Staff Picks: An eclectic booklist from The BookEnd

Posted on January 17, 2018 at 6:00 am

by David Wyatt

Since May of last year, The BookEnd at the Spokane Valley Mall has showcased popular and bestselling titles with something for every taste. On any given day of the year, you are sure to find a book to grab your interest. And just like our customers, The BookEnd staff love our collection.

So we’ve highlighted our favorites on the shelf with Staff Picks cards—that way you can find these great reads, too. We invite you to come out to the Spokane Valley Mall, stop by The BookEnd, and check out these great titles for yourself!

Here are a few that we’ve read and have recommended recently.

The Empty Grave by Jonathan Stroud

This is a spine-tingling, thrill ride combined with wit and humor, making the Lockwood & Co series a ghostly fun read. The Empty Grave is the last installment in this Jonathan Stroud series. A perfect selection to read on a cold fall evening.

Staff Pick by Jean S.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Ender is isolated by his brilliance and molded from a young age by the military. Ender’s Game is an insightful examination of power dynamics and the morality of war. This science fiction classic is only surpassed by its sequel, Speaker for the Dead.

Staff Pick by David W.

He-Man/Thundercats by Rob David and Lloyd Goldfine

Thirty-five years after these two pop-culture phenomena captured the hearts of a generation, Rob David and Lloyd Goldfine created the mash-up in this graphic novel that every kid in 1985 hoped would happen. This is well worth reading for anyone with nostalgia for the power of Greyskull!—and better late than never.

Staff Pick by Natalie M.

Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance

In this memoir, J. D. Vance shares his story of growing up in Appalachia in a struggling but fiercely loyal family and gives a refreshingly civilized analysis of class structure in America. Hillbilly Elegy is a must-read for anyone interested in the current state-of-things in America.

Staff Pick by Sheyann H.

Lost Boy by Christina Henry

Long before he was Captain James Hook, Jamie was Peter Pan’s first Lost Boy. Like Gregory Maguire’s Wicked, Lost Boy gives a new backstory to a familiar villain and exposes the dark side of Peter Pan. This is the Pan-as-villain story I had hoped to see from the TV show Once Upon a Time.

Staff Pick by Emily M.

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman creates a wondrously entertaining narrative from the tales and with the characters of these classic Norse myths. Gaiman’s retelling stays true to the original stories and brings new depth to the characters. In the audiobook, Gaiman’s warm reading really brings the characters to life in these snowy myths, making this the perfect winter listen.

Staff Pick by Alex F.

Swan Song by Robert McCammon

A masterpiece of post-apocalyptic fiction, Swan Song is a terrifying what-if scenario in which a nuclear war leaves the U.S. in ruins. Following the lives of several refugee survivors, you can expect grim carnivals of the macabre, litanies of depravity, and ultimately, the renewal of the human species.

Staff Pick by Nathaniel Y.

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See

This historical fiction is rich in the traditions and customs of a Chinese ethnic minority. The novel highlights the bond between mothers and daughters and the history of the tea industry in China and across the world.

Staff Pick by Mikayla R.

Treasured Lands: A Photographic Odyssey through America’s National Parks by Qt Luong

Discover all the beauty that The National Parks have to offer in this stunning collection. Traverse the U.S. and reignite your wanderlust as the book travels from the Everglades in Florida to Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii. This is the perfect book for when you need an escape. “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page” –St. Augustine


Staff Pick by Savannah S.

The Year of Cozy by Adriana Adarme

Inside, you’ll find a year’s worth of crafts and recipes, broken down by the four seasons. Need something to keep busy this winter? Try making (and eating) the peanut butter cups. I found them extremely delicious and easy to make. Page after page reveals something fun to create!

Staff Pick by Stacy L.

Tags: adults, book list, books, cookbook, crafts, fiction, graphic novel, memoir, mythology, nonfiction, photography, recipes, science fiction, staff picks