Lists

Enjoy a wide variety of our favorite fantasy picks, all recommended by our wonderful staff.

In 2013, the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a globally peer reviewed report that concluded, "climate change is real and human activities, largely the release of polluting gases from burning fossil fuel (coal, oil, gas), is the main cause. Here are some books to help make sense of the impact of climate change.

Whether the nature you know is outside your back door or a wilderness destination, there is endless beauty and wonder to be celebrated in the natural world. Here, Skokie librarians share some favorite books about nature and the benefits of getting outdoors.

Celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, histories, and life experiences of Native and Indigenous people in these adult fiction books.

From slashers to haunted houses, these books are perfect for any spooky occasion.

Enjoy these films.

Staff recommend their favorite classic horror novels.

Library staff share their favorite audiobook titles.

These books honor the achievements and contributions of women in history.

Although it is impossible to fully encompass the breadth of women's experiences, these are some of our recent favorites.

For lovers of the cottage-core lifestyle and aesthetic, these titles explore the joys of simple living and the magic that can be found when we take a step back from the rush of city life.

These stories highlight the experiences and perspectives of Asian American and Pacific Islander authors.

Staff share their favorite titles for book clubs to discuss.

Our staff suggest these nonfiction titles in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage.

Here is some of the best fiction by Black authors published in 2023 and 2024.

Our expert staff members look back at the year and share their favorite titles.

Our expert staff members look back at the year and share their favorite titles.

Our expert staff members look back at the year and share their favorite titles.

Islam is the second-largest world religion. These books explore the religion, the current struggles the Muslim community is facing, and its influence in people's lives in their own voices as written in memoirs.

From action to romance, explore a wide range of stories of the Muslim experience in films made by or starring Muslim actors and creators.

These films feature Muslim stories that move beyond stereotypes and show the complexity and diversity of the Muslim community.

From fantasy to literary fiction to romance, explore a wide range of stories of the Muslim experience.

Here are some of our favorite titles.

This is by no means a comprehensive list. And that, dear reader, is a very big deal. In scarcely a decade, we have gone from almost no fiction by openly autistic authors being published to having an embarrassment of riches. I could easily have found three times as many titles in the library’s collection without changing the rules I set for the list.

Think of this list, then, as something of a sample platter. I have tried to represent a variety of genres. I have tried to show some of the extraordinary diversity of autism, and the ways in which autistic and LGBTQ identities so often overlap. Some of the books here feature autistic characters and the issues specific to them, some have characters who “read” as autistic even if the term is never used, and some do none of that. The only criteria are that these are works of fiction intended for adults, written by authors who have publicly identified themselves as being autistic.

Read what appeals to you, and then use that as a starting point for seeing what else is out there.

Dark academia fiction typically addresses a variety of social issues, characters who have an academic or obsessive pursuit of knowledge, and a cast of morally ambiguous characters, commonly seen through an Eurocentric lens. If you are looking for books that go beyond the cookie-cutter plot of Donna Tart's The Secret History, give these titles a try.

These books will leave you with all those warm and fuzzy feelings.

"Marry him or murder him or do whatever you like." Arthur Conan Doyle’s glib reply to a theatrical director who wanted to bring Sherlock Holmes to the London stage highlights an essential truth: right from the get-go, other people cared about the character David Grann calls a “Victorian superhero” far more than his creator did. “Sherlockians” started writing stories featuring Holmes while Conan Doyle was still alive–homages or pastiches or fan fiction or what have you. These are some of the best.

Some fiction, some nonfiction, all great books for those who love the outdoors.

In celebration of Immigrant Heritage Month, these memoirs highlight the experiences of immigrants from all over the world.

Here are some mystery and true crime suggestions.

The state of Illinois has designated April as Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month to recognize the many ways Sikh Americans have influenced American history, achievement, culture, and innovation.

Check out these books about food, cooking, and restaurants.

I grew up on Tony Hillerman's classic mysteries featuring Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Officer Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police. But it's only in the last few years that the authors of books featuring indigenous sleuths started to resemble their characters. I know this is a somewhat limited selection--seven from the United States, one from New Zealand--but there will surely be more. I look forward to updating this list.

National Hispanic Heritage Month is annually celebrated from September 15 to October 15 in the United States for recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. Celebrate the month by reading an assortment of books from Latin American authors.

From feature films to documentaries, explore a wide range of stories of the Jewish experience. There is something for everyone to watch and enjoy.

Celebrate Pride Month with a great book!