2025 Staff Favorites: Patrick's Favorites

Patrick is the Circulation Manager at Berwick Public Library and the newest member of our staff. Check out his favorite books and movies from this past year.

The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer, illustrated by John Burgoyne

Robin's Braiding Sweetgrass is a foundational book in my lexicon, so when I saw she had written a new book I was very excited. Even more so by its bite-sized page count, at barely over 100 pages it's a very digestible read. Robin makes a compelling argument that the economy of the natural world is one of abundance and reciprocity. She argues, through a series of delightful short stories about stolen farm stands and harvesting berries alongside songbirds, that this "gift" economy found in nature is one that was common in the pre-colonial world and offers us a community focused way forward for today. Reading this little book felt like a breath of fresh air in these interesting times. 

One Day I'll Grow Up and Be A Beautiful Woman: A Mother's Story by Abi Maxwell

I was lucky enough to hear Abi speak about her experience at the New Hampshire Library Association Spring conference this year, which is where I heard about the book. Her story of raising a trans daughter really hit home for me. While reading it I was dealing with trying to help the small NH community I worked for see the importance of inclusivity and representation. Abi, the mother and author, also worked as a librarian during her time in New Hampshire. And reading her struggles getting her small NH town to accept her daughter really resonated with me while I tried to find a way through my own situation. It was comforting in a way to know that I was not, and am not, alone.

Among the Burning Flowers by Samantha Shannon

A great choice for fans of Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, or The Wheel of Time. Samantha Shannon creates a compelling, believable fantasy world rooted in history and tradition. It's been 500 years since the Grief of Ages, when the fell drakes of the Nameless One rose up from the depths of the earth to rain their fire and monsters down on humanity. For the Crown princess of Yscalin, Marosa Vetalda, this means nothing, as her world has always been a prison. After her mother died trying to help them both escape, she has been under the thumb of her father the King, who is determined to keep her "safe" at home. Home will no longer be safe however when the Draconic Armies awaken once more, this time determined to wipe out humanity for good. The other two books in this series I affectionately call "doorstops". Each at roughly 900 pages, they are not for every casual reader. "Among the Burning Flowers" however, is a novella that further explores the world of the Roots of Chaos.

When the Tides Held the Moon by Vanessa Vida Kelley

This book is a romantic fantasy book set in 1911 New York. It follows Benny Caldera as he helps a team of carnies capture a merman for their sideshow. However, everything changes when Benny hears the merman speak. This book is a fully illustrated adult novel that was a passion project for the author/illustrator. Best known for their illustrations of romance covers for author Alexis Hall, this debut novel was a delightfully playful romp through early 20th century New York. One part "The Shape of Water", one part "The Greatest Showman", this book is as well written as it is beautiful.

Waitress the Musical

A recording of the Broadway musical based on the movie by the same name. I was lucky enough to see this musical on Broadway with the original cast. The musical score was written by one of my favorite artists, Sara Bareilles, who pulls a Lin -Manuel-Miranda a la Hamilton and performs as the main character in this film version. I wish that every Broadway show did a filming like this. Originally a way to help boost revenue during the Covid era, I just think it's an amazing way to bring this talent into more people's lives. Jenna, our protagonist, finds out she's pregnant after a drunken night with her abusive husband. What follows is an exciting series of twists and turns from all of our characters as they deal with love, passion, motherhood, and pies. The music in this play is phenomenal. You'll either have to trust me or check it out for yourself and see.

The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag

Do you ever read a YA book and go "this is for kids?" That's what I did with The Deep Dark. Mags feeds her blood to the monster that lives in her basement. Because without it, they would both perish. Then, her childhood friend Nessa returns to town from sunny California, sparking a romance. But when Nessa wants to get closer to Mags and learn her secrets, including the monster in her basement, trouble looms. Ostertag uses the monster as an allegory for the struggles of queer youth, which is depicted so well throughout the story. Mags is first ashamed of her monster, but as the story progresses we see her begin to learn to love it, often with Nessa's help. One of the things I really love about all of Ostertag's work is the way they weave queer identity into their stories, and this was no exception.