Reviews

Staff Review
Cover of Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park - a series review

By Steven Spielberg
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Charles H
May 10, 2024

In 1824, the English theologian and geologist William Buckland wrote a description of a long dead animal he called a Megalosaurus or “great lizard.” Working from a 166 million year old piece of fossilized jawbone, Buckland imagined an amphibious creature about 60 feet in length and weighing upwards of 3 tons. His description and the naming of Iguanodon just a year later inspired biologist Richard Owen to coin the term Dinosauria to describe this emerging clade of the evolutionary tree. 

Staff Review
Book cover

Mother Tongue: The Surprising History of Women's Words

By Jenni Nuttall
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Chris K.
May 8, 2024

The author's biographical statement on the back flap of the jacket says that Nuttall has "had a lot of practice at making old words interesting," and it shows. I'd dare say reading this was even fun, along with being fascinating and very pointedly feminist. In this book, she explores the history of English words relating to women, to their bodies, social roles, and more. Specifically, she explores how our language has been shaped by patriarchal attitudes and has in turn worked to reinforce sexism.

Staff Review
A book cover with a black background and bright yellow letters spelling James

James

By Everett, Percivel
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Cheryl M.
Apr 15, 2024

If I had to use one word to summarize James by Percivel Everett, it would be stunning.  From code switching language, lessons in translation from proper English to "slave talk" (correct incorrect grammar) to appeasing white people to stay safe, to conversations with John Locke and Voltaire, James narrates his story in his voice.

Staff Review
smiling person with long wavy dark hair in a light green sweater

What Remains Unspoken Writing Contest

By Theresa Kopper

Rated by Helen H.
Mar 18, 2024

Johnson County Library is pleased to announce that Theresa Kopper has won our writing contest on the theme What Remains Unspoken with her piece "Tea with Diamonds'."

Theresa Kopper is an engineer,

and at night a tale teller

to her two toddlers.

What remains unspoken

Staff Review
NewBank's Black Life in America

Primary Sources

Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Karyn H
Mar 15, 2024

Students of all ages are tasked by their instructors to track down relevant primary sources for academic research papers.  These assignments can be both thrilling and stressful.  You must pick a topic, learn what and where to research, write the paper, and cite your sources.  I have a master’s degree in English, so I’ve been there.  The struggle is real.  The Johnson County Library offers patrons free access to several online databases spanning various disciplines to satisfy your academic research needs— and hopefully alleviate some of the stress.  Several of t

Staff Review
The cover of "Yumi and the Nightmare Painter" by Brandon Sanderson features an illustrated image of a male and a female in a floating, dramatic pose.

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

By Brandon Sanderson

Rated by Gregg W.
Feb 19, 2024

Hello and welcome to #NoWaitWednesday, where we take a peek at a great book on the New Release shelves at one of our local Library branches that's hot, fresh, and eagerly waiting for someone to take a chance on it. Normally in this space we tend to look at newer authors who are lurking just under the surface - their books might be well-reviewed, but at the same time aren't household names or endorsed by certain book group-loving celebrities and thus aren't a part of a massively long hold list.

Staff Review
Woman in green sweater smiling looking into camera

What Remains Unspoken Writing Contest

By Jamie Lynn Heller
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Helen H.
Feb 15, 2024

Johnson County Library is pleased to announce that Jamie Lynn Heller has won our writing contest on the theme What Remains Unspoken with her piece "What I meant when I said, 'I'll remember you'."

Jamie Lynn Heller’s book Buried in the Suburbs was published in 2018 (Woodley Press) and received the 2019 Kansas Notable Book Award. Her chapbook Domesticated : Poetry From Around the House was published in 2015 (Finishing Line Press). She has 90+ poems published in literary journals and magazines (for a complete list of publications see jamielynnheller.blogspot.com).

Staff Review
Album Cover

Signs of Life

By Neil Gaiman & FourPlay String Quartet
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Chris K.
Feb 14, 2024

I have to admit, I was skeptical. Gaiman has long been one of my favorite authors. And anyone who has listened to one of his audiobooks or readings will attest to his eloquence and oratorical skills. Still, an album of music? I worried he was stretching himself a step too far.

Staff Review
The book The Blue Monsoon on a shelf with other Library books

The Blue Monsoon

By Damyanti Biswas

Rated by Gregg W.
Feb 12, 2024

Hello and welcome to No Wait Wednesday, where we spotlight a book that's ready and waiting on our New Release shelves in search of that one special patron to take a chance on it. We know that patrons don't like waiting on the holds list for that new celebrity-endorsed book, but if you take a peek at our collection - or just ask your local librarian - there's always a new discovery in several different genres to enjoy.

Staff Review
Cover of "Still Born" by Guadalupe Netter, translated by Rosalind Harvey. The cover is an abstract pattern made up of reds and oranges.

Still Born

By Guadalupe Nettel, translated by Rosalind Harvey

Rated by Gregg W.
Feb 5, 2024

Hello and welcome to this week's No Wait Wednesday, where we take a look at an item on our New Release shelves at one of our local branch Libraries that's available to check out right now that deserves a second look - and sometimes a first one, too. Hundreds of new books come into the library each week, and it's impossible to keep an eye on everything. This is where your friendly neighborhood Johnson County Library staff comes in - we're always available to recommend a book (or a movie, or an audiobook, or a video game) that you might possibly love.