OBD Staff Picks July

"An exploration of the macabre, where the seemingly mundane takes on a terrifying significance. . . . A pregnant woman's sketches on a seemingly innocuous blog conceal a chilling warning. A child's picture of his home contains a dark secret message. A sketch made by a murder victim in his final moments leads an amateur sleuth down a rabbithole that will reveal a horrifying reality. Structured around these nine childlike drawings, each holding a disturbing...

"Middle school is a dungeon ... At least, that's how Jess sees it. Luckily, she and her best friend Olivia know how to escape into the sprawling worlds of their own imaginations. The two friends have always loved making up stories, first with little kid games of make-believe, and more recently with the fantasy roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons. When they play, Olivia runs the game as Dungeon Master and Jess is the solo party member, playing a take-no-prisoners,...

"This eye-opening book is made up of personal stories from around the globe, including Hrund's own, wisdom from different cultures, science and the arts. Readers can keep a journal at hand to explore the exercises and savor in renewing our connection to our InnSæi. Throughout, Hrund offers us a potent toolkit which includes breathing and meditation exercises to re-engage our consciousness, grounding, mindfulness, and gratitude. This is for: Readers...

Wicked is the story of two witches of Oz. As young women, they meet at Shiz University in Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. One is misunderstood because of her green skin color; the other is driven by a need to be popular. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads, and their lives take very different paths. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their...

"An adaptation of Douglas Tallamy's book Nature's Best Hope, but written for a middle school level readership"-- Provided by publisher.

In 1976, a young woman is pregnant with her boss's child and he sends her to Florida to await and hide the birth. New allies, friends, and her own wild imagination give her what might be a fresh start.--Publisher.