Looking for something new and different to read, look no further than this month’s staff picks! Each month we give a staff member a few prompts to pick some of their favorite books. June’s staff picks were chosen by our library clerk John.
What has been your favorite book this year?
My favorite book this year is The Year of the Pitcher by Sridhar Pappu. 1968 was such an important year for pitching in baseball. Bob Gibson pitched so well that year that Major League Baseball changed the dimensions of the pitching mound. Denny McLain won 31 games that year, which no has done since then. I like this book because it goes behind the scenes for baseball to talk about things you would not hear about otherwise, like McLain’s connection to the mob.
The Year of the Pitcher by Sridhar Pappu is available at Fort Branch Library.
What is a junior book that you think everyone should read?
A junior book I like is Jackie & Me by Dan Gutman. I am a big Dodgers fan and Jackie Robinson fan, so it made me pretty nostalgic to see the kid go back in time and learn about the Dodgers during that time. I also liked that the series is influenced by baseball cards, since I have a lot of old baseball cards too.
Jackie & Me by Dan Gutman is available at Fort Branch Library and on Libby as an e-book.
What upcoming release you are excited about?
I’m excited about As If by Magic by Randy Mills. Being from Indiana, I have always been a big fan of Larry Bird since he is also a Hoosier. This book looks interesting since it not only covers Larry Bird, but Indiana high school basketball as a whole. There is a lot of history there, so it will be interesting to dive in and see what the book has to say.
As If by Magic by Randy Mills will be available at Fort Branch Library when it releases later this year.