Naruto, Vol. 37: Shikamaru's Battle

Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto, Vol. 37: Shikamaru's Battle. 2011. 200p. ISBN 9781421521732. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

In the wake of Asumi's devastating loss in Naruto Vol. 36, Shikamaru’s team is consumed by a single goal: revenge against the Akatsuki murderers who took their mentor. While the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, attempts to block their unsanctioned mission to prevent further casualties, Kakashi Hatake steps in to lead them, bridging the divide within the Leaf Village. The stakes couldn't be higher as the mysterious Akatsuki organization accelerates its brutal hunt for the bijū—the powerful Tailed Beasts—and the young jinchūriki who host them.

The target on Naruto’s back has never been larger. Though he has returned from his years of travel older and significantly stronger, the question remains: has his desperate, last-minute training been enough to counter the Akatsuki's supernatural abilities? As Shikamaru puts his brilliant tactical mind to the ultimate test against immortal enemies, Naruto must master a world-shaking new technique before his friends fall and the world loses its balance forever...

The story continues in Naturo, Vol. 38.

How to Be Free: A Proven Guide to Escaping Life's Hidden Prisons

Senghor, Shaka. How to Be Free: A Proven Guide to Escaping Life's Hidden Prisons. 2025. 272p. ISBN 9798893310511.

Imprisoned for killing a man, Senghor was sentenced to life. Up for parole after being in prison for 18 years,  he was denied and had to continue serving time. He had a choice: to give up or to change his life from the inside out. He chose hope and, in doing so, discovered that his biggest problems were not the prison walls, but the mental barriers he had built for himself, like fear and guilt. This realization helped him learn powerful truths about what it means to be truly free, lessons that can help anyone improve their relationships and achieve success, regardless of their situation.

Through his compelling personal story, How to Be Free shows that everyone deals with their own invisible chains that hold them back. Drawing on his incredible journey from solitary confinement to a leadership position in a company, he offers more than just inspiration. He provides a real, proven plan for change. The book offers practical, everyday practices, such as journaling and meditation, to help you turn your goals into action and break free from what's holding you back, so you can reach your full potential.

Bog Queen

North, Anna. Bog Queen. 2025. 288p. ISBN 9781635579666.

When a perfectly preserved body is discovered in a bog in northwest England, Agnes, an American forensic anthropologist, is called in to investigate. This is unlike any case she has ever encountered: though the bones confirm the person was buried over two thousand years ago during the Iron Age, the body remains miraculously preserved. Agnes quickly becomes drawn into a profound mystery, feeling an almost primal call to understand and avenge the death of an Iron Age woman who, despite the centuries, feels more like her than she realizes.

As she works, Agnes must contend with local forces: peat-cutters who seek to profit from the rich bog and passionate activists who demand the ancient land be left undisturbed. The bog itself becomes a central character—a complex repository of artifacts and remains with its own dark, powerful stories to tell. Flashing between the uncertainty of post-Brexit England and the druidic order of Celtic Europe at the dawn of the Roman era, Bog Queen forces Agnes to question everything she thought she knew about her own talents, her self-reliance, and her place in the world.

This is a captivating read for fans of historical mystery, archaeological thrillers, and dual-timeline narratives that focus on place and atmosphere. It will strongly appeal to readers who enjoy stories that blend forensic science and ancient history, particularly those featuring female protagonists with deep connections to the past. The book's rich, complex landscape of the bog, both as a setting and a repository of history, makes it an excellent choice for those who value literary quality and political undertones within a suspenseful framework.

Schooled

Sumner, Jamie. Schooled. 2023. 224p. ISBN 9781534486058.

Eleven-year-old Lenny Syms is chosen to be part of an unusual experimental school, where he and four other students will attend sixth grade on a university campus. They are promised a world-class education with brilliant professors and extensive resources. However, the curriculum is far from traditional. Instead of standard academic subjects, the students engage in unconventional activities like meditation, open-ended discussions, and anthropological observation of the campus population. Lenny, who is still grieving the recent loss of his mom, who died from cancer, finds this strange new environment overwhelming.

Struggling with his grief and a distant father who is more comfortable with academia than with people, Lenny feels isolated and just wants to be left alone. He has no interest in being a part of this learning experiment. To navigate his new life as a middle schooler on a college campus, Lenny must learn to rely on the support of his fellow misfit students and a quirky professor. Schooled explores whether this small, unconventional group can help him overcome his sadness and re-engage with the world.

Track Team Titans

Peters, Stephanie and Aburtov, Illustrator. Track Team Titans. 2011. 56p. ISBN 9781434293510. Available as a graphic novel on the library shelves.

Gerald "Sully" Sullivan is ready and eager for the upcoming track season, but his enthusiasm is quickly dampened on the first day of tryouts when no other students show up. Facing the prospect of the Titans track team being canceled due to a lack of members, Sully takes it upon himself to recruit potential runners from other parts of the school's athletic program. He visits the star athletes on the better-established sports teams, hoping their raw talent will be enough to save the track season.

Sully's recruitment efforts are met with immediate resistance, as the other athletes generally dismiss track and field as an inferior or less challenging sport. To change their minds and secure the members needed to keep the team alive, Sully realizes he must prove that track athletes are just as formidable as any other. He is forced into a series of high-stakes compromises: he must beat the star athletes at their own games if he hopes to convince them to join the Titans.

Readers who enjoy fast-paced sports fiction and high school rivalry narratives where an underdog sport or team must fight for survival and respect will enjoy this book. Sully's story showcases determination, team spirit, and the satisfying moments when characters successfully challenge common assumptions about talent and skill.

Three Revolutions: Russia, China, Cuba and the Epic Journeys that Changed the World

Hall, Simon. Three Revolutions: Russia, China, Cuba and the Epic Journeys that Changed the World. 

The history of the 20th century was fundamentally reshaped by three major political upheavals: the Russian, Chinese, and Cuban revolutions. This book tells the stories of these epoch-defining events by focusing on the parallel, epic journeys at their core. These include Lenin's return to Russia in 1917, Mao's legendary Long March across China, and Fidel Castro's triumphant arrival in Havana. These journeys not only defined the paths of the revolutionary leaders but also laid the groundwork for the profound changes that would transform their respective countries.

In addition to the revolutionary leaders, the book also highlights the journeys of three extraordinary journalists—John Reed, Edgar Snow, and Herbert L. Matthews. Their firsthand accounts from the frontlines were pivotal in shaping the global understanding of these revolutions. By weaving together these six parallel narratives, the author vividly brings these exhilarating events to life. Three Revolutions explores key themes such as the nature of political power, the limits of idealism, and the critical role of the journalist, raising questions that are just as urgent today as they were a century ago.

Family of Spies

Kuehn, Christine. Family of Spies. 2025. 272p. ISBN 9781250344465.

The Kuehn family always had secrets, and Christine's father, Eberhard, rarely talked about his parents or his life as a teenager in Hawaii during the Second World War. Christine began to unravel her family's past when she received a bewildering phone call from a screenwriter, asking about her family’s connection to World War II and Nazi spies. Confronting her seventy-year-old father, Christine discovers that the Kuehns, a prominent Berlin family, initially embraced the rise of the Nazis as a means of escaping hard times. This led to Eberhard's sister, Ruth, starting an affair with Nazi leader Joseph Goebbels.

The affair ended violently when Goebbels discovered Ruth was half Jewish. Instead of executing her, he made a cold decision: he sent the entire Kuehn family to Hawaii to work as spies, shielding young Eberhard from the truth. From their home just miles from Pearl Harbor, Ruth and her parents established an intricate spy operation, passing crucial secrets to the Japanese. This intelligence contributed directly to the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. After Eberhard’s father was arrested and tried for his involvement, Eberhard finally learned the brutal truth, forcing him to make a fateful decision that would change the course of his family forever.

A compelling read for fans of World War II historical non-fiction, espionage thrillers, and true crime, Family of Spies will appeal strongly to readers interested in the attack on Pearl Harbor and the role of foreign agents operating on American soil during WWII. Kuehn's use of a dual timeline—the modern-day search for truth contrasted with the high-stakes 1940s spy operation—creates gripping suspense, making it an excellent choice for those who love deep, character-driven historical investigations.