Staff Picks
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What My Brother Knew
For readers who were inspired by Alua Arthur’s Briefly Perfectly Human, an emotional, eye-opening account of one woman’s journey from loss and abuse to healing and spiritual awakening.
As a boy, Jay Amelong predicted the accident that caused his death, down to the color of the car that hit him. “I will die young, while riding my bike,” he told friends and family repeatedly. “It won’t be much longer, I want you to be prepared.” These were baffling words to hear from the mouth of a content thirteen-year-old—but when Kristina Amelong was only seventeen, her brother’s tragic death unfolded exactly as he said it would, radically changing her life.
Propelled down a self-destructive path of drug addiction and reckless sex, Kristina spent much of her young adult years wanting to die. Once or twice she came close. Always, Jay’s bizarre story and his inexplicable acceptance of his own death lived in her body.
More than thirty years after losing Jay, Kristina embarks on a journey of discovery, seeking truth about herself, her brother, and the universe. The result of her investigation is a memoir that defies belief. Charting a life path from loss and abuse to healing and spiritual awakening, What My Brother Knew demonstrates the transformative power of facing the mystery of death head-on and our incredible ability, as humans, to do just that. -
The Summer We Ran
A National Bestseller
An Indie Next & LibraryReads Pick for June
A June 2025 Book of the Month Selection
A Town & Country Best New Romance Novel"The Summer We Ran is a perfectly nostalgic story of love, loss, and secrets that refuse to stay buried. It's exactly what I hope for in a summertime read."
--Annabel Monaghan, author of Same Time Next SummerDoes your past define your destiny? Told through multiple perspectives, rich with emotion and immersive dual timelines, The Summer We Ran weaves together a story of lost love, devastating secrets, shocking sabotage, and the painstaking decision two people must make in order to fulfill the futures they each desire.
In the summer of 1996, Tess Murphy's mom gave her two rules to abide by: keep quiet and stay out of trouble. Her mother landed a new job as a cook at an affluent Virginia estate and didn't want anything to risk the opportunity, least of all her outspoken teenage daughter. What no one saw coming was Tess falling deeply in love with the boy next door, high-society Grant Alexander.
Over a few wondrous and heat-filled months, Tess and Grant's love blooms so ferociously it feels utterly impossible that anything can keep them apart, until tragedy strikes.
Now, more than two decades after their epic teenage romance, Tess and Grant are both running for governor of Virginia, and secrets from that summer threaten to shatter their families, their political futures, and the memory of the first love that shaped their lives.
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100 Things to Do in Door County Before You Die
Boasting miles of Lake Michigan and Green Bay shoreline, picturesque villages, and nautical flair, Door County is an idyllic vacation destination in Northeast Wisconsin. With its pristine beaches, natural wonders, robust art and theater scene, all-season sporting opportunities, unique restaurants, breweries and wineries, and activities for kids, Door County truly offers something for everyone. Climb to the top of the Cana Island Lighthouse or explore shipwrecks and nautical history. Hike through forests and along rugged shorelines or bike scenic rustic roads. Kayak caves in Cave Point County Park or try stand-up paddleboard at local beaches. Spend the day gallery hopping or on a craft brew tour. Catch live theater or music. And end every day with a great dinner and a beautiful sunset. With 100 Things to Do in Door County Before You Die, you’ll discover enchanting destinations and exciting activities that will keep you returning year after year. Together, good friends Tamara Gaumond and Jean O’Brien Gibbons bring an unmatched enthusiasm for Door County.
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Someone Knows
An English professor’s deadly past comes back to haunt her in this chilling and sexy thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Vi Keeland.
As a college English professor, Elizabeth looks forward to the start of each new semester teaching her creative writing seminar. At least until she reads chapter one of The Reckoning, a tale about a high school senior who has an affair with her teacher. To anyone else it would be the beginning of a great page-turner, but to Elizabeth it is the beginning of the end.
She knows this story. It’s all familiar because she lived it. The girl in the story was her best friend Jocelyn, and Elizabeth knows exactly how the story will end—with the professor dead. Because she was the one who killed him.
Someone knows what Elizabeth did twenty years ago and her secret is about to be exposed, but who is the mystery student submitting the chapters? In an effort to find out, Elizabeth returns to her Louisiana hometown where it soon becomes clear that no matter how many years have gone by, she can’t escape her past. -
All I Want for Christmas Is Yarn: 30 Crochet Projects for Festive Gifts and Decorations
Crochet yourself into the Christmas spirit with these 30 gorgeous patterns for decorations, festive outerwear and personal gifts..
Deck the halls with boughs made of yarn! Just grab your hook and this book and get cracking. With 30 patterns from Lindsey Newns (@lottieandalbert), you'll have Christmas decorations and gifts sorted for many years to come, with crochet crafts including:
- A super chunky wreath
- Tasselled baubles
- Garlands
- Reusable crackers
- Festive amigurumi
- Candy cane present toppers
- And many, many more...
It's beginning to look a lot like Crochetmas!
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A Beautiful Family
Over the course of one sunbaked summer vacation, a family is pulled into a web of mysteries that the younger daughter sets out to solve. A tense, page-turning debut of childhood, innocence, and evil.
"I absolutely loved this page-turning family mystery and didn't want it to end. . . An extraordinary, exquisitely written debut." --Liane Moriarty, New York Times bestselling author of Here One Moment
At ten years old, she catches more than her parents and older sister suspect. Over their summer break, her mother plans to finish her novel, her father wants to grill and watch cricket, and her fifteen-year-old sister hopes to catch the eye of a local lifeguard. With everyone around her distracted, she teams up with a new friend to solve a mystery that haunts this vacation community: they'll close the case of what happened to Charlotte, a child who was presumed drowned two years earlier.
But things aren't quite as they seem, and as the children look for clues, they inadvertently dislodge information they wish they'd never uncovered. Are her parents happy together? Is her sister putting her trust in the wrong people? Is their vacation rental as safe as it seems? And when someone else goes missing, the family find themselves at the center of an urgent police investigation.
Debut novelist Jennifer Trevelyan viscerally captures the confusion and frustration of childhood, the fraught but unshakeable bond between sisters, and the dangers that lurk in the white lies we tell--especially about the people we love most. -
Cold Canning
Discover this food preservation bible for the modern cook, with a collection of 425 recipes for small-batch jams, jellies, chili crisps, pickles, krauts, kimchis, and more that will safely keep for months to years in your fridge or freezer.
Cold canning is a revolutionary new approach to preserving the best produce of the season, without the headache of traditional canning methods. Whether you're canning for convenience, frugality, or fun, these small-batch recipes are simple to make and can be safely stored for months or even years in your refrigerator or freezer.
Home cooks will love cold canning because...
- It's easier, requiring no unwieldy tools
- It preserves fresher flavors in the jar
- It saves money with small batches
- It saves time with quick setup and cooking
- It's healthier because recipes use less sugar and salt
- It's completely safe
Bestselling authors Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough are among America's most trusted culinary experts, and here they gather 425 recipes showing how to pickle and preserve the world--from strawberry jam to Sri Lankan lime pickles, from peach-ginger preserves to homemade sambal oelek. With Cold Canning, it is easier than ever to save a taste of the summer for any time of the year. -
The End of the World As We Know It
An original short story anthology based on master storyteller Stephen King’s #1 New York Times bestselling classic The Stand!
Since its initial publication in 1978, The Stand has been considered Stephen King’s seminal masterpiece of apocalyptic fiction, with millions of copies sold and adapted twice for television. Although there are other extraordinary works exploring the unraveling of human society, none have been as influential as this iconic novel—generations of writers have been impacted by its dark yet ultimately hopeful vision of the end and new beginning of civilization, and its stunning array of characters.
Now for the first time, Stephen King has fully authorized a return to the harrowing world of The Stand through this original short story anthology as presented by award-winning authors and editors Christopher Golden and Brian Keene. Bringing together some of today’s greatest and most visionary writers, The End of the World As We Know It features unforgettable, all-new stories set during and after (and some perhaps long after) the events of The Stand—brilliant, terrifying, and painfully human tales that will resonate with readers everywhere as an essential companion to the classic, bestselling novel.
Featuring an introduction by Stephen King, a foreword by Christopher Golden, and an afterword by Brian Keene. Contributors include Wayne Brady and Maurice Broaddus, Poppy Z. Brite, Somer Canon, C. Robert Cargill, Nat Cassidy, V. Castro, Richard Chizmar, S. A. Cosby, Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes, Meg Gardiner, Gabino Iglesias, Jonathan Janz, Alma Katsu, Caroline Kepnes, Michael Koryta, Sarah Langan, Joe R. Lansdale, Tim Lebbon, Josh Malerman, Ronald Malfi, Usman T. Malik, Premee Mohamed, Cynthia Pelayo, Hailey Piper, David J. Schow, Alex Segura, Bryan Smith, Paul Tremblay, Catherynne M. Valente, Bev Vincent, Catriona Ward, Chuck Wendig, Wrath James White, and Rio Youers. -
Brunch Season
From the Buttermilk Kitchen, a beautiful, year-round, go-to cookbook highlighting more than 60 made-from-scratch brunch recipes incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables at their peak times of year.
Brunch is a lovely way to celebrate a meal with friends and family, and a great way to make any midday or mid-week dining special. The recipes in Brunch Season: A Year of Delicious Mornings from the Buttermilk Kitchen include both sweet and savory dishes, drawing ideas from Buttermilk Kitchen breakfast favorites, and adding seasonal soups and salads, as well as drinks. Chef Suzanne Vizethann's fresh farm-to-table approach to this cookbook, divided into spring, summer, fall, and winter chapters, reflects her commitment to providing high-quality meals made with ripe, flavorful ingredients.
All of the recipes are simple yet refined, and the seasonal section openers include a list of peak ingredients for that season. For spring, you will find recipes such as Young Garlic and Radish Focaccia and Rhubarb Cobbler; for summer, Heirloom Tomato Toasts and Watermelon Mimosas; for fall, Roasted Squash Oatmeal with Crispy Rosemary Seeds and Chocolate Hazelnut Sticky Cake; for winter, Coddled Egg with Creamed Kale and Winter Citrus with Whipped Ricotta and Honey. The home cook can expect balanced dishes that are as beautiful as they are delicious.
sh Focaccia and Rhubarb Cobbler; for summer, Heirloom Tomato Toasts and Watermelon Mimosas; for fall, Roasted Squash Oatmeal with Crispy Rosemary Seeds and Chocolate Hazelnut Sticky Cake; for winter, Coddled Egg with Creamed Kale and Winter Citrus with Whipped Ricotta and Honey. The home cook can expect balanced dishes that are as beautiful as they are delicious.sh Focaccia and Rhubarb Cobbler; for summer, Heirloom Tomato Toasts and Watermelon Mimosas; for fall, Roasted Squash Oatmeal with Crispy Rosemary Seeds and Chocolate Hazelnut Sticky Cake; for winter, Coddled Egg with Creamed Kale and Winter Citrus with Whipped Ricotta and Honey. The home cook can expect balanced dishes that are as beautiful as they are delicious.sh Focaccia and Rhubarb Cobbler; for summer, Heirloom Tomato Toasts and Watermelon Mimosas; for fall, Roasted Squash Oatmeal with Crispy Rosemary Seeds and Chocolate Hazelnut Sticky Cake; for winter, Coddled Egg with Creamed Kale and Winter Citrus with Whipped Ricotta and Honey. The home cook can expect balanced dishes that are as beautiful as they are delicious.
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The Peculiar Gift of July
With a dash of magic and a cast of oddball, small-town characters, this feel-good novel explores forgiveness, family, and the sense of humor it takes to live with the ones we love the most.
Ebey’s End is a small town on an island off the Pacific coast, reachable only by ferry (assuming the gods are with you and it’s not a Tuesday). It’s a comfortable, familiar (but okay, fine, sometimes lonely) life for its resident grocer Anita Odom. That is, until fourteen-year-old July shows up on her doorstep.
Taking in the recently orphaned daughter of an estranged cousin had not been on Anita’s to-do list. In fact, it’s a terrible idea. Anita is ill-suited, ill-prepared, and absolutely certain the entire enterprise will end in disaster—for both of them.
From the moment she arrives, July seems to “know” what each customer at the Island Grocery needs. They’re small things: a housekeeping magazine slipped into old Mr. Daly’s basket or a coconut cream pie pressed into the hands of Pastor Chet. But one by one, these gifts start to change the lives of nearly everyone in town in ways much larger than they—or July—could have imagined.
It's not long before secrets are exposed and questions emerge, and everyone in Ebey’s End has to open their hearts a little wider to make room for it all. -
Cute Fantasy Art Class
Wield your pencils or styluses and learn how to draw 51 of your favorite fantasy characters!
The amazing and prolific artist, Naomi Lord, is here to teach you her signature style of anime drawing with these charming, mystical characters. Get ready to expand your portfolios and sketchpads with adorable characters who wield swords, axes, and wands. Through easy-to-follow tutorials, grab your pens, markers, or digital programs, and start drawing with Cute Fantasy Art Class!
Bring to life your favorite honorable or mischievous characters from:- The Enchanted City, including Adventurer, Pirate, Wizard, Princess
- The Ancient Forest, including Gnome, Fairy, Elves, Druid
- The Moonlit Mountains, including Troll, Skeleton, Orc, Witch
- The Wild Hamlet, including Architect, Warrior, Archer, Magician
Want even more? Learn how to customize your drawings with simple tips and tricks on how to add accessories, clothing, and hairstyles. Once you're done, not only do you have the freedom to color your characters however you want, but you can also explore the Bonus: Character Familiars chapter and give your characters a trusted companion for their adventures.
With Naomi’s artistic knowledge, this book will become your go-to reference whenever you need creative inspiration through the cutest art. So put aside some time to draw and let your creativity conquer the page! -
A Promise to Arlette
With the scope of a saga and the heart of a thriller, this is an evocative historical novel following a married couple whose idyllic 1950s suburban life is threatened by the promises they made during World War II.
Sidney and Ida Whipple are living the suburban 1950s American dream, complete with two children and a white picket fence, which didn’t seem possible when they first met at the height of WWII in France. Reveling in the present, they can almost convince themselves that their past is behind them. But when their neighbors show off a newly purchased Man Ray photograph, Ida comes face-to-face with the person she loved and lost in the war: Arlette.
Only Ida knows the truth about the photograph, and why it can’t possibly be authentic. In an attempt to right past wrongs, she travels to California vowing to confront Man Ray. Sidney wakes to find his wife is missing, the photograph in question stolen, and all the secrets they’ve tried to bury come rushing back. With his daughters in tow, he travels after Ida, hoping to forge a new path together. Instead, their sojourn leads to a shocking discovery that could pull their family apart in this sweeping, unforgettable story about love and friendship, trust and betrayal, and how promises made, broken, and ultimately renewed, can determine our fate. -
Historic Wisconsin Roadsides: Towns Off the Beaten Path in the Badger State
Whether you’re on a motorcycle or in a car, truck, or RV, the open road has long represented an enchanting combination of adventure and freedom. Historic Wisconsin Roadsides provides an essential guide to the most historic and fun road trips Wisconsin has to offer. Go explore and make memories on 11 road trips such as White Arrow Signs, Harbor Towns and Shipwrecks, the Great River Road, and Madison and Heritage Towns. Packed with over 1,200 recommendations, find where to get a free ice cream cone from a 1932 dairy bar when the temperature drops below -20°, eat what many consider the original butterburger (not where you expect), ride Elvis’s favorite roller coaster, find a whimsical 1927 C.W. Parker Amusement Company carousel, and visit the world's coolest 1950s motel featuring live music, songwriting workshops, and a radio station broadcasting only music created onsite. Historic Wisconsin Roadsides highlights what to do and where to eat and stay for your escape on the open road. Created by travel writers and road trip specialists Tom and Kristi Flick Manus, this is the perfect guide to hitting the road for carefree adventures through America’s Dairyland. Use this book to inspire fresh adventures; let's go on a Wisconsin road trip!
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We All Live Here
"Lila Kennedy has a lot on her plate. A broken marriage, two wayward daughters, a house that is falling apart, and an elderly stepfather who seems to have quietly moved in. Her career is in freefall and her love life is ... complicated. So when her real dad--a man she has barely seen since he ran off to Hollywood thirty-five years ago--suddenly appears on her doorstep, it feels like the final straw. But it turns out even the family you thought you could never forgive might have something to teach you: about love, and what it actually means to be family"--
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Mysteries of the National Parks
Discover the hidden mysteries of America's national parks!
America's national parks are most known for outstanding beauty and unparalleled adventure--and these natural wonders also hold some of the world's greatest enigmas. Why did an ancient civilization abandon their stone city in the mountains of Colorado? Flying past Mt. Rainier, did a pilot really spot nine shiny objects that spawned the UFO craze? How do stones weighing thousands of pounds slide across the sand in Death Valley? Join outdoor expert and writer Mike Bezemek as he explores baffling disappearances, unexplained phenomena, and the secret history of our national parks.
Featuring 35 diverse stories, Mysteries of the National Parks takes readers to every corner of our diverse and beautiful country. You'll travel to some of the most beloved national park units, including:
- Yellowstone National Park
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Dinosaur National Monument
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- Ford's Theatre National Historic Site
- And many more!
Mysteries of the National Park is the first book to delve into the details of mysterious happenings across the national park service. Bezemek's vivid storytelling brings each mystery to life, immersing readers in the intriguing settings and characters while revealing previously untold details. Whether you're an outdoor adventurer, national park enthusiast, or true crime fan, this riveting collection is a must-have addition to your library. Perfect as a gift or personal treasure, Mysteries of the National Parks will leave you ready to set out on your own national park adventure!
Upcoming Events
Manitowoc Public Library and Wisconsin Job Service would like to invite job seekers to a multi-employer hiring event taking place in MPL's Balkansky Community Room!
Disclaimer(s)
Accessibility
Individuals requesting accommodation for disabilities should contact the Library's ADA Manager Stacey Bialek at 920-686-3008 or sbialek@manitowoc.org. Reasonable accommodations will be made as quickly as possible, often within a week.
The Manitowoc County Genealogical Society will be in the Manitowoc Collection every Tuesday from 3-5PM to help people with their genealogy research.
We're celebrating "Happy Cat Month" with a Kitty Party! Join us for an evening of feline fun as Lakeshore Humane Society brings adoptable kittens to MPL for families to play, cuddle, and socialize with.
Disclaimer(s)
Accessibility
Individuals requesting accommodation for disabilities should contact the Library's ADA Manager Stacey Bialek at 920-686-3008 or sbialek@manitowoc.org. Reasonable accommodations will be made as quickly as possible, often within a week.
Meeting
Do you have a novel or short story you want to write? How about a screenplay or a memoir? Poetry? Graphic novels? Then you need – Space to Write!
Join us every second and fourth Tuesday of the month in the Franklin Room to stretch some creative muscles and wield our words worthily. Your story matters - now you have space to tell it.
Disclaimer(s)
Accessibility
Individuals requesting accommodation for disabilities should contact the Library's ADA Manager Stacey Bialek at 920-686-3008 or sbialek@manitowoc.org. Reasonable accommodations will be made as quickly as possible, often within a week.
Storytime
You’re never too young for a great story!
Join us for 20 minutes of stories, songs, rhymes, bounces, parachute activities, and bubbles, followed by 20 minutes of playtime! Baby Storytime is recommended for developmental ages 0-2 and siblings are always welcome.
Disclaimer(s)
Accessibility
Individuals requesting accommodation for disabilities should contact the Library's ADA Manager Stacey Bialek at 920-686-3008 or sbialek@manitowoc.org. Reasonable accommodations will be made as quickly as possible, often within a week.
Unattended Children
Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
Storytime
You’re never too young for a great story!
Join us in singing, talking, reading, creating, and playing at this inclusive Storytime for families with preschoolers. Storytime focuses on concepts such as life skills, counting, colors, emotions, patterns, and the alphabet.
Disclaimer(s)
Accessibility
Individuals requesting accommodation for disabilities should contact the Library's ADA Manager Stacey Bialek at 920-686-3008 or sbialek@manitowoc.org. Reasonable accommodations will be made as quickly as possible, often within a week.
Unattended Children
Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.