Library's favorite books read in 2023
We asked our staff what they loved reading this year. Here are their answers.
| Book Title | Genre | Author(s) | Staff comments/name | |
 | The Adventure Zone: The Eleventh Hour | Fantasy/Humor | Clint McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Travis McElroy, Justin McElroy, Carey Pietsch | Fun adventure based on a Dungeons & Dragons Podcast! -- Emmi, Library Specialist |
 | I'm Glad My Mom Died | Biography | Jennette McCurdy | A Haunting biography about parental abuse and child fame. My heart broke for her over and over again. -- Autumn, Library Specialist |
 | Fourth Wing | Fantasy | Rebecca Yarros | This book kept me hooked from page one! High fantasy, epic world-building and characters you root for make this book a must read! -- Autumn, Library Specialist |
 | The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder | Historical Non-fiction | David Grann | A historical thriller, suspenseful and engaging. David Grann is a master storyteller, drawing on a trove of firsthand accounts. -- Debbie, Library Specialist |
 | Crow Mary | Montana Historical Fiction | Kathleen Grissom | A historical saga inspired by the true story of Crow Mary. This is an ambitious account of bravery and initiative of a Crow woman who married a white fur trader in the late 1800s Montana. -- Debbie, Library Specialist |
 | Murtagh (Sequel to the Inheritance Series) | YA Fantasy | Christopher Paolini | A great reunion for Eragon fans, this follow-up will not disappoint. Murtagh is well characterized and he causes the story to happen and moves the plot through his actions and choices. -- Debbie, Library Specialist |
 | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | Civil Rights | Isabel Wilkerson | I found this book to be fascinating, informative and heartbreaking. Although I have read many books in this genre, this book presented a lot of new info and history. -- Amanda, Library Specialist |
 | The Blood of Olympus | YA/Fantasy | Rick Riordan | An amazing conclusion to the second Percy Jackson series. I'm not ashamed to say that this book made me cry more than once while reading! -- Ian, Resource Sharing Coordinator |
 | Starfish | YA Fiction/poetry | Lisa Fipps | A short, powerful book. A great read for anyone who has ever felt like they take up too much space. It proves there is room for everyone! -- Ian, Resource Sharing Coordinator |
 | System Collapse | Science Fiction | Martha Wells | The latest book in Martha's Murderbot Diaries series is a spectacular entry in a spectacular series full of Murderbot's iconic snark. This is a book that changed my brain chemistry! -- Reed, Library Specialist AND Susie, Library Director |
 | The Nightingale | Historical Fiction | Kristin Hannah | This book made me laugh out loud, cry in front of strangers and gasp in horror. It is an absolute masterpiece. -- Sarah, Community Engagement Coordinator |
 | The Many Daughters of Afong Moy | Fiction | Jamie Ford | Jamie Ford weaves narratives together between multiple time periods, and multiple characters yet you never feel lost. I couldn't put this down! -- Jake, Communications Coordinator |
 | The Saturday Night Ghost Club | Fiction | Craig Davidson | There's so much more to this book than you'd assume by its cover. It is easily one of my favorites! An adult brain surgeon is reflecting on spooky childhood experiences and reveals how vulnerable our minds can be! -- Jess, Bookmobile Coordinator |
 | These Infinite Threads | Fantasy | Tahereh Mafi | This is book two in the Woven Kingdom series. It has great romance, magic and an enchanting seamstress. -- Susie, Library Director |
 | The Olympian Affair | Fantasy | Jim Butcher | The second book in the Cinder Spires series, it has talking cats, magic and pirates! -- Susie, Library Director |
 | The Golden Enclaves | Fantasy | Naomi Novik | A fantastic finale to the Scholomance Series. See how Galadriel survives graduation and saves the world! -- Susie, Library Director |
 | Myth of Normal | Non-fiction | Gabor Maté | An insightful look at the causes of illness - understanding trauma and the connections to physical health. -- Susie, Library Director |
 | The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of US History | History | Ned Blackhawk | This book rewrites US history from the point of view of the Indigenous People who were on this continent millennia before the Europeans colonized. I recommend reading it and taking it seriously! -- Jessica, Board Member |
 | He Who Fights With Monsters | Fantasy | Travis Deverell | This is a book for anyone who is a fan of isekai, video games, and flippant Aussie humor. A hilarious yet genuine, epic fantasy story. -- Reed, Library Specialist |
Sufficiently Advanced Magic | Fantasy | Andrew Rowe | With a story where the epic fantasy machinations take a backseat to personal goals, friendships and allegiances are never unchanging. This book kept me guessing for the whole read. -- Reed, Library Specialist | |
 | Waybound | Fantasy | Will Wight | The final book in the Cradle series does an amazing job of tying up the whole series, showcasing the epic atmosphere of a cultivation/xianxia story's finale. -- Reed, Library Specialist |
 | Great Falls, MT : Fast Times, Post-punk Weirdos, and a Tale of Coming Home Again | Memoir/Humor | Reggie Watts | Reggie's love letter to Great Falls is filled with spectacular insight into his upbringing and what made him who he is. It's a refreshing side to the man that other comics rarely show with such honesty and wit. -- Jake, Communications Coordinator |
 | We Had a Little Real Estate Problem: the Unheralded Story of Native Americans in Comedy | Creative Nonfiction | Kliph Nesteroff | This book tells the little known history of Native Americans in comedy, how they helped influence the landscape of modern comedy, and emphasizes the importance of laughter and joy across Native cultures. -- Reed, Library Specialist |
The Ten Thousand Doors of January | Fiction | Alix E. Harrow | I really enjoyed this book! -- Isa, Library Clerk, Technical Services | |
 | A Deadly Education | Fiction | Naomi Novik | Another Fantastic book! -- Isa, Library Clerk, Technical Services |
 | Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art | Autobiography | Gene Wilder | This is a must-read for anyone who may be feeling disheartened by humanity. Gene Wilder was a loving, genuine, and hilarious man! -- Jake. Communications Coordinator |
 | The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi | Historical Fiction | Shannon Chakraborty | A genre buster! Historical fiction and fantasy. Magic and mayhem on the high seas; a female pirate on the Indian Ocean. -- Debbie, Library Specialist |
