Using our Library Voices

It's time to jump into fear...of your own home.

Title: Incidents Around the House

Author: Josh Malerman

Reviewed by: Laura H.

Created by the Podcast Team at the Harris County Public Library.
www.hcpl.net

Podcast Team Members include: Jennifer Finch, John Harbaugh, Katelyn Helberg, Beth Krippel, Alinda Mac, Mary Mink, John Schaffer,  Sadina Shawver, Dylan Smith, and Nancy Hu. 


In memory of Darcy Casavant. 

Dystopian SF brings Invisible Man to a massive scale. 

Title: This Great Hemisphere

Author: Mateo Askaripour

Reviewed by: Katelyn H. 

Created by the Podcast Team at the Harris County Public Library.
www.hcpl.net

Podcast Team Members include: Jennifer Finch, John Harbaugh, Katelyn Helberg, Beth Krippel, Alinda Mac, Mary Mink, John Schaffer,  Sadina Shawver, Dylan Smith, and Nancy Hu. 


In memory of Darcy Casavant. 

Is Cozy Horror and oxymoron?  Not after you hear Laura explain it and share a few of her favorites. 

Genre: Cozy Horror

Reads:

The Hollow Places T. Kingfisher

Such Sharp Teeth Rachel Harrison

Gravekeeper series starting with The Whispering Dead by Darcy Coates

Reviewed by: Laura H.

Created by the Podcast Team at the Harris County Public Library.
www.hcpl.net

Podcast Team Members include: Jennifer Finch, John Harbaugh, Katelyn Helberg, Beth Krippel, Alinda Mac, Mary Mink, John Schaffer,  Sadina Shawver, Dylan Smith, and Nancy Hu. 


In memory of Darcy Casavant. 

Welcome to the second episode of Survival By The Book, the podcast series where local librarians learn about how to prepare for emergency situations because being prepared shouldn't be complicated. 

What does it really mean to be prepared — not just for emergencies, but for uncertainty itself?

In this episode we continue our conversation on emergency preparedness by exploring the stages of a crisis and the critical difference between preparation and mitigation. Together, we unpack how emergencies unfold, how alerts and warnings are designed to keep communities informed, and why the choices we make before a disaster can shape how we recover afterward.

We talk about how to become "antifragile" and not simply survive difficult situations, but learn how preparation, adaptability, and community support can help people become more resilient through them. We learn that preparedness isn’t about fear — it’s about creating confidence, flexibility, and connection before crisis strikes.

Recommended readings and sources: 

Ready.gov/plan

NOAA, Watch Warning Advisory Explained, https://www.weather.gov/sjt/WatchWarningAdvisoryExplained

Alert Media, The 4 Stages of Crisis and How to Manage Them, https://www.alertmedia.com/blog/stages-of-crisis/

CAL OES News, Evacuation Warnings vs. Evacuation Orders, https://www.news.caloes.ca.gov/evacuation-warnings-vs-evacuation-orders/

Civil Air Patrol, Advanced Operational Risk Management, https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/Advanced_Risk_Management_Guide_b04e46226f614.pdf

Preparedness Now! by Edwards,Aton 

The Disaster-ready Home by Stewart, Creek

Created by the Podcast Team at the Harris County Public Library.
www.hcpl.net

Podcast Team Members include: Jennifer Finch, John Harbaugh, Katelyn Helberg, Beth Krippel, Alinda Mac, Mary Mink, John Schaffer,  Sadina Shawver, Dylan Smith, and Nancy Hu. 


In memory of Darcy Casavant. 

A group of us recommenders gathered together to talk about how we find reads, and it may not be where you expected. 

There are a lot of resources in this podcast, but here are some mentions:

Reads with Rachel

Epic Reads

Simon Teen & Simon Pulse

Penguin Teen

The Novl

Get Underlined

Sadie Hartmann/Mother Horror

National Park after Dark Podcast Bookshelf

Goodreads

RomanceIO

HCPLSARAIA

American Library Association Books and Media Awards

Texas Library Association Reading Lists

Reddit: Science Fiction

Reddit: Top Character Tropes

Reddit: Books That Feel Like This

Created by the Podcast Team at the Harris County Public Library.
www.hcpl.net

Podcast Team Members include: Jennifer Finch, John Harbaugh, Katelyn Helberg, Beth Krippel, Alinda Mac, Mary Mink, John Schaffer,  Sadina Shawver, Dylan Smith, and Nancy Hu. 


In memory of Darcy Casavant. 

Celebrity, fan fiction, and Star Trek collide:  Beth shares how trippy a ride it can be when reading a "mem-noir".

Title: Fan Fiction: a Mem-noir Inspired by True Events

Author: Brent Spiner

Reviewed by: Beth K. 

Created by the Podcast Team at the Harris County Public Library.
www.hcpl.net

Podcast Team Members include: Jennifer Finch, John Harbaugh, Katelyn Helberg, Beth Krippel, Alinda Mac, Mary Mink, John Schaffer,  Sadina Shawver, Dylan Smith, and Nancy Hu. 


In memory of Darcy Casavant. 

Nikki's sharing the thrilling trend of Escape Room stories.  Included in this Reading Room Radio review are:

The Escape Game, Marissa Meyer

Six Must Die, Victoria Wlosok

The Grandest Game, Jennifer Lynn Barnes

No Escape, Maren Stoffels

Race for the Escape, Christopher Edge

The Escape Room, Megan Golden

Reviewed by: Nikki S.

Created by the Podcast Team at the Harris County Public Library.
www.hcpl.net

Podcast Team Members include: Jennifer Finch, John Harbaugh, Katelyn Helberg, Beth Krippel, Alinda Mac, Mary Mink, John Schaffer,  Sadina Shawver, Dylan Smith, and Nancy Hu. 


In memory of Darcy Casavant. 

Welcome to the first episode of Survival By The Book, the podcast series where local librarians learn about how to prepare for emergency situations because being prepared shouldn't be complicated. 

Have you ever been without power, caught in a flood, facing incliment weather first time or any other emergency situation but hadn't prepared for it or didn't know where to start?

Well lucky for you that's what this first episode is all about. Join us as we talk about what makes a situation an emergency, some practical skills to have, and ways to reduce/minimize feelings of panic until rescue or resolution. You also get a little background info about your local librarians and their experiences and expertise with emergency situations. 

Recommended Readings: 

Prepare your family for survival by Linda Loosli

Prepared by Mike Glover

The unthinkable: Who survives when disaster strikes – and why by Amanda Ripley

The urban prepper's guide: How to become self-sufficient and prepared for the next crisis by Jim Cobb

Find out more ways to be prepared by visiting: 

https://www.ready.gov/

https://www.readyharris.org/

Created by the Podcast Team at the Harris County Public Library.
www.hcpl.net

Podcast Team Members include: Jennifer Finch, John Harbaugh, Katelyn Helberg, Beth Krippel, Alinda Mac, Mary Mink, John Schaffer,  Sadina Shawver, Dylan Smith, and Nancy Hu. 


In memory of Darcy Casavant. 

Curious about more cozy mysteries?  Beth shares another find in the historical cozy mystery genre.

Series: Countess of Harleigh by Dianne Freeman

Reviewed by: Beth K.

First Book in series: A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder

Created by the Podcast Team at the Harris County Public Library.
www.hcpl.net

Podcast Team Members include: Jennifer Finch, John Harbaugh, Katelyn Helberg, Beth Krippel, Alinda Mac, Mary Mink, John Schaffer,  Sadina Shawver, Dylan Smith, and Nancy Hu. 


In memory of Darcy Casavant. 

Sadina shares two novellas that use the horror genre to challenge our understanding of grief and relationships.

Titles: Come Closer by Sara Gran

Crossroads by Laurel Hightower

Reviewed by: Sadina S. 

Created by the Podcast Team at the Harris County Public Library.
www.hcpl.net

Podcast Team Members include: Jennifer Finch, John Harbaugh, Katelyn Helberg, Beth Krippel, Alinda Mac, Mary Mink, John Schaffer,  Sadina Shawver, Dylan Smith, and Nancy Hu. 


In memory of Darcy Casavant.