feels like sitting by a crackling fire on a snowy night while someone tells you an old fairy ta

Introducing Staff Book Reviews 📖 Ever wonder what library staff are reading? Keep a lookout for more book reviews each month! Meet Lily - "Lily is a Library Assistant at the Gray Branch. When she isn’t reading, you can find her hanging out with her dog, starting a new craft that she probably won’t finish, or wishing she had magical powers." This month, Lily reviewed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna! "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches