September's Recommended Reads

All books mentioned in this edition of the Great Reads Newsletter are available in the Ocean County Library's Libby by OverDrive Collection and/or in our catalog. 

 

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Adult Fiction

Oye

by Melissa Mogollon

A hurricane is heading straight for Miami, and Luciana's eccentric grandmother, Abue, is refusing to evacuate. Abue is so one-of-a-kind she’s basically in her own universe, and while she often drives Luciana nuts, they’re the only ones who truly understand each other. So when Abue, normally glamorous and full of life, receives a shocking medical diagnosis during the storm, Luciana’s world is upended. When Abue moves into Luciana’s bedroom, their complicated bond intensifies. Luciana would rather be skating or sneaking out, but Abue’s wild demands and unpredictable antics are a welcome distraction for Luciana. 

We Came to Welcome You

by Vincent Tirado

Sol Reyes has had a rough year, and she finds her nightly glass of wine becoming more of an all-day—and all-bottle—event. Her wife, Alice Song, is far more optimistic. After all, the two finally managed to buy a house in the beautiful, gated community of Maneless Grove. However, the neighbors are a little too friendly in Sol's opinion. She has no interest in the pushy Homeowners Association, their bizarrely detailed contract, or their never-ending microaggressions. Suddenly, a number of strange occurrences—doors and stairs disappearing, roots growing inside the house—cause Sol to wonder if her social paranoia isn't built on something more sinister. 

On the Wings of la Noche

by Vanessa L. Torres

Death waits for Estrella (Noche). In her human form, she is a lonely science girl grieving the tragic accidental drowning of her girlfriend, Dante. At night, she is a Lechuza who visits her dead girlfriend at the lake, desperate for more time with her. The longer Dante’s soul roams the earth, the more likely it is that she will fade into the unknown, lost forever, but Noche cannot let go. That’s when a new kid comes to town, Jax, another science nerd like Noche. They connect in a way she can’t ignore. For the first time, Noche begins to imagine a life without Dante. Then, she finds herself at risk of losing both Jax and Dante, and Noche is forced to question her purpose as a lechuza and everything she ever believed in.

Castle of the Cursed

by Romina Garber

After a mysterious attack claims the lives of her parents, all Estela has left is her determination to solve the case. Suffering from survivor's guilt so intense that she might be losing her grip on reality, she accepts an invitation to live overseas with an estranged aunt at their ancestral Spanish castle, la Sombra. Beneath its gothic façade, la Sombra harbors a trove of family secrets, and Estela begins to suspect her parents' deaths may be linked to their past. Her investigation takes a supernatural turn when she crosses paths with a silver-eyed boy only she can see. Estela worries Sebastián is a hallucination, but he claims he's been trapped in the castle. They grudgingly team up to find answers. As the mysteries pile up, it feels to Estela like everyone in the tiny town of Oscuro is lying and that whoever was behind the attack has followed her to Spain. 

Jasmine is Haunted

by Mark Oshiro

Jasmine Garza has a problem: a ghost has been following her for years, ever since her Papi died. Not that Mami will admit anything supernatural is going on - even the ghost she won't acknowledge makes real trouble, so Jasmine and her mami are moving (again) to a new apartment in East Hollywood. This time Jasmine is committed to living a normal life with normal friends. Enter: Bea and Jorge. They're the only two members of Jasmine's middle school's Gay Straight Alliance and they're already obsessed with all things supernatural. When Jasmine confesses she's been tormented by a ghost for years, they not only believe her, they're thrilled! Together they set out to prove that Jasmine's not just acting out after her father's death–ghosts are real and Jasmine is haunted.

Monster Locker

by Jorge Aquirre

For hundreds of years, something in the basement of Glenfield Middle School has waited for its chance to open a portal into the realm of monsters. Now its time has come, and the school is going to need a hero. Pablo Ortiz . . . isn't that guy. All he wants to do is lie low and get through middle school in one piece. So when Pablo accidentally opens the portal and summons a vengeful Aztec goddess, he'll need the butt-kicking skills of his new friends and the wisdom passed down by his abuela to take her on.

Churro Stand

Written by Karina N. González

Illustrated by Krystal Quiles

On a hot summer's day, Lucía and her brother accompany their mother to sell delicious, sugary churros on the bustling streets of New York City. But when a thunderstorm rolls in, and the customers are chased away, Lucía's mother must improvise with a little bit of magic and lots of amor.

Squawk of Spanish

Written by Gabriella Aldeman

Illustrated by Romina Galotta

Max isn't confident with his Spanish, especially rolling his Rs, and his cousins always tease him about it. But he loves spending weekends baking with his Spanish-speaking abuela, while Lorito the parrot helps translate. But when Lorito disappears for a day, Max and Abuela must figure out how to communicate. Max's Spanish doesn’t have to be perfect, and Abuela can attempt a little English. Trying is what counts!