Cambridge High School Library 2025

 By: David Lipsky  Location: NF 304.25 LIP Genre: Climate and the Science of Denial Featuring an indelible cast of heroes and villains, mavericks and swindlers,  The Parrot and the Igloo  delivers a real-life tragicomedy—one that captures the extraordinary dance of science, money, and the American character. Climate change has become an unavoidable fact and ongoing catastrophe. The science was clear decades ago. How did so many Americans come to doubt evidence so widely accepted and compelling?The Parrot and the Igloo is the thrilling narrative of our grand lost the story of the inventors (Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse) who made our world; the scientists who bravely sounded the alarm; and then the hucksters, dreamers, zealots, and crackpots who lied about that science. David Lipsky masterfully shows how climate denial grew out of early efforts to build a network of untruth about products like aspirin and cigarettes, revealing the infrastructure that allowed denier idea...

 By: Danielle Giles  Location: FIC GIL Genre: Mythology Mere  is an accomplished atmospheric debut novel by Danielle Giles. With lyrical writing, she imbues a sense of creeping foreboding and entrapment transporting the reader to an isolated convent surrounded by marshlands and ice-cold water and less than 200 souls. The novel explores themes of faith, superstition, manipulation, sexuality and politics, narrated in lyrical prose, revealing a unique new voice in English literature. Giles has innate talent in blending historical fiction and folklore elements, creating a compelling narrative with superb imagery that makes you feel the dampness of the mere and looming presence of an ancient power.  “I feel no evil in it. No good either. It is vast and old and slow.”- Carl The mere has fingers. Clever fingers to reach through the marsh and wrap around little ankles. Strong arms to pull poor sinners downwards. And a great gaping belly that can never be filled . . . Mere ...

 By: Elise Kova  Location: FIC KOV Genre: Romantasy This novel is magic! I absolutely loved it! - connie  What does Nilufer say:  By the time I reached the final pages, I was desperate for more. Arcana Academy delivers everything I crave in a fantasy novel—high-stakes magic, a dangerous yet alluring academy setting, characters who are flawed but oh-so-easy to love, and a romance that burns. If you love dark academia, cunning heroines, and books that leave you breathless, DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS ONE. A woman who wields magical tarot cards lands herself in a false engagement with the headmaster of a mysterious academy in this first installment of an enthralling fantasy romance series from the bestselling author of  A Deal with the Elf King . Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic. After a job gone awry, Clara is sentenced to a lifetime in prison for inking tarot cards-a rare power reserved ...

 By: Jared savage  Location: NF  364.0 SAV Genre: NZ Gangs "An interesting insight to the NZ underground. The story is told by telling a different story in each chapter. Savage does a great job of tying these stories together to show the picture of what he is writing about." Cam Yaxley The much anticipated follow-up to the bestseller that exposed the escalation of organised crime in New Zealand.Gangster's Paradise is about drugs, guns, gangs and money. Lots of money. A gang which took over a small rural town. A police officer shot and killed in a routine traffic stop. A port-worker who helped a gang whisk a shipping container off a wharf in the middle of the night. A crew of corrupt baggage handlers smuggling meth into the country during Covid lockdowns. A shooting inside a 5-star hotel in broad daylight. Turf wars, retaliation, and new gangs like the Mongols and Comancheros have brought with them better connections with international syndicates, challenging the establish...

 By: Luanne G Smith  Location: FIC SMI Genre: Fantasy- Historical Fiction We have a blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal all mixed into one. Set during World War 1, the war is being fought by humans, but added into the mix are undead creatures such as zombies and vampires. Witches have also been thrown into the mix and are causing chaos and death on both sides with no end in sight.- Michelle As World War I rages, there are evils―both living and dead―that only a witch can see in a spellbinding novel by the Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestselling author of The Raven Spell . With her husband off fighting at World War I’s eastern front, Petra Kurková embraces her fleeting freedom, roaming the city at night with her camera. A born witch, she’s discovered that she can capture the souls of the dead on film. Her supernatural skills don’t go unnoticed by the enigmatic Josef Svoboda. He’s recruiting a team of sorcerers to infiltrate the front lines, where the b...

 By: Brigid Kemmerer  Location: FIC ROM Genre: Romantasy Fates collide and passions ignite in  New York Times  bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer’s steamy adult fantasy debut about three characters torn between chasing, betraying, and craving each other: a princess caught between duty and desire, the fearsome warrior king she’s promised to, and the assassin now tasked with hunting them down. WARRIOR.  King Maddox Kyronan’s fire magic has earned him a ruthless reputation on the battlefield, but now his land is slowly burning. Ky’s only chance to save his people is to enter a marriage alliance with the neighboring nation of Astranza, and hope that their royal family’s power to manipulate the weather will help his kingdom flourish once more. He just needs to ensure no one finds out how this blaze began. PRINCESS.  With enemies advancing on Astranza, Princess Jory’s home needs the protection of the fearsome warrior king, but she is hiding a dangerous secret: he...

 By: Monique Turner Location: FIC TUR Genre: Teenage Life “It’s like nothing they do or say can ever match up to the image I created of them inside my own head. I wonder what image the audience has of me, and whether it matches up to who I really am.” Funny, dramatic, sometimes dark and bang on trend, this thrilling YA novel is perfect for those who love a  Black Mirror  twist. Harper wants to be an influencer. Badly. She’ll do anything to be like her famous cousin, Belle. When Belle is the latest 'victim' in a string of influencer kidnappings, and is put on an island for a new reality show, Harper wants in too. It's her chance to join the greatest talents and finally make a name for herself. But with demeaning tasks and the constant pressure of a live audience judging their every move, it's not long before cracks begin to appear in the influencers' shiny veneers . . .

 By: H G Parry   Location: FIC PAR Location: Fantasy “I had no idea I was so susceptible to kings.” ―  H.G. Parry,  A Far Better Thing Review by Leanna This was A Tale of Two Cities with fae magic —and I loved every dark, emotional, beautifully written moment of it. H.G. Parry blends historical fiction and fantasy so seamlessly, it feels like this version was meant to exist all along. The story is moody, atmospheric, and full of complicated characters, slow-burn tension, and big emotional payoffs. If you’re into dark retellings, magical realism, or just love a good cry over morally messy characters, this one definitely deserves a spot on your TBR. I recently obtained the audiobook from Macmillan audio of this and don’t miss out on it it was an excellent listen the narrator was top knotch. H. G. Parry’s A Far Better Thing is a standalone, portal fantasy where Jonathan Strange & Mr. NorrelI meets A Tale of Two Cities in a heart-rending fantasy of faery revenge...

 By: Lynn Painter    Location: FIC PAI Genre:  Romance Nilufer-  My favorite time loop movie concept Groundhog Day meets my favorite playing hooky YA movie concept Ferris Bueller’s Day off! This book was talking to my Gen X soul !  It’s easy to devour, enjoyable pop corn read I highly recommend! In this “unequivocally hilarious and delightful” ( Kirkus Reviews ) young adult romp for fans of Recommended for You and A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow , a teen girl has the worst Valentine’s Day ever—only to relive it over and over again. After living through a dumpster fire of a Valentine’s Day, Emilie Hornby escapes to her grandmother’s house for some comfort and a consolation pint of Ben & Jerry’s. She passes out on the couch, but when she wakes up, she’s back home in her own bed—and it’s Valentine’s Day all over again. And the next day? Another horrendous V-Day. Emilie is stuck in some sort of time loop nightmare that she can’t wake up from as she...

By: Kate Foster  Location: FIC FOS Genre: Animals The Bravest Word is well written for a child's level of understanding. It is a story that will help a child suffering from depression to open up and will also build empathy in other children as they come to understand the conditi on. A rescue story of love and trust between a boy and a dog from the talented author of PAWS. "Do you hear that? You’re Cliff now, and your life is going to get better, I promise." When eleven-year-old Matt finds Cliff, a hurt, neglected dog abandoned in the bush, he knows the brave little pup needs saving. He wants to help. But can he? Lately, Matt has had way more bad days than good days. The pieces of his life just don’t seem to fit together any more and he doesn’t understand why. He's finding it impossible to concentrate at school and has lost interest in the activities he used to love. Plus, he’s tired all the time. Matt's too afraid to share what's really going on in his own hea...

 By: Moira Buffini   Location: FIC BUF Genre: Dystopia with some romance Series: The Torch  Trilogy#! review by emma Absolutely brilliant! I loved this dystopian story where those with songlight are ‘unhuman’ and dehumanised in the worst possible way, once caught. Where propaganda maintains a war, the people unaware of the State’s true agenda. Many of the tropes you’d expect to find are here, so in that sense, nothing original, but it’s done really well, which makes all the difference. I enjoyed all the characters, evil ones too! Set in a post-apocalyptic future, Songlight is an extraordinary debut from a renowned screenwriter. A cinematic masterpiece in storytelling, the explosive first book in the Torch trilogy is the hottest release of the decade! They are hunting those who shine . . . Don't be deceived by Northaven’s prettiness, by its white-wash houses and its sea views. In truth, many of its townsfolk are ruthless hunters. They revile those who have developed s...

 By: Ray Bailey Location: NF 920 BAI Genre: WWII n 1940, Private Raymond Bailey, a 21-year-old Vauxhall motors apprentice, was captured in northern France, becoming a Nazi prisoner of war. But he wouldn't remain one for long... The Longest Walk Home  is the incredible account of his daring 2,000 mile escape across Europe and over the Pyrenees, to the safety of British Gibraltar, and home in time for Christmas. Along the way Ray has nerve-shredding encounters with German soldiers and the Spanish Civil Guard. Often he is exhausted and starving. All that keeps him going is his youthful energy, unfailing optimism, and the kindness of strangers who risk their own safety to help him. Ray's escape is remarkable, but so too is his memoir. It was written within a year or two of the events it describes, when Ray was just 22, and despite Ray's obvious writing talent it was lost for decades until it was discovered at auction in an unmarked box of WWII memorabilia by David Wilkins. Ray...

 By: Chris Chibnall  Location: FIC CHI Genre: Mystery From the internationally award-winning creator of  Broadchurch  comes a brilliant new detective story following one man’s death and the secrets that unravel in a coastal English village. Nothing keeps a village together like secrets. The villagers of Fleetcombe like to think of it as one of the most picturesque spots on England’s seaside. But now, it’s a crime scene. A man is found dead, tied to a chair in the middle of the road, with a stag’s antler’s on his head. The gruesome scene stuns the town, especially when they learn that it is Jim Tiernan, owner of the White Hart pub, who has been found murdered. Is it a personal vendetta, or something more macabre? Tierney’s pub is at the center of village life and he knew everyone’s secrets. Detective Nicola Bridge grew up in Fleetcombe, and has been craving a juicy case ever since she moved back from the big city. DC Harry Ward is ten years younger, and their partners...

 By: Michiko Aoyama  Location: FIC AOY- with all our other Japanese Translated Books  Genre: Realistic Fiction Im loving these translated Japanese novels- they take a slice of life  then wrap it around a constant- like a train station, or a library, or a restaurant.   They are written with inter connected short stories to make a whole . This one is about a  hippo in a playground. The stories are quietly powerful, showing a window into each character's life, and focusing on community, friendship, and family. Discover the enchanting new feelgood novel where five overlapping lives seek comfort from a magical hippo ride. Nestling at the bottom of a five-storey apartment block in the community of Advance Hill is the children's playground, Hinode Park, where you will find a very special hippo ride. According to urban legend, if you touch it with the area of your body that needs comfort, you will see swift signs of recovery. Meet a couple of the neighbours wh...

 By: Patrick Ness Location: FIC NES Genre: Humour The second book in the absurdly funny Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody series by multi-award-winning author Patrick Ness. When Daniel arrives at the school bus stop sporting a salmon-coloured hat, Zeke is shocked. Don’t only birds wear hats? As if this isn’t strange enough, the school suddenly has a new student – a fish of all things – and a mysterious new Guidance Counsellor. Meanwhile, Zeke’s friends seem to have ditched him, and even his old nemesis won't give him the time of day. So when somebody melts his house with the Death Ray of Death – twice – Zeke has had enough. Just who is sabotaging his life – and why? Review by marianne Once again, Ness gives us all important things to consider, stuff that many school kids have to face daily: hurt feelings, confusion, powerlessness, loneliness, unwritten rules, and dubious advice from a school counsellor. Though trying to overcome primal urges, as Miel the hawk has to when he encounters ...

 By: Olivia O'Flynn  Location: FIC OFL Genre: Romantasy “She was made of magic and wrath.” Love, mythology and magic collide in a delicious, action-packed new romantasy series from Australian author and award-winning podcaster Olivia O'Flynn, for all fans of Sarah A Parker, Rebecca Ross and Rebecca Yarros. She was made of magic and wrath ... In a world fractured by belief, the ruling gods lay claim to Ever - the ancient magic that sustains the lands. But the Ever is failing, and the gods have turned their wrath on the Ever Blessed, the mortals gifted with access to its deteriorating power. Wars rage, the land withers under an unyielding blight, and the witches cower behind weakening shields ... all while the gods revel in chaos from their isle of luxury. Captain Elva, warrior princess of Vettona, appears to be the kingdom's last hope for peace. Promised in marriage to the handsome yet infuriating Fynton, heir to the throne of rival Clochain, she must navigate a fragile alli...

 By: Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray    Location: FIC MUR Genre: Historical Fiction  “The deeper we each read, the more we would understand about this world” The remarkable, little-known story of Belle da Costa Greene, J.P. Morgan's personal librarian - who became one of the most powerful women in New York despite the dangerous secret she kept in order to make her dreams come true, from  'New York Times'  best-selling author Marie Benedict and acclaimed author Victoria Christopher Murray. In her late 20s, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J.P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture on the New York society scene and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps build a world-class collection. But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all cost...