Win, Lose, or Die

Gardner, John. Win, Lose, or Die. Book 8 of the James Bond series. 1989. 319p. ISBN 9780425122617.

M receives intelligence that BAST (Brotherhood of Anarchy and Secret Terrorism) plans to infiltrate and destroy the "Stewards' Meeting," a top-secret summit aboard a Royal Navy aircraft carrier involving President George H. W. Bush, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. To counter this threat, James Bond is reactivated to duty in the Royal Navy and promoted to Captain, tasked with infiltrating HMS Invincible to identify potential sleeper agents before the summit, scheduled a year later.

In the months leading up to the summit, Bond undergoes training to fly a Navy Sea Harrier jet. BAST, aware of his mission, attempts to eliminate him, first during a training exercise and later while he is on holiday in Italy, where his girlfriend, Beatrice Maria da Ricci, is seemingly killed. Upon returning, Bond boards HMS Invincible to manage security for the "Stewards' Meeting" amidst a massive joint war game, Landsea '89. However, he soon finds himself at the center of a murder investigation involving an American Naval Intelligence officer, and while he leaves to report the incident, BAST seizes the opportunity to capture the ship and hold the world leaders for a staggering $600 billion ransom.

Bleach, Vol. 8: The Blade and Me

Kubo, Tite. Bleach, Vol. 8: The Blade and Me. 2005. 200p. ISBN 9781591168072. Available in the graphic novels section of the library. 

Following Rukia's arrest in Bleach, Vol. 7, Ichigo recognizes that rescuing her from the Soul Society necessitates his entry into that spiritual realm. However, his recent confrontation with Rukia's brother, Byakuya, unequivocally demonstrated the extensive and rigorous training he still requires. To prepare for this formidable task, Ichigo descends deep beneath Kisuke Urahara's Shoten, where he dedicates himself to honing his fighting skills and refining his spiritual energies.

Now, Ichigo faces his most daunting challenge yet: he must prevent his Chain of Fate from self-consumption. Failure to do so carries a dire consequence—he risks being irrevocably transformed into a soul-devouring Hollow, a monstrous entity he has sworn to fight. This critical struggle underscores the immense stakes of his training and the perilous path he must navigate to save Rukia. Fortunately for him, he is joined by Chad, Orihime, and Uryu as they travel to the the Soul Society.

The story continues in Bleach, Vol. 9.

The Big Splash

Ahn, Angela. The Big Splash. Book 2 of the Julia on the Go! series. 2025. 176p. ISBN 9781774882078.

Julia and her Vipers swim team are thrown into disarray when their beloved Coach Marissa has to leave due to a family emergency. She is replaced by the stern and humorless Coach Nathan. His strict methods, devoid of any fun, lead to discontent among the team, with some members even quitting. To add to their woes, Coach Nathan tasks them with organizing a car wash fundraiser in a very short time, a task met with little enthusiasm.

However, the team's perspective shifts when they discover that an impending increase in pool rental fees threatens their practice time and even the team's existence. Julia steps up to lead the fundraising efforts, rallying the Vipers to action. In the process, she gains a deeper understanding of her perceived nemesis, Olivia, and the seemingly cold Coach Nathan. This experience teaches Julia that initial judgments can be misleading, and that working together can lead to unexpected discoveries and stronger team bonds.

High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy

Joseph, Judith. High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy. 2025. 320p. ISBN 9780316577298.

Many individuals experience periods where life simply feels "off," characterized by a pervasive lack of joy, a pessimistic outlook, and disinterest in previously cherished activities. On the surface, they may appear productive and engaged in their work, home life, and social circles, effectively masking an internal struggle. This façade of normalcy often conceals a state of barely surviving, rather than one of genuine thriving.

This subtle yet debilitating condition is often a lesser-known form of depression: High-Functioning Depression (HFD). Unlike the more commonly recognized image of severe sadness and incapacitation, HFD allows individuals to maintain daily responsibilities, leaving them puzzled by their suffering and unsure how to address it. High Functioning aims to redefine this condition, asserting that these feelings are more than mere "negativity" or stress. Drawing on research, client experiences, and her own battle with HFD, the author provides five practical tools—validation, venting, values, vision, and vitals—to empower readers to reclaim their lives, fostering greater happiness, more satisfying relationships, and renewed joy in the present and future.

Readers who suffer from HFD or who wonder if they may be affected by it will appreciate the vivid descriptions of what HFD looks like. They will also find the strategies to deal with HFD helpful in their own lives or in that of their loved ones.

Titan of the Stars

 Johnston, E.K. Titan of the Stars. 2025. 304p. ISBN 9781774884089.

Celeste, an apprentice engineer, is intimately familiar with every part of the Titan, a ship on which she takes immense pride in her work. As the vessel embarks on its inaugural journey from Earth to Mars, she is filled with optimism, envisioning a promising new life ahead. In contrast, Dominic, a passenger, feels a suffocating anxiety upon arriving in his suite. He feels trapped within his father's prized new ship and the life his father has meticulously planned for him, a future that forces him to abandon his aspirations of attending art school.

The maiden voyage takes a terrifying turn when ancient aliens, recently discovered beneath melted ice caps, are brought aboard the Titan for display and passenger amusement. However, an act of sabotage unleashes these extraterrestrial beings, who then move indiscriminately through the ship, showing no regard for class distinctions, deck assignments, or human life. This catastrophic event plunges both Celeste and Dominic, along with all others aboard, into a desperate struggle for survival against an unexpected and deadly threat.

Dust

Bowling, Dusti. Dust. 2023. 304p. ISBN 9780316414234.

Avalyn, who moved to Clear Canyon City, Arizona, ten years ago for its dry air after a near-fatal asthma attack, finds her ability to breathe freely threatened by the arrival of Adam. Adam, a quiet and disheveled new student, immediately becomes a target for the bullies who have long tormented Avalyn and her friends. As Avalyn gets to know him, she begins to suspect a supernatural connection between his emotional state and the sudden, strange increase in dust storms plaguing the town.

The situation escalates as massive black walls of dust begin to roll in after school, hinting at more severe problems in Adam's home life. Avalyn is faced with the daunting task of standing up for her new friend, a decision that could have profound implications for her own well-being, as her very ability to breathe seems to depend on it. 

While the premise offers an intriguing blend of supernatural elements and social commentary, the execution struggles to fully develop the emotional depth of Avalyn's connection to Adam's powers, leaving the magical realism feeling underdeveloped in favor of the interpersonal drama. Readers will still appreciate this tale of resilience and will cheer Avalyn on as she tries to help another person who really needs it!

My Hero Academia, Vol. 8

Horikoshi, Kohei. My Hero Academia, Vol. 8. 2017. 192p. ISBN 9781421591674. Available in the graphic novels section of the library. 

Following their confrontation with Stain in My Hero Academia, Vol. 7, the students of U.A. High are facing the highly anticipated practical phase of their final exams, which comes with an unexpected twist: they must defeat their own teachers to pass if they want to attend summer camp. This challenging setup pits Midoriya, the protagonist, against his powerful mentor, All Might, in a particularly difficult matchup. To complicate matters further, Midoriya is paired with his archrival, Bakugo, forcing the two to cooperate despite their contentious relationship. The central question for Midoriya becomes whether he can push his limits and overcome All Might, a task that seems almost insurmountable.

Meanwhile, in a separate arena, other students, such as Yaoyorozu and Todoroki, are enduring equally intense struggles against their own instructors. As these demanding final exams unfold, the students are unaware that a sinister new adversary is secretly preparing to make their move, setting the stage for future conflicts beyond the immediate challenges of the exams.

The story continues in My Hero Academia, Vol. 9.