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How to use this page |
Instructions: Read about the books listed on this page. If you are interested in what other people thought of these books, be sure to click through to read the reviews.
Voting: Once you have considered if you would read these books, use the voting widgets to cast your vote as to whether you think we should add these books to our collection or not. Be sure to click 'Submit'. You will need to be logged into your Lowther Hall account in order to vote.
After you have voted, you can click on 'See Previous Responses' to see how other Lowther readers have voted. Click 'Edit Your Response' if you change your mind or make a mistake. You will need to be logged into your Lowther Hall account to vote.
Please note: You can only vote for each book once!
We will periodically add new books to this page. Once voting has closed, we will update this page to show which books have been successful and will be added to our collection. If you voted 'Absolutely Yes' to a book, we will place a hold on the book for you to read once it arrives! If there is a book you'd like us to add to this page for consideration, use our Suggest a Book form.
Thank you for having your say in the NCC collection!
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Would you read Riverdale: The day before by Micol Ostow? |
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Genre: TV-tie in About: Based on the massively successful cw show, Riverdale, this prequel novel explores what the gang was doing before season one. Why did jughead and Archie have a falling out? What did veronica's life look like in the big Apple? And how long has Betty really been in love with Archie? Told from multiple points of view, your favorites characters tell their story their way. Read reviews from other readers: here. Series or stand alone: Series: 5 books so far. |
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Would you read Idol Gossip by Alexandra Leigh Young |
Genre: Real Life / Romance
About: An inside look at the K-pop phenomenon, in a wry, punchy young-adult debut that probes cultural differences, sisterhood, and the minefield of fame.
Every Friday after school, dressed in their new South Korean prep-school uniforms — sweater vests, knee-highs, pleated skirts, and blazers — seventeen-year old Alice Choy and her little sister, Olivia, head to Myeongdong, brave a dank, basement-level stairwell full of graffiti, and slip into a noreabang. Back in San Francisco, when she still had friends and earthly possessions, Alice took regular singing lessons. But since their diplomat mom moved them to Seoul, she pours herself into karaoke, vamping it up in their booth to Lady Gaga while loyal Olivia applauds and howls with laughter. Alice lives for Fridays, but when an older woman stops her on their way out one day, handing Alice a business card with a bow, singing turns serious. Could the chance encounter really be her ticket to elite status at Top10 Entertainment’s Star Academy? With a little sisterly support, backed by one of the world’s top talent agencies, can Alice lead her group on stage before a stadium of 50,000 chanting fans — and just maybe strike K-pop gold? Not if a certain influential blogger and the anti-fans get their way.
Delicious gossip squares off with genuine heart in a debut about standing out and fitting in, dreaming big and staying true — for avid K-pop fans and those just discovering the worldwide cultural phenomenon.
Read reviews from other readers: here.
Series or stand alone: Stand alone
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Would you read Other Boys by Damian Alexander? |
Genre: Graphic Novel / Autobiography / LGBTIQA+
About: In Other Boys, debut author Damian Alexander delivers a moving middle grade graphic memoir about his struggles with bullying, the death of his mother, and coming out.
Damian is the new kid at school, and he has a foolproof plan to avoid the bullying that's plagued him his whole childhood: he's going to stop talking. Starting on the first day seventh grade, he won't utter a word. If he keeps his mouth shut, the bullies will have nothing to tease him about—right?
But Damian's vow of silence doesn't work—his classmates can tell there's something different about him. His family doesn't look like the kind on TV: his mother is dead, his father is gone, and he's being raised by his grandparents in a low-income household. And Damian does things that boys aren't supposed do, like play with Barbies instead of GI Joe. Kids have teased him about this his whole life, especially other boys. But if boys can be so cruel, why does Damian have a crush on one?
Read reviews from other readers: here
Series or stand alone: stand alone
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Would you read The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin? |
Our Book Week guest author Rebecca Lim recommended this book during one of her workshops: The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin.
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Genre: Science-Fiction About: The Three-Body Problem is the first chance for English-speaking readers to experience the Hugo Award-winning phenomenon from China's most beloved science fiction author, Liu Cixin. Set against the backdrop of China's Cultural Revolution, a secret military project sends signals into space to establish contact with aliens. An alien civilization on the brink of destruction captures the signal and plans to invade Earth. Meanwhile, on Earth, different camps start forming, planning to either welcome the superior beings and help them take over a world seen as corrupt, or to fight against the invasion. The result is a science fiction masterpiece of enormous scope and vision. Read reviews from other readers: here. Series or stand alone: Part of a 3 book series: The Dark Forest (Book 2) and Death's End (Book 3). |
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Would you read Reflection by Elizabeth Lim? |
Genre: Fantasy / Re-telling
About: What if Mulan had to travel to the Underworld?
When Captain Shang is mortally wounded by Shan Yu in battle, Mulan must travel to the Underworld, Diyu, in order to save him from certain death. But King Yama, the ruler of Diyu, is not willing to give Shang up easily.
With the help of Shang's great lion guardian ShiShi, Mulan must traverse Diyu to find Shang's spirit, face harrowing obstacles, and leave by sunrise—or become King Yama's prisoner forever.
Moreover, Mulan is still disguised as the soldier called Ping, wrestling with the decision to reveal her true identity to her closest friend.
Will Mulan be able to save Shang before it's too late? Will he ever be able to trust her again? Or will she lose him—and be lost in the Underworld—forever?
Read reviews from other readers: here.
Series or stand alone: Stand alone. But there are other similar adaptions from Disney, such as Mirror Mirror, Part of Your World, As Old as Time, and more.
Is there a book you want to read that we don't have in our collection? Fill in this form to suggest a book and we might just add it to the library!
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Would you read The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried by Shaun David Hutchinson? |
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Genre: Real Life / LGBTIQA+ / Paranormal About: A good friend will bury your body, a best friend will dig you back up. Dino doesn’t mind spending time with the dead. His parents own a funeral home, and death is literally the family business. He’s just not used to them talking back. Until Dino’s ex-best friend July dies suddenly—and then comes back to life. Except not exactly. Somehow July is not quite alive, and not quite dead. As Dino and July attempt to figure out what’s happening, they must also confront why and how their friendship ended so badly, and what they have left to understand about themselves, each other, and all those grand mysteries of life. Read reviews from other readers: here. Series or stand alone: Stand alone |
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Would you read Roxy by Neal Shusterman & Jarrod Shusterman |
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Genre: Science-Fiction / Thriller / Mystery About: A chilling take on the opioid epidemic by the New York Times bestselling Neal Shusterman, and Jarrod Shusterman. I am no superhero. But I can save you from the one who claims to be. I am no wizard. But I cast a spell that can bring back the dead. I am, if nothing else, your final defense, your last hope. Isaac is slowly falling down the dark abyss of addiction. Ivy is picking herself up after years of partying and self-medicating. And ROXY, the god of painkillers, sees it all. Dark and taut, this is the second book from Neal and Jarrod Shusterman, who co-authored the acclaimed Dry. Read reviews from other readers: here. Series or stand alone: Stand alone |
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Would you read The Upper World by Femi Fadugba? |
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Genre: Science-Fiction / Time Travel / Mystery / Thriller About: Esso is running out of time and into trouble. After he is accidentally caught up in a gang war, he is haunted by a vision of a bullet fired in an alleyway with devastating consequences. A generation later, fifteen-year-old football prodigy Rhia is desperately searching for answers—and a catastrophic moment from the past holds the key to understanding the parents she never got to meet. Whether on the roads of South London or in the mysterious Upper World, Esso and Rhia''s fates must collide. And when they do, a race against the clock will become a race against time itself... Read reviews from other readers: here. Series or stand alone: Stand alone. |
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Would you read Garlic and the Vampire by Bree Paulsen? |
Genre: Graphic Novel / Paranormal
About: With humor, heart, and an unusual heroine who is braver than she realizes, Bree Paulsen’s colorful and cozy debut graphic novel is a farm-fresh tale that reminds readers to believe in themselves—and that strangers are not always as scary as they seem.
An enchanting debut graphic novel to give to middle grade readers who are looking to fall in love with the next Witch Boy or Be Prepared, featuring an unassuming heroine who discovers her own courage and leadership skills and learns to look past stereotypes.
Garlic feels as though she’s always doing the wrong thing. No matter how much her friend Carrot and kindly Witch Agnes encourage her, Garlic just wants to tend her own garden, where it’s nice and safe.
But when her village of vegetable folk learns that a bloodthirsty vampire has moved into the nearby castle, they all agree that, in spite of her fear and self-doubt, Garlic is the obvious choice to confront him. And with everyone counting on her, Garlic reluctantly agrees to face the mysterious vampire, hoping she has what it takes.
After all, garlic drives away vampires . . . right?
Read reviews from other readers: here
Series or stand alone: Stand alone
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Would you read The Book of Australian Trees by Inga Simpson & Alicia Rogerson? |
Genre: Non Fiction / Picture Book
About: Trees tell stories about places, and Australia has some of the tallest, oldest, fattest and most unusual trees in the world. From the red ironbark to the grey gum, the Moreton Bay fig to the bunya pine, trees are each a little different, just like people.
Trees tell stories about places. Australia has some of the tallest, oldest, fattest and most unusual trees in the world. They have changed over thousands of years, adapting to this continent's deserts, mountains, and coasts. Many have found clever ways of dealing with drought and fire.
Their leaves, flowers and seeds are food for birds, insects and mammals. Old trees have lots of hollows, which make good homes for possums, sugar gliders, birds and bees. But trees aren't just important for other animals, we need them too. What trees breathe out, we breathe in. They are a vital part of the Earth's ecosystems.
When you first stand in a forest, the trees all seem the same. But if you look more closely, they are each a little different, like people. This book is a love song to Australian trees, from the red ironbark to the grey gum, the Moreton Bay fig to the Queensland bottle tree.
The first book for children from one of Australia's most beloved authors.
Read reviews from other readers: here
Series or stand alone: stand alone
