Sarah Lemmon December 30, 2015 6:01am

We asked Green Lake Branch Teen Services Librarian Marty Hendley to share her most anticipated reads in 2016. Here’s her top recommendations for every age. And just in case you need a big list of books, here’s a few to catch up on from last year’s recommendations.

Adult

Jonathan Unleashed by Meg Rosoff

Meg Rosoff is one of our favorite authors for teens and adults. Jonathan Unleashed is her new adult title. It’s the story of Jonathan, whose life is somewhat of a mess between his crazy boss and his dissatisfied girlfriend. His two dogs are determined to fix everything or, possibly, destroy it all.

Man Without a Shadow by Joyce Carol Oates

This one is already getting rave reviews. From Booklist: ‘This complexly suspenseful and darkly erotic duel between a lovesick mad scientist and her beleaguered yet far from helpless subject illuminates, with strobe-light intensity, the labyrinthine mysteries of our brains and minds’

The Core of the Sun by Johanna Sinisalo

Popular Finnish author, Sinisalo, writes what some have called “Finnish weird”, is sure to please fans with her new book. The novel follows a woman whose growing addiction to illegal chili peppers leads her on an adventure into a world where love, sex, and free will are all controlled by the state.

Angel Catbird by Margaret Atwood

This will be the first of a three part graphic novel series from Dark Horse Comics, featuring a superhero who is part cat, part owl. He has fur and feathers and, not surprisingly, identity problems. According to Dark Horse editors, this will be a humorous, action-driven, pulp-inspired story” with “a lot of cat puns.”

Teen

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

The perfect politician’s daughter has to rethink her life after a political scandal changes everything. The cover of this book alone has Morgan Matson fans freaking out with excitement (there’s a lot of adorable dogs).

The Fever Code by James Dashner

A prequel to the worldwide Maze Runner phenomenon, The Fever Code is the book that holds all the answers.

Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky

From debut author Goldy Moldavsky, the story of four superfan friends whose devotion to their favorite boy band has darkly comical and murderous results.

Children

Picture Books/ Easy Readers

Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian

When a worm meets a special worm and they fall in love, you know what happens next: They get married! But their friends want to know—who will wear the dress? And who will wear the tux? The answer is: It doesn’t matter. Because Worm loves Worm.

Introducing Teddy: A Gentle Story About Gender and Friendship by Jess Walton

Errol and his teddy, Thomas, are best friends. One day, Thomas is sad and finally reveals what he has been afraid to say: “In my heart, I’ve always known that I’m a girl teddy, not a boy teddy.” This sweet book introduces young readers to gender identity and transition in a heart-warming story about being true to yourself and being a good friend.

A Unicorn Named Sparkle by Amy Young

Lucy sees an ad for a unicorn and sends in her twenty-five cents and waits for him to arrive. She imagines the flowers that she’ll braid into his beautiful pink mane, and decides to name him Sparkle. But when Sparkle arrives, his ears are too long, his horn is too short, he smells funny and he has fleas. In the end Lucy realizes that even though he wasn’t exactly the unicorn she wanted, he might be just the one she needs.

The Thank You Book by Mo Willems

This is going to be the last of the amazing and wildly popular Elephant and Piggie books. Piggie wants to thank EVERYONE. But Gerald is worried Piggie will forget someone . . . someone important.

Chapter Books

Pax by Sara Pennypacker

Pax was just a little fox kit when his family was killed and his “boy” Peter rescued him. Now Peter’s dad has enlisted to fight in the war and Peter has to go live with his grandpa. Worst of all, his father makes him leave Pax in the woods. After one night at his grandpa’s he sets off to get his friend back. The story is told in alternating viewpoints of Peter and Pax as they struggle to find one another against all odds. Early rave reviews dub this a timeless classic to be shared among generations. (The cover art alone had us tearing up.)

Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eagar

12 year old Carolina has to spend her summer in the New Mexico desert, helping her parents move the grandfather she’s never met into a home for people with dementia. Carol finds herself fascinated by the crazy stories he tells her about a healing tree, a green-glass lake, and the bees that will bring back the rain and end a hundred years of drought. Magic blends with reality in this captivating novel of family, renewal, and discovering the wonder of the world.