Bianca's Picks

Page (1)
Bianca BIANCA
Bianca is a proud Chamorro American woman living in Arizona. She enjoys reading classics by authors like Jane Austen and really enjoys stories that offer adventure! She has rekindled her love for poetry thanks to the beautiful “I Woke Up” by Jameson Fitzpatrick. When she isn’t screenwriting, Bianca can be found playing the guitar or playing on her island in Animal Crossing.
Staff Pick Badge
What Feelings Do When No One’s Looking By Tina Oziewicz, Aleksandra Zajac (Illustrator), Jennifer Croft (Translated by) Cover Image
By Tina Oziewicz, Aleksandra Zajac (Illustrator), Jennifer Croft (Translated by)
$18.95
ISBN: 9781953861283
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Elsewhere Editions - July 5th, 2022

I felt like this book did a wonderful job at personifying the many emotions that live inside of us. It had a similar feel to Pixar’s animated film “Inside Out” in all of the best ways! The art style behind all of the illustrations reminded me of Maurice Sendak’s “Where The Wild Things Are” which is one of my favorite books of all time. If “Inside Out” and “Where The Wild Things Are” had a baby, then this book would definitely be that! This was a really beautiful book that encapsulated every feeling in imaginative ways.


Pre-Order Now Badge
Seoulmates By Susan Lee Cover Image
$15.99
ISBN: 9781335453730
Availability: Coming Soon - Available for Pre-Order Now
Published: Inkyard Press - August 8th, 2023

I absolutely loved this book! If you love Korean dramas that are filled with romance, then please pick up this book because you will not be disappointed! Following Hannah and Jacob’s journey is always exciting and you find yourselves rooting for them the whole way through! Everything from the chemistry between them, their personal journeys and the many different Korean cultural references keeps you interested. I even picked up on some romanized Hangul in the story that I have learned from all the dramas I’ve watched before. There was definitely fun little trivia here and there and this story offered me an escape from reality!


Staff Pick Badge
City Under One Roof By Iris Yamashita Cover Image
$27.00
ISBN: 9780593336670
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Berkley - January 10th, 2023

If you want a book that is your classic “locked room” mystery, but takes place all under one roof then this book has it all! The suspense always left me anxious to find out what was going to happen next, and I loved the connection between all of the characters that lived “under one roof” in the Davidson Condos. Detective Cara Kennedy is a protagonist that you can root for. I really enjoyed going on this journey with her. And the final reveal of the crime is a surprise you don’t see coming. This is a thrilling mystery that knows how to keep one turning the pages!


Staff Pick Badge
Death and the Conjuror: A Locked-Room Mystery By Tom Mead Cover Image
$25.95
ISBN: 9781613163184
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Mysterious Press - July 12th, 2022

I absolutely loved this book! Tom Mead has a talent for fleshing out his characters so thoughtfully. He does a superb job at keeping his audience guessing with a plot that involves not one, but THREE impossible crimes. This book is perfect for fans of a great, classic mystery of “whodunit” and the magician Joseph Spector is a great lead for all of the investigating. And that final reveal is definitely one that I didn't see coming at all! What a fantastic debut from Tom Mead!


Staff Pick Badge
Swollening By Jason Purcell Cover Image
$15.95
ISBN: 9781551528854
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Arsenal Pulp Press - April 5th, 2022

I chose this book because of the certain topics that they discussed and the life experiences that they had. Although I did not have the same exact experiences as Purcell, I think they discussed a lot of important issues that I think are relevant in today’s political climate involving the LGBTQ community. They had a way of writing where you could feel them. From the people they knew to the awful times they had gone through as a queer individual. Every single poem had a verse that stayed with me.


Staff Pick Badge
The Stars Beneath Our Feet By David Barclay Moore Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9781524701277
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Yearling - January 8th, 2019

You don’t have to love legos or live on the Harlem streets to understand young Lolly’s character. After losing his big brother there is nothing that can help him cope. That is until he is given two huge trash bags filled with legos! In a way, he fills the void his older brother left behind by making his lego kingdoms. The road we have to go on after losing the people we love is always painful, but sometimes you can make yourself a sanctuary with colorful lego blocks.


Staff Pick Badge
I Am a Cat By Galia Bernstein Cover Image
$16.95
ISBN: 9781419726439
Availability: Not Available In-Store - Usually Ships from Warehouse in 1-5 Days
Published: Abrams Books for Young Readers - February 6th, 2018

This book was laying down on a shelving cart when I found it at work, and the adorable illustrations were enough for me to want this book. It’s adorable and cats are some of the most magnificent members of the animal kingdom! From beginning to end our cat friend Simon is constantly being judged for not being “cat” enough for the bigger cats. This story is definitely a metaphor for individuals who always feel “othered” by fellow members of the same group. Even if cats aren’t really your thing, this book teaches life’s most important lessons: be open-minded and be kind.


Staff Pick Badge
A Is for Artichoke: A Foodie Alphabet from Artichoke to Zest By America’s Test Kitchen Kids, Maddie Frost Cover Image
$9.99
ISBN: 9781492670032
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Sourcebooks Explore - October 16th, 2018

This book was ADORABLE and it was such a unique way to teach the alphabet. I learned so many new things and I enjoyed it from beginning to end! There are three different reading levels with each letter, so if you have a little one it can be used for various stages. From the illustrations to the details about cooking techniques, this book ticks all of the right boxes! And even if you don’t have any little ones, it’d be a wonderful gift for a beloved chef in your life! And as the great Gusteau once said, "Anyone can cook!"


Staff Pick Badge
The Hobbits of Tolkien (Tolkien Illustrated Guides #6) By David Day Cover Image
$15.99
ISBN: 9781645170082
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Thunder Bay Press - February 25th, 2020


In the world of Middle Earth, I always saw myself as one of the Hobbits, particularly the ones similar to the famous Bilbo Baggins. If only I could live in the Shire, what a dream that would be! I had my eyes on this book for a good year and I’m so happy I finally purchased it! From the illustrations to all of the linguistics cleverly used by David Day when talking about these Hobbits, one cannot stop turning the pages! This is perfect for anyone fascinated with the world of Hobbits. If you’re a Tolkien fan, Hobbit fan, or just love diving deeper into the meaning behind names of AMAZING creatures, this is the book for you! BRILLIANT!


Staff Pick Badge
Heaven By Mieko Kawakami, Sam Bett (Translator), David Boyd (Translator) Cover Image
By Mieko Kawakami, Sam Bett (Translator), David Boyd (Translator)
$23.00
ISBN: 9781609456214
Availability: Not Available In-Store - Usually Ships from Warehouse in 1-5 Days
Published: Europa Editions - May 25th, 2021


I chose this book because of the title, “Heaven” and I was intrigued by what that would mean to the protagonist in this story. Mieko Kawakami’s story was a rather difficult read for me because she had this way of describing physical pain that became visceral. And if reading about one victim wasn’t difficult, our protagonist becomes friends with a classmate that is also being bullied. Sometimes I found myself taking deep breaths just to calm down because of how excruciatingly vivid Kawakami describes the bullying. Even though it was difficult for me to finish this novel, I left this story feeling hopeful. Just as she was talented in writing about the gruesome parts of life, Kawakami also managed to write about the beautiful parts as well.


Staff Pick Badge
The Hunting Party: A Novel By Lucy Foley Cover Image
$9.99
ISBN: 9780063063587
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: William Morrow Paperbacks - February 23rd, 2021


This title was a choice for a book club I joined last year, but that was certainly a blessing in disguise! For years, I had been longing for a new mystery/thriller book and Foley’s The Hunting Party ticked off all of the boxes. From the dynamic relationships between the characters (and the intimate details of a certain few!) all the way to the climactic moment of “Who did it?!” Foley kept me anxiously entertained while trying to guess who the murderer was and who was their unfortunate victim. A treat for any New Year celebration with a darker twist! I cannot wait to start reading Foley’s latest work The Paris Apartment!


Staff Pick Badge
The Woman in the Purple Skirt: A Novel By Natsuko Imamura, Lucy North (Translated by) Cover Image
By Natsuko Imamura, Lucy North (Translated by)
$23.00
ISBN: 9780143136026
Availability: Not Available In-Store - Usually Ships from Warehouse in 1-5 Days
Published: Penguin Books - June 8th, 2021

Driven by obsession and loneliness, the woman in the “yellow cardigan” lives in a voyeuristic manner constantly watching the woman in the "purple skirt". If you’re into a story that is thoroughly detailed (with such chilling behavior!) that spirals slowly towards a chaotic end, then I invite you to open up Natsuko Imamura’s "The Woman in the Purple Skirt". The whole time I read this novel, I was kept on my toes and I never truly knew what to expect from the woman wearing a yellow cardigan.


Staff Pick Badge
Happy Cats By Emi Lenox (Illustrator), Catherine Amari, Anouk Han Cover Image
By Emi Lenox (Illustrator), Catherine Amari, Anouk Han
$14.99
ISBN: 9781419750854
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Abrams Appleseed - September 7th, 2021

What else can I say? Amari and Han’s book is about many different cats with many lovable traits. It’s a fun way for your little ones to learn about different colors and temperaments, but I would argue that any cat lover out there will surely be happy upon opening this book! All of these cats were equally amazing in their own right and a happy cat is the best cat. Shout-out to all the fabulous felines out there that make the world a happier place! Also, I'd like to mention Emi Lenox for her beautiful illustrations!


Staff Pick Badge
Illumination: Poetry to Light Up the Darkness By Tyler Knott Gregson Cover Image
$18.00
ISBN: 9780593191361
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: TarcherPerigee - March 30th, 2021

These days I try my best to find my own light, be my own light, but I am only human. Sometimes we need to seek solace in someone else and their words. In the book there are photographs that Gregson took himself! There are also scraps of paper that he used for his poems. He's an artist! I don’t know if I could fully appreciate what Gregson had to say without the darkness that comes my way. Whether or not poetry speaks to you, please give Gregson’s work a try! And to Tyler Knott Gregson, you are an inspiration to artists everywhere. Thank you for “lighting up the darkness.”


Staff Pick Badge
I Love You This Much: Padded Board Book By IglooBooks, James Newman Gray (Illustrator) Cover Image
By IglooBooks, James Newman Gray (Illustrator)
$8.99
ISBN: 9781800227743
Availability: Special Order - Subject to Availability
Published: Igloo Books - August 3rd, 2021

Upon reading the first page of this book I realized that it wasn’t written just for children and their parents, but for anyone who loves someone immensely! My partner and I were reading it together and it amazed us how this book had all the words that we wanted to say to each other. We are children at heart, so the imaginative illustrations of these pandas made us marvel with wonder. If you have anyone in your life that you love and would like to say just how much you do, read “I Love You This Much” alongside them and they will know.


Staff Pick Badge
Home Body By Rupi Kaur Cover Image
$16.99
ISBN: 9781449486808
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Andrews McMeel Publishing - November 17th, 2020

Rupi Kaur is an artist. She has a way of sharing her experience with her audience that is SO GENUINE. I was reading one of her poems casually at work one day, and my heart was pounding NONSTOP. I would rate the "Couldn't Put it Down"-ness 9/10 because I was feeling so many emotions. If you need a friend to help guide you through any issues that you're afraid of confronting, please open "Home Body" because it helped me with my own. Cheers to you, Rupi Kaur, and thank you for your beautiful words.


Staff Pick Badge
Unfuck Your Boundaries: Build Better Relationships Through Consent, Communication, and Expressing Your Needs By Faith Harper Phd Lpc-S, Acs Acn Cover Image
$14.95
ISBN: 9781621061007
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Microcosm Publishing - January 14th, 2020

Earlier this year while I was still working for Walmart every day I was reminded of my teen years because of all the unnecessary drama. One day I went home and I busted through my garage door extremely frustrated from my work day, so my roomie, being the intuitive and ingenious creature that she is, loaned me a little book: Unf*ck Your Boundaries by Dr. Faith G. Harper. Let me tell you, it’s made my life better because I now have a better grasp on my own boundaries! I have always struggled with communication, but I honestly think that this book can help anyone who is struggling! Harper goes into amazing detail, but always keeps you interested. Not to mention the illustrations in this book are also incredible and definitely helped me visualize some of Harper's points! My roomie lending me this book was the push I needed to finally realize that boundaries are a need and they deserve to be unf*cked! Cheers to having the freedom to speak your mind and draw the line!


Staff Pick Badge
123 Cats: A Cat Counting Book By Leslea Newman, Isabella Kung (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Leslea Newman, Isabella Kung (Illustrator)
$7.99
ISBN: 9781536209952
Availability: Not Available In-Store - Usually Ships from Warehouse in 1-5 Days
Published: Candlewick - April 29th, 2021

As a child that was not from the states and had to assimilate into a brand new culture with a brand new language, math was not always my friend. For what is math but another language the whole world must learn? It just didn’t click with me right away! And having to speak English at home wasn’t always challenging since my parents learned English as children, but over time I wondered if math would have been easier if I had taken the time to learn my native tongue. My first love of board books started with the beloved Eric Carle and his cute caterpillar friend. Cats and math were always intimidating to me, but upon finding 1 2 3 Cats A Cat Counting Book while I was shelving in our Kids department, they finally felt like good friends! My partner loves cats and I am blessed to be his cat's stepmom! So, if you know anyone in your life that is a child, adult, cat or anything else in between-- buy this book! At one point I even found myself laughing out loud while reading it on my backyard patio!