A few things to read

Last week, The Eastern New Mexico News shared top Netflix films recommended by local residents, because as everyone knows, this year brought with it a lot of extra time at home for many people. Movies aren't the only way to make a great escape from the world of adult responsibilities and the monotony of quarantine. If one has a love of reading, they don't have to go far to escape to a whole other world of adventure and excitement. The following are recommendations by the Clovis and Portales library directors for top reads for adults, youth, and children.

Top books, according to Clovis-Carver Public Library Director Margaret Hinchee:

For adults

"The Great Alone" by Kristin Hannah

A family seeks a new life together in Alaska but finds that the father's problems are too hard to overcome. I loved this book as the story line was a true page turner. It is not a happy story; I cried most all the way through it. There were phrases in the book that I had to write down to remember.

"Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes

A small-town girl forms a deep friendship with a paralyzed man. This story, about a young ordinary girl, who begins working for a wheelchair-bound man, endeared me to the characters and the story line. In this case, the movie was almost as good as the book. This was the first book by Moyes that I read, and I am definitely a fan.

"Follow the Stars Home" by Luanne Rice

A story that will touch your heart with its grace, courage, and well-thought out story. I love this story, because it reminds me that love comes in a myriad of different forms, few of which are easy. Luanne Rice is one of my go-to authors if I need something to read - or something to re-read. I never get tired of her books

"Rebecca" by Daphne Du Maurier

A tale about a young woman married to a wealthy widower, who faces demons of the husband's late first wife. Who hasn't read this book? This story tells of a young married woman who travels to her husband's palatial home only to find it haunted by her husband's deceased wife. This book is a must read.

"Centennial" by James Michener

THE saga of the west, Centennial tells an epic tale of the settling of the west. It encompasses over 100 years of history. Michener can and does get a bit wordy, and the book is lengthy, but it's worth it to finish it from beginning to end.

For youth

"The Giver" by Lois Lowry

One of the best YA dystopia books out there. It won the Newbery Award in 1994. A 12-year-old boy is given the task to learn and understand the fragile world he lives in with his assignment as the Receiver of Memory.

"Holes" by Louis Sachar

An unlucky boy is sent to Camp Green Lake to dig holes in order to find a "lost treasure." The Newbery winner for 1999, this is just a fun and easy read about a boy sent to a "camp" called Camp Green Lake to search for hidden treasures.

"Out of the Dust" by Karen Hesse

A young girl, Billie Jo, struggles to help her family during the Dust Bowl. The Newbery winner for 1998, this story revisits the Dust Storm of the 1920s on the prairie in Oklahoma.

"Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George

A young Alaskan girl experiences changes against her culture. The Newbery winner for 1973, a tale of survival about a young Alaska girl lost on the tundra and the struggles she faces. A must read for any tween reader.

"The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

I never ever get tired of reading this one involving two teens fighting cancer. It's part love story, part tragedy. This book shows how courageous someone facing cancer can be and how important their friendships are.

Top books, according to Portales Public Library Administrator Tawna Luscombe:

For adults

Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon

This is my absolute favorite series. It has history, action, adventure, time travel, and a beautiful love story. I'm not much for Sci-Fi, so I was afraid I'd be turned off by the time travel, but it's not happening all the time, and, somehow, the author makes it believable enough for me to enjoy it anyway. Outlander tells the story of WWII nurse Claire Randall, who, while on vacation, accidentally time travels back to 18th century Scotland. It is there she meets Highland warrior Jamie Frasier and their adventure and romance begins. This is not your stereotypical Highland warrior romance. A lot of research was poured into this series and the main character, Claire, is a strong, female lead. Currently, there are eight volumes in this series, and the author is working on completing number nine. After you're done reading the books, you can binge watch the TV series of the same name available from the Starz network or check it out at the local library.

The Spellman Files series by Lisa Lutz

There are six titles in this sarcastic and comedic series involving a dysfunctional family of private investigators. While the family is tight knit, they spend most of their time investigating each other. The series centers around 28-year-old Isabel (Izzy) Spellman, who walks a fine line between Spellman family member and Spellman employee. When Izzy's parents hire her younger sister to follow her in order to figure out the details on her new boyfriend, Izzy snaps. In order to get out of the family business, she'll need to take on one last case. This series is a lot of fun with a lot of humor. Fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series will get a kick out of this one.

"The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah

I will recommend this title to anyone and everyone. Set in France during WWII, this story follows the lives of two sisters and the different paths they take to survive the Nazi occupation. Vianne is married with a young daughter, and after the Nazis invade her home, she does what she must over and over again to protect her family. Her younger sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious teenager and joins the resistance, risking her life to save others. This novel is heartbreaking and uplifting as it celebrates resilience and the human spirit.

"The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek" by Kim Michele Richardson

Cussy Carter, 19, is the last living female of the rare Blue People ancestry, living deep in the woods of Troublesome Creek, Kentucky, in 1936. Cussy joins the Pack Horse Library Project as a librarian and delivers books and other materials to the impoverished hill people of Eastern Kentucky. Known as Bluet to the mountain folk, Cussy is determined to bring joy, comfort, literacy, and a fleeting retreat to her fellow poor and complex Kentuckians. For an even greater experience, I highly suggest listening to this title in audiobook form. The narrator does an excellent job conveying all the different accents and really brings this book to life. This title is inspired by the true and historical blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the Kentucky Pack Horse library service.

"The Silent Patient" by Alex Michaelides

This title has spent 54 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, so I've decided to give it a go. I'm only three chapters in, but I am already hooked. Artists Gabriel and Alicia Berenson seem to have the perfect life until Gabriel returns home one evening, and Alicia shoots him five times and then never speaks another word. A domestic tragedy is turned into a grand mystery, fueled by public imagination with Alicia's refusal to give any explanation or to even talk. Captivated by Alicia's story, criminal psychotherapist Theo Faber jumps at the chance to work with her. His determination to get her to talk sends him down an unexpected path more terrifying than he ever imagined.

For children

The Adventures of Wilder Good series by S.J. Dahlstrom

Titles:

"The Elk Hunt"

"Texas Grit"

"Wilder and Sunny"

"The Green Colt"

"Black Rock Brothers"

"Silverbelly"

Follow 12-year-old Wilder Good on six different outdoor adventures. Like other children his age, he loves basketball and 4-H, but most of all, he loves being outdoors. His favorite activities include hunting and fishing with his friend, 72-year old Gale, or hanging out on his grandfather's farm in Texas. If you like Hank the Cowdog, you will love reading about Wilder's adventures. Something else that is awesome about these books: They were written by a local author.

Guys Read series, edited by Jon Scieszka

Titles:

"Funny Business"

"Thriller"

"Heroes & Villains"

"Other Worlds"

"The Sports Page"

"Terrifying Tales"

"True Stories"

These books were written to get guys reading. Each book in the series is a compilation of short stories written by several different favorite authors (Jon Scieszka, Jeff Kinney, Adam Rex, Dav Pilkey, James Patterson, Gordon Korman, and R.L. Stine to name a few). Each book contains a different genre, including comedy, superheroes, terrifying tales, sci-fi, and non-fiction. There is something for everyone in this series, and with lots of recognizable authors, you may want to read them all.

Pages & Co.series by Anna James

Titles:

"The Bookwanderer"

"The Lost Fairy Tales"

What if book characters came to life and could take you into their books? That is what happens to Tilly Pages while she is in her grandparents' bookstore, Pages & Co. Tilly makes friends with characters like Alice from Wonderland and Anne of Green Gables. Maybe with their help, she can even find out what really happened to her mom all those years ago. This is a newer series with the third installment coming out next month.

Emily Windsnap series by Liz Kessler

Titles:

"The Tail of Emily Windsnap"

"Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep"

"Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist"

"Emily Windsnap and the Siren's Secret"

"Emily Windsnap and the Land of the Midnight Sun"

"Emily Windsnap and the Ship of Lost Souls"

"Emily Windsnap and the Falls of Forgotten Island"

"Emily Windsnap and the Pirate Prince"

"Emily Windsnap and the Tides of Time"

Emily Windsnap thought she was a normal girl. It turns out she is a mermaid. With nine books available in this series, there are multiple fun and entertaining mermaid adventures to dive into. What is mermaid school like? Where do they go on vacation? Find out this and much more when you join Emily on many fin-tastic adventures.

The Unicorn Rescue Society series by Adam Gidwitz

Titles:

"The Creature of the Pines"

"The Basque Dragon"

"Sasquatch and the Muckleshoot"

"The Chupacabras of the Rio Grande"

"The Madre de Aguas of Cuba"

Founded by Professor Mito Fauna, The Unicorn Rescue Society's mission is to save mythical creatures. Are those creatures real? If they are, they need to be kept safe and out of the evil clutches of those who look to gain from their capture. Go along as Professor Fauna and some of his students rescue some truly amazing creatures.

- Compiled by Correspondent Alisa Boswell-Gore