On the shelves - April 29

The following books are available at

Clovis Carver Public Library

"Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back" by Todd Burpo was given by Kelli Moore in memory of Stephen Jason Rudisill.

Colton Burpo, who underwent an emergency appendectomy when he was not yet four years old, told his mother and father that he left his body during the surgery, described exactly what his parents were doing while the operation was in progress, and related details about heaven where he saw long-departed family members.

"The Corn Maiden and Other Nightmares" by Joyce Carol Oates offers seven chilling, horrifying, and mesmerizing stories of suspense that may prompt the reader to turn on all the lights while remaining riveted to the page.

"Stephen Hawking: An Unfettered Mind" by Kitty Ferguson provides a close, captivating portrait of a legendary physicist who exhibits grace, dignity, and courage while coping with devastating disability, and details his long personal battle for survival in pursuit of a scientific understanding of the universe.

"The Forgotten Affairs of Youth: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel" by Alexander McCall Smith offers a new understanding of the meaning of family as an Australian philosopher, Jane Cooper, asks Isabel for help in finding her biological father although she can offer no other clue than that he was a student in Edinburgh years ago.

"Stone of Kings: In Search of the Lost Jade of the Maya" by Gerard Helferich describes how archaeologists, adventurers, and entrepreneurs rediscovered the lost origins of the stunning precious stones that were carved with the images of gods and kings, were revered by the ancient Maya as the most valuable and powerful substance in the universe, and were tied to the rise and fall of ancient civilizations that prized the gemstone above gold.

"Fallen" by Karin Slaughter catapults Special Agent Faith Mitchell into a nightmare when she returns home to find that her mother, who was minding Faith's new baby daughter, is missing, the baby is locked in the shed, her mother's safe is open, her gun is missing, and a trail of blood leads to the front door.

"Rez Life: An Indian's Journey Through Reservation Life" by David Treuer draws on the author's boy hood on the Ojibwe Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota to provide an insider's view of the long and complex history surrounding his own tribal lands and those of the more than three hundred Indians reservations in the United States today.

Portales Public Library

"Crystal Gardens" by Amanda Quick

Recently attacked, Evangeline Ames has moved out of London and into the outskirts of Little Dixby, far from her past. She finds herself fascinated by the paranormal energy of nearby Crystal Gardens and begins sneaking past the wall to explore the grounds.

Her life becomes threatened once again and she goes to the garden for safety. Overlooking her trespassing, Lucas Sebastian disposes the person who tried to kill her. Sebastian and Ames want to get down to why someone wants her killed and will work together to do so.

"Seriously, Just Go to Sleep" by Adam Mansbach

Trying to lay your child down to sleep is difficult, especially when he must go to the bathroom, or daddy needs to get that monster under the bed. I mean, seriously, you try to reason with him.

"Bitterblue" by Kristin Cashore

Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea, but the influence of her father lives on. Her advisors believe the only way to move forward from the violence Leck left behind, is to forget anything ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under a thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and revisiting the past is the only way to move forward.