Librarians' Picks of the Week

Each week, librarians from Montgomery County Public Libraries will pick a few books they think should be added to your summer reading list.

Take a look and let us know what you think of the read!

Hey, America, Your Roots are Showing: Adventures in discovering news-making connections, unexpected ancestors, long-hidden secrets, and solving historical puzzles by Megan Smolenyak

Section: Adult Nonfiction

Call Number: 929.1 SMO

A noted genealogist reveals what it is like to be a history detective using 21st-century techniques and technology, and discusses some of the cases she has solved, including the families of celebrities and work for the Army and the FBI.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Section: Juvenile Fiction

Publisher: New York: Harper, 2012

Age range: 8 to 12

When Ivan, a bored gorilla who has lived for 27 years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall, meets Ruby, a baby elephant newly added to the menagerie, he decides that he must find her a better life away from the abuse he has endured at the hands of humans.  An uplifting animal fantasy that explores the power of friendship, art, and hope with humor and touching poignancy.

Chronic City by Jonathan Lethem

Section: Adult Fiction

Exchanging love letters with a fiancee who is trapped on the International Space Station, Chase Insteadman apathetically attends social engagements before pop critic Perkus Tooth introduces him to a side of Manhattan that causes Chase to question everything he believes. [Annotation from Baker & Taylor]

The Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardt

Section: Young Adult Fiction

Age range: 14 and up

When his popular older brother Boaz returns from a three-year tour of duty in an incomprehensible war, Levi, who wearies of being compared to his superstar brother, instantly realizes that Boaz has been dramatically changed by his experiences. [Annotation from Baker & Taylor]