The Books We Loved

BONUS: reader recs just in time for turkey!

Today's quick episode is in response to a request from our listener, Eliza. Don't forget, if you would like us to give you recommendations, shoot us an email at: podcast@troypl.org
If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving, by Chris Newell, illustrated by Winona Nelson
Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story, written by indigenous authors: Danielle Greendeer (Mashpee Wampanoag), Anthony Perry (Chickasaw), Alexis Bunten (Unangan/Yup'ik), and illustrated by Garry Meeches Sr. (Anishinaabe)
Thank You, Sarah: the woman who saved Thanksgiving, by Laurie Halse Anderson, illustrated by Matt Faulkner
Balloons over Broadway: the inspiring true story of the puppeteer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, written and illustrated by Melissa Stewart
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist, by Jess Keating, illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens
Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions, by Chris Barton, illustrated by Don Tate
Dancing Through Space: Dr. Mae Jemison soars to new heights, by Lydia Lukidis, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud
Saving American Beach: the biography of African American environmentalist MaVynee Betsch, by Heidi Tyline King, illustrated by Ekua Holmes
A Line Can Go Anywhere: The Brilliant, Resilient Life of Artist Ruth Asawa, by Caroline McAllister illustrated by Jamie Green
Kahoʻolawe : the true story of an island and her people, by Kamalani Hurley, illustrated by Harinani Orme
Fairytales/Folktales native to a culture!

Fun Home

Fellow TPL staffer, Kit, will be joining the girls today to discuss Alison Bechdel's, Fun Home: a family tragicomic, a graphic memoir. 

BONUS: 1999's The Mummy

In honor of Halloween, the gals are joined by Director, Emily Dumas, to discuss 1999's The Mummy starring Brendan Frasier and Rachel Weiss. Enjoy this spoooooky episode!

Taylor Swift -- reading through the eras

Whether you're a Swiftie or not, Olivia and Manda will provide you with loads of great book recommendations inspired by each of Taylor Swift's albums. So get your Swiftie swag on, and hunker down for an episode that will give you all the good vibes. 

Everything is Tuberculosis?

Be prerpared to learn about beauty standards, Adirondak chairs, and more, as the gals discuss John Green's newest nonfic title, Everything is Tuberculosis, with Keegan from Youth Services.

Fall themed titles

Join Olivia and Manda as they go through some of their fall favorites, titles that will get you ready for shorter days and longer nights! 

What we're reading now

A cozy mystery, safe enough for your Gran;  WWII-era Alan Gratz; Kate Beaton for all ages--today's show has something for everybody! Buckle up Buttercups, because the gals are here to share loads of book recs! 

Summer Book Club: My Antonia

Today Olivia and Manda tackle Willa Cather's, My Antonia, a story set in the American Midwest during the late 19th/early 20th century. This book was the final installment of our summer 2025 book club; if you missed the other books covered, go back and listen to:
Summer Book Club: The Joy Luck Club
Summer Book Club: The Color Purple 
 

Boarding School Books

Cassie (from the Adult Dept.) joins Olivia and Manda today for a discussion of books that take place at boarding schools. Many of the books discussed appear on this list:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/tag/boarding-school 

Back-to-School Picture Books

The ladies are joined by TPL Director, Emily Dumas, to share some great back-to-school picture books. As promised in the episode:
Chrysanthemum, Kevin Henkes
Wemberly Worried, Kevin Henkes
The Invisible Boy, Ludwig
Each Kindness, Woodson
On the Day You Begin, Woodson
The Pigeon Must Go to School, Mo Willems
Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?, Vernick
We Don't Eat our Classmates, Higgins
If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School — DON'T!, Parsley
Fish Don't Go to School, Pilutti
Yeti is Not Ready for School, Carter
Kitty vs. Kindergarten, Freeman