February 9, 2023
Our Librarian Recommends …
Marinette campus librarian Carli Reinecke says she’s been into graphic novels and audiobooks recently. If you enjoy them, too, check out this short list of her favorites, newly available in the library:
Come Home, Indio: Cartoonist Jim Terry, whose mother is Ho-Chunk and father is Irish American, shares his experiences as a mixed-race man who never quite felt like he belonged anywhere. The child of alcoholic parents, Terry went through his own struggles with alcoholism, and it wasn’t until he sought belonging in both his father’s and his mother’s communities, including attaining his “spiritual awakening” at the Dakota Access Pipeline protests in Standing Rock, South Dakota, that he went into recovery and found his place in the world.Carli’s take: “I was so pleasantly surprised when I started reading this graphic novel and found that much of the plot is in the Wisconsin Dells. I loved the honesty of author’s experiences, and the illustrations really immerse you in the story.”
This is How I Disappear: In this graphic novel, Mirion Malle tells the story of Clara, a millennial woman struggling with writer’s block, depression, a “useless” psychologist, and a demanding job in publishing. While Clara has no trouble advising her friends over their woes, she doesn’t do as well when it comes to asking them for help in return. Note: Contains mentions of sexual assault and self-harm, as well as depression. Carli’s take: “Having been through my own periods of deep depression, I thought this was a beautiful depiction of what it actually feels like to be lost in the throes of overwhelming sadness while trying to come out of it.”
All Good People Here: In this New York Times bestseller, Ashley Flowers, host of the popular true-crime podcast Crime Junkies, tries her hand at fiction. All Good People Here follows big-city journalist Margot Davies as she returns home to Wakarusa, Indiana, to care for an uncle with dementia. When a five-year-old girl in the town goes missing, the similarities to the murder of six-year-old January Jacobs have Margot and the rest of the community recalling that cold case from long ago. Jacobs was the same age as Margot, who has never been able to shake the feeling that she could have been the one who was kidnapped 20 years prior.Carli’s take: “This audiobook is for anyone who loves a good true-crime podcast. I literally could not stop listening to it, and I never knew what was coming next. I also thought the narrator read the book wonderfully, and I am usually picky!”
In the small town of Uzumaki, Kirie Goshima and her boyfriend start noticing strange occurrences that all seem related to spirals, almost as if spiral shapes were somehow haunting the town or infecting things that get too close to them. A gripping tale, the manga Uzumaki is uniquely disconcerting with how it blends modern life with a surreal otherworld of disturbing impossibility, all visually striking thanks to Junji Ito’s unparalleled style. If you like horror but don’t interact much with Eastern media, give it a Google or pick up a copy! Or, if you have too many books and not enough time like me, be sure to keep an eye out for the animated adaptation currently being worked on. And in the meantime, you can check out an animated collection of shorter works recently released on Netflix: Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre.
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake follows six extraordinary magicians as they are selected to become part of the elite and top-secret Alexandrian Society, whose members consist of all the world’s most powerful magicians. Once a part of the Society, they will have access to all of the lost knowledge and arcane secrets of history, using them to gain wealth, status, and more magic.
Did you ever watch the 1980s classic The Breakfast Club and think it’d be better if it had some ghosts or demons in it? Probably not, but if that sounds intriguing, your wish is Sokoloff’s command. Her tragically underrated book The Harrowing features five students who—like the Brat Pack actors from the aforementioned ’80s classic film—each fit into a different stock-character category: the goth girl, the jock, the flirt, the brooding musician, and the “scholarly eccentric.” But instead of detention, all are simply stuck at Baird College for a variety of personal reasons while their peers go home for Thanksgiving break. They form a tentative friendship despite their differences, until a bunch of strange happenings have them suspecting each other of pulling a terrifying prank on the rest of the group. It’s either that, or Baird’s labyrinthine, storm-battered halls are actually haunted. It’s not a spoiler to reveal that it’s the latter. The secret as to what’s doing the haunting both terrified and delighted me, as it was a supernatural big bad that I hadn’t heard of until reading this book. Sokoloff, a former Hollywood screenwriter, spins an engrossing gothic tale with plenty of scares and a twist ending that would turn M. Night Shyamalan green with envy. The book had been out of print for a while, but Little, Brown imprint Piatkus books recently had the good sense to rerelease it both in paperback and ebook formats.
Looking for a podcast about spooky stories of hauntings, demons, and terrifying cults? Lights Out is a podcast hosted by Josh Haberer, husband to Kendall Rae who has a well-known true-crime podcast (see below). This podcast goes over spooky tales of cryptids, the occult, hauntings, etc. Each episode is a new story either about the supernatural, true crime, or both. Whether or not one believes in paranormal occurrences, it’s hard to deny that these events are bone chilling. The way the host tells each story keeps you on the edge of your seat. Some examples of my favorite episodes include “Prince of Hell Torments Moffitt Family for Years” and “Mexico’s Haunted Island of Dolls.” Though the stories are intense, the host knows how to lighten the mood by adding in some humor. At the end, Haberer and his co-host Austin Lee give their thoughts on what they just read. It is fascinating to hear their opinions on the supernatural and how they interpret everything. Overall, it is a fascinating podcast, and I highly recommend you give it a listen if spooky stories are something for you.
Kendall Rae is a podcaster who makes edge-of-your-seat true-crime-themed content. Her podcast, True Crime with Kendall Rae, made its debut after her YouTube channel blew up for posting true-crime videos. The podcast can be streamed on many popular platforms. Her episodes vary in length and content, but you are sure to find something different with every episode. Episode topics can range anywhere from cold cases to unexplained missing people to gruesome murders. Many of her episodes are about unsolved cases, but all of them will leave you intrigued. Kendall has a habit of working one-on-one with victims’ families to make sure she covers the stories of their loved ones properly, while also being respectful of all they have gone through. She also owns her own CBD store, which she promotes, along with promoting NCMEC, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, since many of her cases include minors. She and her husband, who hosts the Lights Out podcast (see above) also donate and match money raised during fundraisers they hold for organizations such as NCMEC. I strongly suggest you give Kendall Rae a listen and go support her content.
Imagine being stuck in a building with a couple of people for months. For years. Not hard nowadays, I know. Now, imagine that in space, shenanigans ensue. Mysterious musical broadcasts, an overgrown garden experiment skulking in the vents, a hostage situation over the last tube of Earth-made toothpaste … this story has it all! Wolf 359 is a comedic sci-fi audiodrama (a voice-acted story in podcast form) where Communications Officer Doug Eiffel slacks off while recording his daily log or gets lectured by Commander Minkowski or roped into some crazy experiment by Dr. Hilbert. This story starts off light and sweet, with Eiffel’s stir-crazy sense of humor giving a warm glow to the cold depths of space. But as it progresses, we begin to wonder: Why were these three sent to a remote station at the edge of space? What are their superiors at Goddard Futuristics telling them? The first few episodes made me love the characters and want to hear more, and the later seasons had me at the edge of my seat as events unfolded and my favorite characters were put through plot twists and turns. And did I mention the wonderful voice acting? Zach Valenti voices two-thirds of the starting cast, and I didn’t even realize until I tuned in to the credits a season in. Whether you’ve dabbled in audiodrama or have yet to, Wolf 359 is a must-listen!
Starring Danny Devito, Rhea Perlman, and Mera Wilson, Matilda (1996) is a family-favorite comedy based on the book of the same name by Roald Dahl. Narrated by Danny Devito, this story follows an eccentric family of four through their journey of raising a daughter that is self-sufficient starting at a young age. Although there is an ominous tone throughout the film, there are humorous scenes that provide comedic relief and balance out the struggles that young Matilda faces during her upbringing with her careless parents and unsupportive brother. Matilda is gifted with telekinesis and shows her powers early, as well as her advanced learning abilities by reading endless books before receiving any education. Her parents are indifferent to the many gifts Matilda possesses, including her desire to go to school. Eventually Matilda’s father, Harry, makes a deal with an evil principal, Miss Trunchbull, to admit Matilda to her elementary school. It is thrilling to watch Miss Trunchbull as she gets away with tormenting the students and intimidating parents and teachers. Matilda continues to face adversity from her nightmare experiences at school and unsupportive family, but she finds hope in the security of her relationship with her teacher Miss Honey. This film will cause a whirlwind of reactions as Matilda’s telekinetic powers strengthen when she goes against her torturous principal to avenge her friends and protect her beloved teacher Miss Honey. Matilda is a crazy adventure involving the FBI, chocolate cake, a newt, dancing living room furniture, and a powerlifting, superstitious principal—see how these things are related in this must-see film, Matilda.
In 1967, Conrad Johnson, a music teacher from Kashmere High School in Houston, Texas, was inspired by an Otis Redding concert to form a funk/soul jazz band for his students. He would write and conduct most of the pieces for their performances, and the group of teenagers, who stayed together until 1978, would go on to cement themselves as nothing but bona-fide legends. They destroyed high-school competitions and dominated national championships, and rightfully so. These kids could lay down funk like it was nobody’s business. It’s some of the best jazz I’ve ever listened to, and they were high schoolers?!?! Absolutely incredible stuff. Even if you only consider yourself a cursory fan of jazz, you should do yourself a favor and check this album (or any by them, really) out sometime. 
Immanuel Wilkins’ album The 7th Hand is one of the premier jazz albums to come out of 2022, and arguably the best jazz album of the year. With only seven tracks spanning 59 minutes, the album is a complete journey. Wilkins starts with a bang in the high-tempo track “Emanation,” where he soars and solos on his alto sax for the majority of the tune. Other stand-out tracks include “Don’t Break,” featuring a mind-blowing percussion performance from guest artists the Farafina Kan Percussion Ensemble, and the atmospheric “Witness,” featuring jazz flutist Elena Pinderhughes. The album ends on a high with the freely improvised number “Lift,” which brings listeners to new heights in a slow build over nearly half an hour. This album is truly so much fun and makes for a great hour-long immersive listening experience. Personally, I used this album as the soundtrack to my commute to and from campus a few times, and it was magical! This album is available for free on YouTube or by subscription on Spotify or Apple Music.
Yes, you read that right. Fast-paced and semi-violent, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is a card game as unique as its name—just make sure to keep the word pattern that makes up the game’s name in mind. The objective of the game is to be the first to slap the pile when there is a match between the placed card and the spoken word in the sequence. 
An elegant title for a not-so-elegant game. The objective of this one is to describe a phrase or idea by using only one-syllable words. Essentially, Must Speak Good Or Get Hit With Bad Stick. (Yes, the game does come with an inflatable club. No, it does not hurt.) 
Do you ever crave adventure? Do you wish to delve too greedily and too deep as did your ancestors of old? But maybe with better odds, using modern technology to do what they never could? Look no further than Deep Rock Galactic (DRG), the premier space-mining corporation for the common dwarf. Think Tolkien meets Alien: DRG is a first-person shooter where you and your fellow dwarves (players) fight off insectoid creatures and mine the asteroid Hoxxes to earn the company (and maybe even yourselves) a profit. This game is wonderful for playing online with friends, random players, or solo with the company’s robot companion Bosco! And, if you get tired of the corporate drudgery, stop by the Abyss Bar to buy a variety of magical drinks for your friends! Or explore the space rig and find the off switch for the artificial gravity. Between randomized cave environments, varying missions and objectives, a plethora of enemies, and intriguing new developments with each season, no mission is ever the same. I’ve spent countless hours on this game and enjoy it a lot! To all my fellow dwarves, Rock and Stone! Available through Steam, Windows, or Xbox for $29.99 (or through Xbox Game Pass). 
Spiritfarer is a cozy indie game by Thunder Lotus Games, where you play as a young woman named Stella and her cat Daffodil, as they have been chosen to become the new spiritfarers. A spiritfarer is someone who carries spirits on a boat to the “everdoor,” where they are able to cross over to the other side. Each spirit has a unique personality and character design, and some of them were even a part of Stella’s past life! In the game, your mission is to help these spirits by taking care of them and completing any unfinished business they might have. By helping each spirit, you learn more and more about them. This includes what life was like for them and how they lived it. You grow a connection to each spirit as you take care of them, making their eventual exit so much more moving. You expand your boat to accommodate each spirit’s needs, which include growing crops and cooking different food items. Spiritfarer is a beautiful game about death, letting you know that it is okay to let go and move on. The game’s soundtrack is beautiful, and the color and design of the game gives it a comforting feel. It is one of those games that allows you to sit back and relax as you immerse yourself in the story. I highly recommended it to anyone looking for a comforting game. Available on the Nintendo Switch or Steam for $29.99.
This horror-inspired, procedurally generated card game is one of the most unique executions I’ve ever seen a game pull off. Without spoiling, Inscryption has many secrets to uncover throughout its various acts. You start the game where someone else left off, trying to find out what’s up with this strange game and what happened to the previous player. The overall game twists itself in ways you wouldn’t expect, with sharp left turns that flip everything on its head, multiple times. The core gameplay that all these elements are built on is great enough to stand alone without the story. It’s a game that really takes its conventions and does everything it can with them, which provides an insanely engaging and interesting experience that is better to go in as blind as possible. Available on Steam, GOG, Epic Game Store, PlayStation 4 & 5, and Nintendo Switch for $19.99. (Currently -30% off on GOG and the PlayStation Store until 3/2/23.)
Bears Restaurant, published by Odencat in 2018, is a very calm storytelling game about a bear who runs a restaurant for those who have recently passed. Bear has a cat helper who cooks the dishes requested. The idea of the game is to learn about each character’s life before they passed. Bear makes their last meal, which is usually their favorite food from when they were alive. Players can know about the customer’s favorite dishes by “diving” into their memories … but, you yourself do not even remember who you are. Not even your favorite dish. There are no difficult puzzles, exciting battles, or epic cut scenes. But, you will remember their episodes. Each character is unique. The game has some heavier topics such as suicide, since it is related to how the players passed on. The music is very relaxing, and the graphics are adorable. If you like games such as Harvest Moon or Stardew Valley, we think you’d like this game as well. The graphics are more pixelated, giving the game a very old-fashioned arcade-style feel. The game is rated 4.9/5 stars on the iOS app store, which is a rating we strongly agree with. Available for Nintendo Switch and as a mobile game for iOS and Android. 
You can still get copies of last year’s Northern Lights in the Marinette campus library, in Student Services, or from Professor Rysavy. Read content from past issues of the journal and submit your work on the 