Adapt: Mastering change in four steps

Clarke, Andrea. Adapt: Mastering Change in Four Steps. 2025. ISBN 9781761632440.

Adapt argues that the post-2020 world is characterized by an accelerating pace of change, blurred professional boundaries, shifting social norms, and rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. Our current mindset for addressing these profound shifts is outdated and inadequate. Instead of resisting or retreating from this constant flux, we must continuously engage with change, learning to anticipate and actively shape it to our advantage.

Argue provides practical tools to help individuals and leaders navigate this unpredictable environment. Several strategies can be employed, such as scanning for signals of change to minimize disruption, applying the "good advice test" for improved decision-making, utilizing the 80/20 rule to uncover hidden opportunities, and safeguarding personal well-being with the "energy curve." Ultimately, Adapt reframes change not as a threat, but as a powerful catalyst for personal growth, new opportunities, and meaningful progress, equipping readers to master an ever-evolving world.

Blades of Freedom: A Tale of Haiti, Napoleon, and the Louisiana Purchase

Hale, Nathan. Blades of Freedom: A Tale of Haiti, Napoleon, and the Louisiana Purchase. Book 10 of the Harzardous Tales series. 2020. 128p. ISBN 9781419746918. Available at 973.1 HAL on the library shelves.

The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 is widely regarded as one of history's most advantageous deals, yet the reasons behind Napoleon Bonaparte's decision to sell such a vast and seemingly prosperous territory are rooted in the complex dynamics of his colonial ambitions. At the time, France controlled Haiti, a lucrative sugar colony heavily reliant on enslaved labor. However, this control was dramatically challenged by the Haitian Revolution, a massive slave uprising led by Toussaint Louverture, which began in 1791 and ultimately secured Haiti's independence.

Napoleon had initially envisioned Louisiana as a crucial trading hub to support his burgeoning French empire in North America. With Haiti, his primary Caribbean possession, slipping from his grasp due to the successful slave revolt, his grand imperial designs for the continent appeared unsustainable. Consequently, when Thomas Jefferson and James Madison approached him with an offer to purchase only New Orleans, a strategically vital port, Napoleon seized the opportunity to divest himself of the entire Louisiana Territory, effectively abandoning his North American imperial aspirations.

Continuing in the spirit of Nathan Hales' Hazardous Tales, Blades of Freedom illustrates the battles that led to the first Black Republic. Fans of history will appreciate the details and will learn about a little-known period in history.

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.