For fans of A Man Called Ove, a charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.

Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

A limited amount of copies are available for check out at the library and on Libby. Copies can also be requested through MEL.

An instant New York Times Bestseller this book is sure to spark intense discussion. What would you do if you knew the length of your life? In Nikki Erlick’s debut novel, a mysterious box arrives on everyone's doorstep, revealing their exact lifespan. The novel explores how eight people grapple with this knowledge and the societal upheaval it triggers.

A limited amount of copies are available for check out at the library and on Libby. Copies can also be requested through MEL.

Firekeeper’s Daughter is the award winning debut novel from Native American author Angeline Boulley. It is the 2023-24 Great Michigan Read and a New York Times Best Seller.

Meet us at Shorts for this Michigan Notable Award Winning Book Discussion.