Selections is a monthly newsletter featuring recommendations from the staff at Deerfield Public Library. Continue scrolling to find Selections from this year and past years. You can get other Recommendations by clicking here.
You can download this month’s issue of Selections by clicking the download button to the right.
Eat the Rich by Sarah Gailey
This is a quick read of an e-graphic novel with a fascinating premise. Joey plans to spend the summer with her boyfriend Astor at his family’s wealthy vacation home. But beneath the seeming perfection is a deadly dark secret that the locals live in fear of… ~Anne J. (CW: cannibalism)
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
This sweeping, yet intimate story reads as a folklore retelling spanning two timelines and two relationships in a house full of secrets. The gothic atmosphere and purple prose enhance the uncertainty and folklore cadence, which keeps the reader intrigued throughout. ~Caitlin N. (CW: gore, body horror, abuse)
The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery
This British murder mystery was a jolly good time! I love nothing more than a headstrong, foul-mouthed, older woman teaming up with a young guy to solve a confounding mystery. I’m excited to see where this series goes! ~Megan S. (CW: suicide, murder, profanity)
Bring Her Back
Not for the faint of heart! Watch as two siblings move into their new foster mother’s house. The children uncover some rituals the foster mom performs & tries to prove it to the authorities. This movie made me physically uncomfortable, but will leave a lasting impression. ~Sam R. (CW: abuse, violence, animal cruelty)
Graceland Cemetery: Chicago Stories, Symbols, and Secrets by Adam Selzer
A perfect Summerween activity is a walk through a historic cemetery. Check out this guidebook to Chicago’s Graceland Cemetery, full of grand monuments, famous names, and intriguing mysteries. The book includes detailed maps to help you explore the grounds. ~Tom W.
Crown Me Dead by Liv Zander
A cursed kingdom ruled by death gods where enemies fall in love, make bad choices, & everything feels like a slow disaster packed with nonstop plot twists. I was left shattered & struggling to read through my tears. A perfect duet if you love beautiful stories that ruin you. ~Maddie W. (CW: violence, body horror, explicit sex scenes )
Battle Royale
Battle Royale is the cooler and more violent predecessor for the last-man-standing fight-to-the-death trope that was seen in media throughout the 2000s. Watch the gory origin story of the genre, or read the novel by the same name! ~Kerstin V. (CW: violence, gore, bullying, suicide)
The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling
Starving in the heat of summer during a medieval siege, the sudden arrival of “saints” seems like a miracle to those stuck inside the castle. Except to the knight, maid, and madwoman who struggle to keep their heads clear and find a way out in this visceral, dream-like horror. ~Dylan G. (CW: body horror, cannibalism)
Sarafina by Philip Fracassi
This historical horror novel is my new Summerween favorite! It’s got it all: witches, shadow beasts, the psychological repercussions of war, weird children, and the sticky, humid, southern swamp where a trio of brothers loses their grip on reality as the Civil War rages on. ~Jasmine. H. (CW: violence, dismemberment, domestic abuse, mention of abortion and sexual assault)
Selections Archives (these are digital PDFs. To receive physical copies, please visit the Library):
