Sandra recommends

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A Cup of Love: Relationship Goals for Kids By Michael Todd, Joel Santana (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Michael Todd, Joel Santana (Illustrator)
$15.99
ISBN: 9780593192641
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: WaterBrook - February 6th, 2024

Such a sweet book highlighting the importance of developing a relationship with God and using that to pour into other relationships.


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Plátanos Are Love By Alyssa Reynoso-Morris, Mariyah Rahman (Illustrator) Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781665902731
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Atheneum Books for Young Readers - April 11th, 2023

A beautiful bi-lingual book that tells a story of how platanos are such a huge part of the Latin community.


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Authentically, Uniquely You: Living Free from Comparison and the Need to Please By Joyce Meyer Cover Image
$26.00
ISBN: 9781546026341
Availability: Available to Order
Published: FaithWords - September 7th, 2021

Truly enjoyed every part of this. Dedicate your life to the Lord, be who He has called you to be and if you have to lose some people in the process, so be it.


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Never Saw Me Coming By Vera Kurian Cover Image
$27.99
Unavailable at this time
ISBN: 9780778311553
Published: Park Row - September 7th, 2021

I felt like I was binge watching a series I didn’t want to end. A college recruits psychopaths into a multimethod psychopathy panel study. When students enrolled in the program are murdered on campus, the remaining students find themselves trying to solve the murders. This story will have you hooked right from the beginning trying to put together your own theories of what is happening. Trust me, you will never see the ending coming.


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The Comfort Book By Matt Haig Cover Image
$22.00
ISBN: 9780143136668
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Penguin Life - July 6th, 2021

Buy this, put it on your night stand, coffee table, in your car, anywhere easily accessible. Open it up for some amazing words of encouragement. Matt Haig truly brought me some comfort during a time when I really needed it.


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This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism By Don Lemon Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780316257671
Availability: Available to Order
Published: Back Bay Books - April 12th, 2022

Inspired by James Baldwin's "The Fire Next Time," Don Lemon tackles racism, covid-19, and a nation struggling to find it's way, in the midst of so much chaos. This book is so raw that it brought me to tears.


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Dusk, Night, Dawn: On Revival and Courage By Anne Lamott Cover Image
$20.00
ISBN: 9780593189696
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Riverhead Books - March 2nd, 2021

Anne Lamott is so relatable. You get a chance to read about her struggles with anxiety, addiction, adjusting to a new marriage, among others. Through it all, she always maintains hope, hope that we too often neglect to keep alive. It takes a lot of courage to see the good through your struggles but as she says “The kitten isn’t dead. The kitten is in the living room.”


Confessions on the 7:45: A Novel By Lisa Unger Cover Image
$16.99
ISBN: 9780778389293
Availability: Available to Order
Published: Park Row - July 13th, 2021

Set some time aside and read this book! You will not want to put it down to get other things done. So many secrets and so many questions. You're able to easily make some assumptions as to who did what but it's the wanting to know why they did it that keeps you on your toes! Very well written.


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Dear Justyce By Nic Stone Cover Image
$11.99
ISBN: 9781984829696
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Ember - January 4th, 2022

Quan's story is one that resembles so many young black youth all around the world. His father is incarcerated and mother is being abused by his step father. He feels unsupported and desperately needs to find a place where he is seen. He ends up joining a gang which leads him to where he is now, locked up and writing letters to Justyce from "Dear Martin." Quan knows he made some awful choices in the past but will his new support system be able to help him see the good that has always been in him? Too many of our young ones find themselves in Quan's shoes and unlike Quan, they never get the support they need, get labeled as career criminals and the state of their mental health is never even considered. Such an amazing story!


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What's Worrying You? By Molly Potter, Sarah Jennings (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Molly Potter, Sarah Jennings (Illustrator)
$17.99
Unavailable at this time
ISBN: 9781472949806
Published: Bloomsbury Children's Books - August 4th, 2020

A book that teaches young children how to deal with the highs and lows of life. As a person who suffers from anxiety, this is a great book to get the conversation started with your little ones about recognizing their own feelings and how to overcome them in a positive way.


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The Dilemma: A Novel By B.A. Paris Cover Image
$16.99
ISBN: 9781250151377
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: St. Martin's Griffin - June 15th, 2021

A bit different from B.A. Paris' usual psychological thriller, this book is full of so much domestic drama that you won't want to put it down. Livia and Adam are both holding onto secrets that will tear everyone apart. Find out what happens as the secrets begin to unfold and be ready to feel their heartbreak as your own.


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Black Is a Rainbow Color By Angela Joy, Ekua Holmes (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Angela Joy, Ekua Holmes (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9781626726314
Availability: Available to Order
Published: Roaring Brook Press - January 14th, 2020

Black isn't just a color, it's a culture! This beautiful book was perfect for my 6 year old. As a black woman who grew up thinking I was brown, this book definitely digs deep into black identity. The pictures are very vibrant and the poems are beautifully written


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Bring Me Back: A Novel By B.A. Paris Cover Image
$18.00
ISBN: 9781250151346
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: St. Martin's Griffin - May 21st, 2019

B.A. Paris has a unique way of capturing your attention. I have read all 3 of her books and no story has ended the way I thought it would. Every ending I imagine ends up being brought to light but only to confirm that I was wrong. Bring Me Back tells a story of a girl who “disappears” one day and decides to reappear 12 years later. Her reasoning behind it really goes to show how much a person is forever affected by all the things they see and go through in their past. Mental illness is real and I believe this book fully supports that statement


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Hair Love By Matthew A. Cherry, Vashti Harrison (Illustrator) Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780525553366
Availability: Available to Order
Published: Kokila - May 14th, 2019

Such an adorable book! Shining some light on father daughter relationships that, in my opinion, are not seen enough in picture books. This book can help your child discover the beauty in their hair and the many ways it can be styled. Very fun and bright illustrations.


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The Breakdown: A Novel By B.A. Paris Cover Image
$18.00
ISBN: 9781250179838
Availability: Available to Order
Published: St. Martin's Griffin - May 22nd, 2018

B.A. Paris did it again! I thought Behind Closed Doors had me loosing sleep but this one definitely made me order take out for dinner 2 nights in a row! The Breakdown had me on a roller coaster of emotions to say the least. Cass goes through so much and I feel for her in every page of this book. She had what seemed like the best support system around her but things go down a steep hill, which I did not expect to happen. I promise you won't be able to put this book down!


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Sometimes You Fly By Katherine Applegate, Jennifer Black Reinhardt (Illustrator) Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780547633909
Availability: Available to Order
Published: Clarion Books - April 3rd, 2018

Sends a clear message about the journey of life. You will learn to overcome many obstacles and will be able to celebrate your victory in the end.


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I Am Enough By Grace Byers, Keturah A. Bobo (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Grace Byers, Keturah A. Bobo (Illustrator)
$18.99
ISBN: 9780062667120
Availability: Available to Order
Published: Balzer + Bray - March 6th, 2018

I was drawn to this book by the cover. Such beautiful illustrations. As a parent, I feel it is extremely important to teach our children to love who they are and to know that they are enough, no matter how different they may look. Grace Byers is an amazing actress and the message she sends in "I am Enough" is one that I hope everyone gets a chance to hear.


I Am Famous By Tara Luebbe, Becky Cattie, Joanne Lew-Vriethoff (Illustrator) Cover Image
$7.99
Unavailable at this time
ISBN: 9780807534533
Published: Albert Whitman & Company - April 1st, 2021

I truly adored and appreciated this book. It is so modern and the illustrations are what keep you turning to the next page. Kiely reminds me of my own little super star at home. This book captures it all, from potty time to dancing and singing, to the not so fun tantrums. This book will brighten any parent and child's day.


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Behind Closed Doors: A Novel By B.A. Paris Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781250132369
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: St. Martin's Griffin - July 3rd, 2017

I couldn't put this book down! It was so realistically frightening. Definitely brings light to the fact that nothing is as perfect as it seems. You never know what people are truly going through. What may seem to be a dream to outsiders, could really be a total nightmare to the person deeply involved.


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The Coldest Winter Ever: A Novel (The Winter Santiaga Series #1) By Sister Souljah Cover Image
$17.00
ISBN: 9780743270106
Availability: Available to Order
Published: Atria/Emily Bestler Books - September 20th, 2005

I've reread this book 3 times already and it is still one of my favorites! Winter Santiaga has always lived in a world of luxury, growing up to appreciate all the material things in life. Things go down a steep hill for her and her family and now she has to figure out a way to make it without the help of her parents.