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Hidden Gems 2024

By:

HCPL_Reads

Harris County Public Library

Staff-created list

Welcome to HCPL's 2nd Annual Hidden Gems List. These are the books and movies released in 2024 that folks at HCPL feel didn't get the love and attention they deserve.

By:

HCPL_Reads

Harris County Public Library

16 items

16 items

The Tusks of Extinction

The Tusks of Extinction

by Nayler, Ray

Book - 2024

ADULT SCIENCE FICTION: This is an emotional story about humans and their relationship with nature. How we take and how that effects us, depersonalizes us,...Show more ADULT SCIENCE FICTION: This is an emotional story about humans and their relationship with nature. How we take and how that effects us, depersonalizes us, and what people are willing to do to escape it. This book forces you to examine how poaching and colonization effects the parts of the world that get taken from, but it ends with a strong message of resilience and hope. For Adults. Esteban S. / Freeman Branch Show less

ADULT SCIENCE FICTION: This is an emotional story about humans and their relationship with nature. How we take and how that effects us, depersonalizes us,...Show more ADULT SCIENCE FICTION: This is an emotional story about humans and their relationship with nature. How we take and how that effects us, depersonalizes us, and what people are willing to do to escape it. This book forces you to examine how poaching and colonization effects the parts of the world that get taken from, but it ends with a strong message of resilience and hope. For Adults. Esteban S. / Freeman Branch Show less

Available in some locations

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Dungeon Crawler Carl

Dungeon Crawler Carl

by Dinniman, Matt

Book - 2024

ADULT COMEDY FANTASY: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets Dungeons and Dragons. Carl is forced to navigate a dungeon full of goblins, giant lady hoarde...Show more ADULT COMEDY FANTASY: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets Dungeons and Dragons. Carl is forced to navigate a dungeon full of goblins, giant lady hoarders, and other evil enemies along with his genius cat, Princess Donut. It's silly, adventurous, and a solid lighthearted romp. For Adults --Kelly H. / Parker Williams Branch Show less

ADULT COMEDY FANTASY: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets Dungeons and Dragons. Carl is forced to navigate a dungeon full of goblins, giant lady hoarde...Show more ADULT COMEDY FANTASY: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets Dungeons and Dragons. Carl is forced to navigate a dungeon full of goblins, giant lady hoarders, and other evil enemies along with his genius cat, Princess Donut. It's silly, adventurous, and a solid lighthearted romp. For Adults --Kelly H. / Parker Williams Branch Show less

All copies in use Availability details Holds: 26 on 3 copies

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Viewfinder

Viewfinder

by Chung, Christine D. U.

Graphic Novel - 2024

KIDS & TWEENS SCIENCE FICTION: There are no words in this graphic novel, but the story the pictures tell leaves you asking questions and wanting to kn...Show more KIDS & TWEENS SCIENCE FICTION: There are no words in this graphic novel, but the story the pictures tell leaves you asking questions and wanting to know more about the world. It's perfect for fans of sci-fi and super imaginative kids. --Sarai A. / Galena Park Branch Show less

KIDS & TWEENS SCIENCE FICTION: There are no words in this graphic novel, but the story the pictures tell leaves you asking questions and wanting to kn...Show more KIDS & TWEENS SCIENCE FICTION: There are no words in this graphic novel, but the story the pictures tell leaves you asking questions and wanting to know more about the world. It's perfect for fans of sci-fi and super imaginative kids. --Sarai A. / Galena Park Branch Show less

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Hex and the City

Hex and the City

by Johnson, Kate

Downloadable Audiobook - 2023

ADULT FANTASY/ROMANCE: Good witches. A bad witch. The heroine has magical hair with a life of its own! A handsome hunk. Romance... Very creative action and so much fun that I had to listen to it twice! --Karen M. / Barbara Bush Branch ADULT FANTASY/ROMANCE: Good witches. A bad witch. The heroine has magical hair with a life of its own! A handsome hunk. Romance... Very creative action and so much fun that I had to listen to it twice! --Karen M. / Barbara Bush Branch Show less

ADULT FANTASY/ROMANCE: Good witches. A bad witch. The heroine has magical hair with a life of its own! A handsome hunk. Romance... Very creative action and so much fun that I had to listen to it twice! --Karen M. / Barbara Bush Branch ADULT FANTASY/ROMANCE: Good witches. A bad witch. The heroine has magical hair with a life of its own! A handsome hunk. Romance... Very creative action and so much fun that I had to listen to it twice! --Karen M. / Barbara Bush Branch Show less

Not Currently Available.Holds: 10 on 5 copies

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I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom

I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom

A Novel

by Pargin, Jason

Downloadable Audiobook - 2024

ADULT SCIENCE FICTION: Two strangers transport a mysterious box across the US leaving a trail of destruction and conspiracy theories in their wake. This n...Show more ADULT SCIENCE FICTION: Two strangers transport a mysterious box across the US leaving a trail of destruction and conspiracy theories in their wake. This novel examines the power and limits of online collaboration and the great and terrible effects those collaborations can have. The audiobook is laugh-out-loud funny. --Rachel W. / Barbara Bush Branch Show less

ADULT SCIENCE FICTION: Two strangers transport a mysterious box across the US leaving a trail of destruction and conspiracy theories in their wake. This n...Show more ADULT SCIENCE FICTION: Two strangers transport a mysterious box across the US leaving a trail of destruction and conspiracy theories in their wake. This novel examines the power and limits of online collaboration and the great and terrible effects those collaborations can have. The audiobook is laugh-out-loud funny. --Rachel W. / Barbara Bush Branch Show less

Not Currently Available.Holds: 111 on 7 copies

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Lisa Frankenstein

Lisa Frankenstein

DVD - 2024

ADULT HORROR COMEDY: WOW! The horror comedy genre is not dead, folks! It is alive and well and was CARRIED by the film Lisa Frankenstein in 2024. This mov...Show more ADULT HORROR COMEDY: WOW! The horror comedy genre is not dead, folks! It is alive and well and was CARRIED by the film Lisa Frankenstein in 2024. This movie is reminiscent of teenage cult classics like Heathers and Jeniffer's Body, while still remaining fresh and surprising the whole way through. Every second is filled with killer costume design, hilarious dialogue, and so much character. I truly could not stop thinking about this movie all year. Everyone should watch this high camp, bloody (soon-to-be cult) classic. For Adults --Nyla V. / Jacinto City Branch Show less

ADULT HORROR COMEDY: WOW! The horror comedy genre is not dead, folks! It is alive and well and was CARRIED by the film Lisa Frankenstein in 2024. This mov...Show more ADULT HORROR COMEDY: WOW! The horror comedy genre is not dead, folks! It is alive and well and was CARRIED by the film Lisa Frankenstein in 2024. This movie is reminiscent of teenage cult classics like Heathers and Jeniffer's Body, while still remaining fresh and surprising the whole way through. Every second is filled with killer costume design, hilarious dialogue, and so much character. I truly could not stop thinking about this movie all year. Everyone should watch this high camp, bloody (soon-to-be cult) classic. For Adults --Nyla V. / Jacinto City Branch Show less

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Just Stab Me Now

Just Stab Me Now

by Bearup, Jill

eBook - 2024

ADULT FICTION: I was a fan of Jill Bearup's "Fantasy Heroine" series of Youtube shorts before her fans clamored for her to turn her fake book in...Show more ADULT FICTION: I was a fan of Jill Bearup's "Fantasy Heroine" series of Youtube shorts before her fans clamored for her to turn her fake book into an actual book. Two main characters too sensible to fall for the romance tropes an author is trying to force on them is right up my alley. To be fair, near war between two nations is much more important than the author's masked ball. For Adults --Sara P. / Freeman Branch Show less

ADULT FICTION: I was a fan of Jill Bearup's "Fantasy Heroine" series of Youtube shorts before her fans clamored for her to turn her fake book in...Show more ADULT FICTION: I was a fan of Jill Bearup's "Fantasy Heroine" series of Youtube shorts before her fans clamored for her to turn her fake book into an actual book. Two main characters too sensible to fall for the romance tropes an author is trying to force on them is right up my alley. To be fair, near war between two nations is much more important than the author's masked ball. For Adults --Sara P. / Freeman Branch Show less

Not Currently Available.Holds: 10 on 10 copies

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MEXICAN MAGIC

MEXICAN MAGIC

BRUJERIA, SPELLS, AND RITUALS FOR ALL OCCASIONS

by Davila, Laura

Book - 2024

ADULT NONFICTION: Laura Davila’s "Mexican Magic" invites us into the dearly kept secrets of the brujas of Mexico, leading us through the potent ...Show more ADULT NONFICTION: Laura Davila’s "Mexican Magic" invites us into the dearly kept secrets of the brujas of Mexico, leading us through the potent symbols, rich culture, and layered significance of their practice and their world. Warm, authentic, and powerful, this book is a transformative journey into a subtle and complex reality that is as practical as it is profound, where identity, faith, and power dance together to make an irrefutable magic. Laura’s writing is vivid and heartfelt, and she transmits her embodied practice of the sorcerous arts, mysteries, and lived experiences of Mexican magic with skill and wisdom. For Adults --Amanda RP / Barbara Bush Branch Show less

ADULT NONFICTION: Laura Davila’s "Mexican Magic" invites us into the dearly kept secrets of the brujas of Mexico, leading us through the potent ...Show more ADULT NONFICTION: Laura Davila’s "Mexican Magic" invites us into the dearly kept secrets of the brujas of Mexico, leading us through the potent symbols, rich culture, and layered significance of their practice and their world. Warm, authentic, and powerful, this book is a transformative journey into a subtle and complex reality that is as practical as it is profound, where identity, faith, and power dance together to make an irrefutable magic. Laura’s writing is vivid and heartfelt, and she transmits her embodied practice of the sorcerous arts, mysteries, and lived experiences of Mexican magic with skill and wisdom. For Adults --Amanda RP / Barbara Bush Branch Show less

On order Availability details Holds: 2 on 6 copies

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MONKEY MAN [DVD]

MONKEY MAN [DVD]

by Patel, Dev

DVD - 2024

ADULT ACTION/ADVENTURE: Dev Patel's directorial debut, this gritty action film takes inspiration from John Wick-style cinematography and tones, and it is ...Show more ADULT ACTION/ADVENTURE: Dev Patel's directorial debut, this gritty action film takes inspiration from John Wick-style cinematography and tones, and it is all gas, no breaks. This is not a story of senseless violence, however; it also tells a tale of standing up for the trans community and those who may be oppressed by greedy and sinister elites. For Adults --Raul O. / Atascocita Branch Show less

ADULT ACTION/ADVENTURE: Dev Patel's directorial debut, this gritty action film takes inspiration from John Wick-style cinematography and tones, and it is ...Show more ADULT ACTION/ADVENTURE: Dev Patel's directorial debut, this gritty action film takes inspiration from John Wick-style cinematography and tones, and it is all gas, no breaks. This is not a story of senseless violence, however; it also tells a tale of standing up for the trans community and those who may be oppressed by greedy and sinister elites. For Adults --Raul O. / Atascocita Branch Show less

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Nicked

Nicked

by Anderson, M. T.

Book - 2024

ADULT HISTORICAL FICTION: This odd-couple adventure follows a monk and a crook on a voyage to steal a saint. Whatever your preferred genre this novel has ...Show more ADULT HISTORICAL FICTION: This odd-couple adventure follows a monk and a crook on a voyage to steal a saint. Whatever your preferred genre this novel has something for you: travel, heists, religion, romance, comedy, and suspense. --Rachel W. / Barbara Bush Branch Show less

ADULT HISTORICAL FICTION: This odd-couple adventure follows a monk and a crook on a voyage to steal a saint. Whatever your preferred genre this novel has ...Show more ADULT HISTORICAL FICTION: This odd-couple adventure follows a monk and a crook on a voyage to steal a saint. Whatever your preferred genre this novel has something for you: travel, heists, religion, romance, comedy, and suspense. --Rachel W. / Barbara Bush Branch Show less

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Chamber Divers

Chamber Divers

The Untold Story of the D-day Scientists Who Changed Special Operations Forever

by Lance, Rachel

Book - 2024

ADULT NONFICTION: What do the building of the Manhattan bridge, downed submarines, and D-Day have in common? Read this fascinating account of recently dec...Show more ADULT NONFICTION: What do the building of the Manhattan bridge, downed submarines, and D-Day have in common? Read this fascinating account of recently declassified history of the men and women scientists who heroically experimented on themselves to determine the limits of the human body when breathing air at pressure - limits that would ultimately enable reconnaissance crucial to the success of D-Day. --Amber S. / Collections & Technical Services Show less

ADULT NONFICTION: What do the building of the Manhattan bridge, downed submarines, and D-Day have in common? Read this fascinating account of recently dec...Show more ADULT NONFICTION: What do the building of the Manhattan bridge, downed submarines, and D-Day have in common? Read this fascinating account of recently declassified history of the men and women scientists who heroically experimented on themselves to determine the limits of the human body when breathing air at pressure - limits that would ultimately enable reconnaissance crucial to the success of D-Day. --Amber S. / Collections & Technical Services Show less

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FOREIGN AGENTS

FOREIGN AGENTS

HOW AMERICAN LOBBYISTS AND LAWMAKERS THREATEN DEMOCRACY AROUND THE WORLD

by Michel, Casey

Book - 2024

ADULT NONFICTION: An exploration of how American citizens help foreign governments influence public perception and shape US policy. As more public officia...Show more ADULT NONFICTION: An exploration of how American citizens help foreign governments influence public perception and shape US policy. As more public officials and their advisors are revealed to have financial ties to foreign regimes, I predict this book will continue to feel timely for years to come. Bonus: the second half of this book doubles as a biography of Paul Manafort! --Rachel W. / Barbara Bush Branch Show less

ADULT NONFICTION: An exploration of how American citizens help foreign governments influence public perception and shape US policy. As more public officia...Show more ADULT NONFICTION: An exploration of how American citizens help foreign governments influence public perception and shape US policy. As more public officials and their advisors are revealed to have financial ties to foreign regimes, I predict this book will continue to feel timely for years to come. Bonus: the second half of this book doubles as a biography of Paul Manafort! --Rachel W. / Barbara Bush Branch Show less

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Moonbound

Moonbound

The Last Book of the Anth

by Sloan, Robin

Book - 2024

ADULT SCIENCE FICTION: If the name Robin Sloan doesn't ring a bell, you might remember his smash debut, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore? This one in simi...Show more ADULT SCIENCE FICTION: If the name Robin Sloan doesn't ring a bell, you might remember his smash debut, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore? This one in similar in tone (very humorous and delightfully irreverent without being cynical), but the setting couldn't be more different. In Sloan's email newsletter (which I also highly recommend) he said with this book he set out to write a science fiction book flung so far into the future it read more like fantasy, and Moonbound completely delivers on that idea. I feel like this book has gotten very little buzz, and that’s probably because it’s not for everyone. But if reading a fantastical, zany scifi narrated by a cheeky, sentient AI that has parasitically embedded itself in a human host (that may or may not actually be human) sounds good to you, then this book is definitely for you and I think you’ll love it. --Katelyn H. / Collections & Technical Services Show less

ADULT SCIENCE FICTION: If the name Robin Sloan doesn't ring a bell, you might remember his smash debut, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore? This one in simi...Show more ADULT SCIENCE FICTION: If the name Robin Sloan doesn't ring a bell, you might remember his smash debut, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore? This one in similar in tone (very humorous and delightfully irreverent without being cynical), but the setting couldn't be more different. In Sloan's email newsletter (which I also highly recommend) he said with this book he set out to write a science fiction book flung so far into the future it read more like fantasy, and Moonbound completely delivers on that idea. I feel like this book has gotten very little buzz, and that’s probably because it’s not for everyone. But if reading a fantastical, zany scifi narrated by a cheeky, sentient AI that has parasitically embedded itself in a human host (that may or may not actually be human) sounds good to you, then this book is definitely for you and I think you’ll love it. --Katelyn H. / Collections & Technical Services Show less

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Soldiers and Kings

Soldiers and Kings

Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling

by De León, Jason

Book - 2024

ADULT NONFICTION: An ethnography of the people smuggling others north through Honduras and Mexico on the migrant trail. The lives and deaths of these guid...Show more ADULT NONFICTION: An ethnography of the people smuggling others north through Honduras and Mexico on the migrant trail. The lives and deaths of these guides are chronicled in this book which explores the deeply human stories behind the headlines. The audio book is read by the author, enhancing the personal tone. --Rachel W. / Barbara Bush Branch Show less

ADULT NONFICTION: An ethnography of the people smuggling others north through Honduras and Mexico on the migrant trail. The lives and deaths of these guid...Show more ADULT NONFICTION: An ethnography of the people smuggling others north through Honduras and Mexico on the migrant trail. The lives and deaths of these guides are chronicled in this book which explores the deeply human stories behind the headlines. The audio book is read by the author, enhancing the personal tone. --Rachel W. / Barbara Bush Branch Show less

All copies in use Availability details Holds: 10 on 7 copies

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Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka

Her Journey to Finding Her Power and Her Voice

by Rothenberg, Ben

eBook - 2024

ADULT BIOGRAPHY: I don't think you necessarily need to follow tennis to enjoy this meticulously researched and skillfully written biography of an extremel...Show more ADULT BIOGRAPHY: I don't think you necessarily need to follow tennis to enjoy this meticulously researched and skillfully written biography of an extremely compelling woman, Naomi Osaka. Many people love her, and many people don't--but few people understand her. I think Ben Rothenberg does, and I think just about anyone would enjoy getting to know her better through this book, too. --Katelyn H. / Collections & Technical Services Show less

ADULT BIOGRAPHY: I don't think you necessarily need to follow tennis to enjoy this meticulously researched and skillfully written biography of an extremel...Show more ADULT BIOGRAPHY: I don't think you necessarily need to follow tennis to enjoy this meticulously researched and skillfully written biography of an extremely compelling woman, Naomi Osaka. Many people love her, and many people don't--but few people understand her. I think Ben Rothenberg does, and I think just about anyone would enjoy getting to know her better through this book, too. --Katelyn H. / Collections & Technical Services Show less

Not Currently Available.Holds: 0 on 0 copies

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Pox Romana

Pox Romana

The Plague That Shook the Roman World

by Elliott, Colin P.

Book - 2024

ADULT NONFICTION: A timely history exploring the financial, political, and medical impacts of a pandemic on a multi-national society. This book helped me ...Show more ADULT NONFICTION: A timely history exploring the financial, political, and medical impacts of a pandemic on a multi-national society. This book helped me understand what has happened over the last five years and what the consequences may be of the next pandemic. --Rachel W. / Barbara Bush Branch Show less

ADULT NONFICTION: A timely history exploring the financial, political, and medical impacts of a pandemic on a multi-national society. This book helped me ...Show more ADULT NONFICTION: A timely history exploring the financial, political, and medical impacts of a pandemic on a multi-national society. This book helped me understand what has happened over the last five years and what the consequences may be of the next pandemic. --Rachel W. / Barbara Bush Branch Show less

All copies in use Availability details Holds: 1 on 1 copy

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