By Grace W.
Stumped on where to look to find a great book? Never fear, a Brookfield librarian is here.
Novelist, Novelist K-8
These two sources are accessible to you through the Brookfield Public Library. Both of these websites are great resources for finding a book to read. One way to use this site is to type the title of one of your favorite books, or enter an author into the search bar at the top. After you type a book in and see it in the search results, you should see the following links to click on: “title read-alikes," “author read-alikes,” and “series read alikes.” These links will help you find books and authors that are similar to ones you already love. All of the suggestions include brief information about the book and a quick explanation on why it is similar to the book you searched.
Another way you can you use this site is to browse. You can browse by fiction and nonfiction, then you can further narrow your search down by age group and genre. Use the links below to access these sites or you can find them under the Online Resources section of our website.
GoodReads
This is another great source for finding a good book to read. A cool feature of GoodReads is that you can see reviews for pretty much every book on the site. You can see an average rating of 1-5 stars and you can also read written reviews. This can be a great way to gauge whether or not you want to read a book. Another handy tool this site offers is the ability to track the books you have already read, the books you want to read, and the books you are currently reading. In addition, this site also suggests similar books and more books by the same author when you select a title.
The “New” section
This is a great place to look if you want to find the latest books the library has to offer. The new YA section is across from the reference desk. We have new YA fiction, YA nonfiction, YA DVD, and video game sections.
Ask a Friend, Parent, Grandparent, or Librarian
We can oftentimes find ourselves reading the same types of books or reading the same authors over and over again. An easy way to get out of a reading rut is to gain a new perspective. Ask your friends, parents, siblings, and family members what their favorite books are; you might be surprised to find a new favorite from your grandma.
One of my favorite YA fiction books that I would recommend is Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys. This book is set in 1957 Madrid, and explores what life was like under Dictator Francisco Franco. I couldn't put it down!