On the shelves - Dec. 10

The books listed below are now available for checkout at the Clovis-Carver Public Library. The library is open to the public, but patrons can still visit the online catalog at cloviscarverpl.booksys.net/opac/ccpl or call 575-769-7840 to request a specific item for curbside pickup.

“The Summer of Songbirds” by Kristy Woodson Harvey. Nearly thirty years ago, in the wake of a personal tragedy, June Moore bought Camp Holly Springs and turned it into a thriving summer haven for girls. But now, June is in danger of losing the place she has sacrificed everything for and begins to realize how much she has used the camp to avoid facing difficulties in her life.

“Nineteen Steps” by Millie Bobby Brown. It’s 1942, and air raid sirens continue to wail around London. Eighteen-year-old Nellie Morris counts every day lucky that she emerges from the underground shelters unharmed, her loving family still surrounding her. After a chance encounter with Ray, an American airman stationed nearby, Nellie becomes enchanted with the idea of a broader world. Just when Nellie begins to embrace an exciting new life with Ray, a terrible incident occurs during an air raid one evening, tearing Nellie’s world is torn apart. But just when it seems all hope is lost, Nellie finds that, against all odds, love and happiness can triumph.

“The Vanishing Box” by Elly Griffiths. Brighton, England, 1953. Over the holiday season, Max Mephisto and his daughter Ruby are headlining a variety show at the Brighton Hippodrome. Landing a gig at the city’s biggest theater is a major achievement, and only slightly marred by the less-than-savory supporting act: a tableau show of naked “living statues.” But when one of the girls goes missing and turns up dead not long after, Max and Ruby realize there’s something far more sinister than obscenity afoot in the theater. Max’s good friend DI Edgar Stephens is on the case. As he searches for the killer, he begins to suspect that the girl’s fatal vanishing act may be related to another case—the death of a local florist. But just as he’s narrowing in on the missing link, Ruby goes missing, and he and Max must reach deep into their bag of tricks to find her before it’s too late.

“Find More Birds” by Heather Wolf. Seeing more birds than you ever imagined and witnessing exciting avian drama is possible—whether you’re on the go or in your own neighborhood, local park, or backyard. As Heather Wolf explains, it all comes down to how you tune in to the show happening around you, the one in which birds are the stars. In Find More Birds, Heather shares her very best tactics—and the jaw-dropping photographs they helped her capture.

“The Big Book of Hatch Chile” by Kelley Cleary Coffeen. New Mexico chile peppers grown around the village of Hatch are world famous for their culinary versatility, unique flavor, and varying levels of heat. In The Big Book of Hatch Chile, Kelley Cleary Coffeen offers more than 180 detailed but easy-to-use recipes for everything from chile-laced margaritas to several variations on the classic green chile cheeseburger.

“The Pirates’ Code: Laws and Life Aboard Ship” by Rebecca Simon. Pirates have long captured our imaginations. But what was life really like on a pirate ship? Piracy was a risky, sometimes deadly occupation, and strict orders were essential for everyone’s survival. These “Laws” were sets of rules that determined everything. These rules became known as the “Pirates’ Code,” which all pirates had to publicly swear by. Using primary sources like eyewitness accounts, trial proceedings, and maritime logs, this book explains how each one of the pirate codes was the key to pirates’ success in battle, on sea, and on land.

— Summaries provided by library staff