Freya Sampson: The last library. Zaffre 2022 (USA: "The last chance library") - "Lonely library assistant June is much more comfortable with books than people. When her mum - the beloved local librarian - passed away, June stepped into her shoes. But shy June has always felt that she could never live up to her mum's legacy. Instead, she's retreated into herself, surviving on takeaways-for-one and her favourite stories. When the library is threatened with closure, June is distraught. Yet when a ragtag band of eccentric but dedicated locals establish the Friends of Chalcot Library campaign, June is forbidden from joining their cause. If June wants to save the place that means so much to her, she'll have to make some bold changes to her life: opening up her heart to friendship, opportunities and maybe even more..."
Ruth Ozeki: The book of form & emptiness. Canongate 2022 - "After the tragic death of his father, fourteen-year-old Benny Oh begins to hear voices. The voices belong to the things in his house and sound variously pleasant, angry or sad. Then his mother develops a hoarding problem, and the voices grow more clamorous. So Benny seeks refuge in the silence of a large public library. There he meets a mesmerising street artist with a smug pet ferret; a homeless philosopher-poet; and his very own Book, who narrates Benny's life and teaches him to listen to the things that truly matter."
Bella Osborne: The library. Head of Zeus 2022 - "Teenager Tom has always blended into the background of life. After a row with his dad and facing an unhappy future at the dog food factory, he escapes to the library. Pensioner Maggie has been happily alone with her beloved novels for ten years – at least, that's what she tells herself. When they meet, they recognise something in each other that will change both their lives for ever. Then the library comes under threat of closure, and they must join forces to prove that it's not just about books – it's the heart of their community."
