Port Library Staff Picks 2013's Best Books

Looking for the right book for your holiday gift list? Maybe the staff of the Port Washington Public Library can help you out.

The library recently posted in its January newsletter a list of favorite 2013 reads recommended by library staff members from various departments.

Here's a look at some of the books they recommend:

• "This Is Not My Hat," by Jon Klassen: A tiny fish thinks he can get away with stealing a hat from a much bigger fish, but his hopes of getting away with the theft may not turn out as he planned. Winner of the 2013 Caldecott Medal. (Denise Anchico, information services)
• "Information Services The Riddle of the Labyrinth," by Margalit Fox: An intriguing mystery story about the final decipherment of the Cretan language. (Virginia Bugliarello, adult services)
• "Little Green," by Walter Moseley: In this latest crime fiction book from Moseley, private eye Easy Rawlins has come back from the almost dead. (Corinne Camarata, administration)
• "The Manor: Three Centuries at a Slave Plantation on Long Island," by Mac Griswold: A compelling history of a Long Island plantation, spanning three centuries and 11 generations, reveals the extensive but little-known story of Northern slavery. (Lee Fertitta, adult services)
• "The Day the Crayons Quit," by Drew Daywalt: When Duncan arrives at school one day he finds a stack of letters from his crayons, each com- plaining about how he uses or doesn’t use the various colors. (Rachel Fox, children’s services)
• "Eleanor and Park," by Rainbow Rowell: Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave enough to try. (Lori Gerbasi, TeenSpace)
• "Crazy Rich Asians," by Kevin Kwan, "Astor Place Vintage," by Stephanie Lehmann and "The Rosie Project," by Graeme Simsion: Fun, light reads from 2013. (Jackie Kelly, community relations)
• "Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library," by Chris Grabenstein: Class clown Kyle wins a chance to spend a night in his town’s new library, which was designed by famous gamemaker Luigi Lemoncello. In order to win the contest, Kyle and his friends must solve a series of puzzles to find an escape route from the library. (Keith Klang, children’s services)
• "Astor Place Vintage," by Stephanie Lehmann: When she buys vintage clothing for her shop in New York City, Amanda finds a diary hidden in the lining of a fur muff. As she reads the details of Olive Westcott’s life in Manhattan in 1907, she eventually recognizes their stories are separated by exactly 100 years. Told in alternating chapters, this novel relates the dif ferences and similarities between both women, giving the reader an intimate glimpse into the past. (Jessica Ley, programming)
• "Life After Life," by Kate Atkinson: An interesting story in which the lead character is given multiple lives with different outcomes. Makes you reflect on how life might have been had you changed any one decision. (Lynn Moessner, administration)
• "Boxers & Saints," by Gene Luen Yang: A beautiful two-volume graphic novel that tells the parallel stories of two young people caught on opposite sides of China’s Boxer Rebellion. Yang blends lyrical stor ytelling and striking images to shed light on the complex themes of rebellion and faith in this unforgettable tale. (Kate Monsour, TeenSpace)
• "The Returned," by Jason Mott: When their son Jacob, who died tragically at his 8th bir thday par ty in 1966, arrives on their doorstep, still 8 years old, Harold and Lucille Hargrave must navigate a strange new reality as chaos erupts around the world when people’s loved ones are returned from beyond. (Patti Paris, information services)
• "Me Before You," by Jojo Moyes: Louise Clark, a quirky twenty something living in Britain during the recession, lands a job as caregiver for Will Traynor, a royal-blooded former renaissance man, who has become a paraplegic due to a tragic accident. Since he already has a nurse, Louise’s job is to give Will a reason to live, and it’s Will’s job to keep a promise. (Fran Powell, children’s services)
• "October List," by Jeffrey Deaver: A woman’s daughter has been kid- napped. To get her back, she must come up with $400,000 and a document known as the “October List.” A novel in reverse; quite original and good. (Brooke Salit, technical services)
• "The Longest Ride," by Nicholas Sparks: A great read for young or old. (Marcellina Simeons, circulation)
• "Tune In: The Beatles: All These Years Volume 1," by Mark Lewisohn: The result of ten years of exhaustive research, Tune In is a well-written narrative chronicling the early lives of the four boys who became the Beatles. (Tony Traguardo, media services)