Paper Trail

Magic Lost, Trouble Found

2011-11-30T12:33:00.000-08:00

Title: Magic Lost, Trouble Found

Author: Lisa Shearin

Series: Raine Benares Series

Raine Benares – elf, seeker of lost objects & missing people, and theonly legitimately-employed member of the infamous Benares family of smugglersand thieves – was just trying to keep a friend out of trouble when she landedhip deep into trouble herself. Now she’son the run from the crazy infighting goblin royal family, the leader of thelocal underworld, and the scrumptious Paladin of the Guardians, all of whomwant control of the amulet which bestows unlimited magical power.

And all Raine wants is to get rid of it!

Running Blind

2011-10-18T12:45:00.000-07:00

Jenna Dougherty and her doctor friend, Magdalena, are on a medical mission trip to Mexico when they are kidnapped by a dangerous Mexican mob. Blinded by an injury and held captive, Jenna fears the worst. Enter Nick Jansen. He finds Jenna, but where is Magdalena? Nick rescues Jenna and gets her her safely across the border. Back in Houston, she discovers that her friend was murdered. Everyone believes the good doctor was dealing drugs. Jenna refuses to accept this. As she sets out to prove Magdalena’s innocence, there are repeated attempts on her own life. Are they related to the trip and her friend’s death, or is something else going on? And will she ever see again?

Mysterious Firsts #12- The In Death Mysteries

2011-09-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

Eve Dallas is a homicide detective in New York of the 2050s, assigned to investigate the murder of a senator's granddaughter. Roarke is a self-made Irish billionaire. He is also a suspect in her investigation. Eve ignores every warning to not become involved with a suspect, and does something she has never done before: trust.

Each book in the series can be read as a standalone. Read in order, however, you get to witness the growing relationship between Eve and Roarke, and the growing cast of characters who become important to them both.

1) Naked in Death
2) Glory in Death
3) Immortal in Death
4) Rapture in Death
5) Ceremony in Death
6) Vengeance in Death
7) Holiday in Death
8) Midnight in Death [novela]
9) Conspiracy in Death
10) Loyalty in Death
11) Witness in Death
12) Judgement in Death
13) Betrayal in Death
14) Interlude in Death [novela]
15) Seduction in Death
16) Reunion in Death
17) Purity in Death
18) Portrait in Death
19) Imitation in Death
20) Remember When
21) Divided in Death
22) Visions in Death
23) Survivor in Death
24) Origin in Death
25) Memory in Death
26) Haunted in Death [novela]
27) Born in Death
28) Innocent in Death
29) Eternity in Death [novela]
30) Creation in Death
31) Strangers in Death
32) Salvation in Death
33) Ritual in Death [novela]
34) Promises in Death
35) Kindred in Death
36) Missing in Death [novela]
37) Fantasy in Death
38) Indulgence in Death
39) Possession in Death [novela]
40) Treachery in Death
41) New York to Dallas

Danger on her Doorstep

2011-07-12T16:04:00.000-07:00

Danger on Her Doorstep
By: Rachelle McCalla

Maggie Arnold returns to Holyoake, Iowa, to settle her father’s estate. Was his death truly just an accident? All Maggie wants to do is finish the renovations on the house he was working on when he died. Who is trying to prevent her from doing so? And what about the handyman she has hired to help her? No one in town seems to want to trust him. Should Maggie?

Fools Rush In

2011-06-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

Fools Rush In
By: Janice Thompson

This is the first book in the Weddings by Bella series. It features Bella Rossi. Bella’s parents retire and turn over the management of the family’s wedding planning business to her. First, she changes the name from “Bella’s Wedding Facility” to the more modern sounding “Club Wed”. Next, she decides to expand from doing only traditional weddings to planning themed ones.

This is a romantic comedy. Bella meets the man of her dreams (the romance) through a hilarious mix-up (the comedy). Her loving family and unwavering faith in God get her through everything that comes her way.

2011-05-31T14:44:00.000-07:00

“Big Girl” by Danielle Steele, is the story of an overweight woman who struggles with losing weight, satisfying her family, and finding love. Victoria was the first born to beautiful parents. She is named after her Great-Grandmother who is not considered beautiful, because she bears a resemblance to her. When her sister is born just as beautiful as her parents, her father begins to refer to Victoria as his tester cake, (didn’t come out right the first time, but the second time was perfect). The book takes a journey through her life in which she faces many ups and downs. The lesson to learn is people aren’t perfect but there is a perfect person for everyone.

The Catcher in the Rye

2011-04-11T05:21:00.000-07:00

The Catcher in the Rye
By: J.D. Salinger

One of the most beloved and controversial classics, Catcher in the Rye is THE book to read or share with a teen. You follow teen Holden Caulfield as he goes through a personal crisis while touring New York City after getting kicked out of yet another school. His focus on clinging to his childhood while protecting other children (being a “catcher in the rye”) clashes with the reality of getting older and the trials of life. Funny yet depressing at times, Catcher in the Rye is one of those novels that you have to read at least once…but you’ll end up reading at least twice!

Ryan
Central Library

The Warmth of Other Suns

2011-04-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

The Warmth of Other Suns
By: Isabel Wilkerson

The Warmth of Other Suns is a labor of love and respect by journalist/author Isabel Wilkerson. After years of collecting oral history interviews, Wilkerson shares the true story of the Great Migration, a long stretch of time where there was a mass migration of African Americans from the Southern states to the Midwest, East and West coast. The book follows three narrators as they tell what life was like for them as a child, why they each chose to move, what their journey was like, and how life was once they made it to their destinations. It is an eye-opening account of what the country was like in the 20th century, and how perseverance, desire and hope can take someone anywhere, and how just because you arrive somewhere new doesn't mean everything has changed. This is a book you need to read to learn the history of this country and its people.

Olivia
Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee Library

Empire Falls

2011-04-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

Empire Falls
By: Richard Russo

Never has there been such a novel that can so easily create such vivid characters and community. Empire Falls by Richard Russo is a gentle, funny, touching novel that seamlessly weaves many characters and story lines to create a rich and vibrant environment that the reader gets lost in. Such a great novel! Read it today, you won't regret it!

Bunmi
Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee Library

Olive Kitteridge

2011-04-07T09:54:00.000-07:00

Olive Kitteridge
By: Elizabeth Strout

Olive Kitteridge is a great novel that is written in an interesting way. The book is broken up into chapters, but each chapter is its own short story. The stories all revolve around the title character, Olive Kitteridge. Sometimes she's the main character in the story, sometimes she's a supporting character, or sometimes she's just mentioned in passing. But with each story, you get to know a different part of Olive and the community that she lives in. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 2009, Olive Kitteridge is a novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Tricia
Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

2011-04-07T09:50:00.000-07:00

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
By: Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is one of the most remarkable, magical books that you will ever read! Forget the movies (and yes, they do a fine job by themselves) it's the book that truly takes you through this candy-making factory with one of the weirdest hosts ever written! Follow Charlie and his grandfather as he manages to win the golden ticket and with it, the tour of the great Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory!! Though a children's book, all ages will enjoy it!

Melissa
Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee Library

Rascal

2011-04-07T09:38:00.000-07:00

Rascal
By: Sterling North

A hidden classic! Rascal is the true story about Sterling North's boyhood in the Midwest. He stumbles across a baby raccoon and decides to adopt it and raise it as his pet! Tagging alongside him for years as he grows, Rascal becomes one of the family...but for how long can a wild animal remain in a house?? Make sure you read this and share it with everyone!

Makeytta
Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee Library

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet

2011-04-07T09:31:00.001-07:00

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet
By: Jaimie Ford

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet is one of the sweetest, saddest, powerful novels that I have read in years! It follows the life Henry Lee in two different times in his life: his childhood and as a recent widower. He notices that a hotel in his old neighborhood is being renovated and has posted a public notice to clean out their storage room. Henry remembers something so very valuable to him in there, and goes to the hotel to find it. A great drama, a great romance, and a heartbreaking time in the history of the country during the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. A great novel for all!

Linda
Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee Library

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet

2011-04-07T09:15:00.000-07:00

The Catcher in the Rye

2011-04-07T09:11:00.000-07:00

The Catcher in the Rye

2011-04-07T09:07:00.000-07:00

The Catcher in the Rye

2011-04-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Water for Elephants

2011-04-07T08:43:00.000-07:00

Water for Elephants
By: Sara Gruen

This wonderful novel brings the magic of the circus to the reader while combining amazing storytelling by the author, Sara Gruen. Jacob Jankowski is about to take his last exam before officially becoming a veterinarian and starting his life. Right before the exam he gets some news that sends him, unpredictably, to meet up with a circus train. From there Jacob strikes a friendship with the circus workers, Rosie the elephant, and Marlena, who Jacob falls in love with instantly. The only thing in his way is August, the brutal head trainer. Mixing the present time with the glamorous and gritty time of the early 20th century, Water for Elephants is one of the best novels to come out in years! Make sure you read it before the movie comes out in the summer of 2011!

Mechelle
Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee Library

Water for Elephants

2011-04-07T08:31:00.000-07:00

Nocturne

2011-04-07T08:27:00.000-07:00

Nocturne
By: Syrie James

Nocturne by Syrie James is yet another vampire romance novel, but it's one that will draw you right in. I'll admit these types of books are a guilty pleasure and I wouldn't be caught dead reading it in public, but I'm so glad I picked it up.

Nicole is a 29 year old California woman returning home from a friend's ski resort wedding in Colorado. After having spent a couple of extra days to enjoy some skiing on her own, she finds herself racing to avoid the impending snowstorm, navigating mountain roads to get to her airport in time. As she makes her way, the snowfall gradually becomes worse and she soon finds herself in whiteout conditions, inevitably becoming stuck in an embankment. Soon catching the eye of Michael, the mysterious stranger and savior, he takes her to his secluded cabin for the next few days to wait out the storm. Here, in complete isolation, she begins noticing strange things about Michael. Secrets begin to be revealed as she confronts him, and they begin to fall for one another despite their pasts. Powerful feelings in such a short amount of time...can they make it together?

I would recommend Nocturne as a nice little break from the ordinary, best enjoyed on cold, cloudy days. I guarantee that you won't be able to put to book down, so make sure your schedule is clear or you'll be dying to know what happens next.

Aya
Indian River Library

Water for Elephants

2011-04-07T04:49:00.001-07:00

Wish

2011-04-07T04:37:00.000-07:00

Wish
By: Alexandra Bullen

WISH by Alexandra Bullen is the story of twin sisters, Olivia Larsen and Violet Larsen. For Olivia, nothing can change the fact that her twin sister, Violet, is gone. Until a mysterious gown arrives on her doorstep. The dress doesn't just look magical, it is magical. It has the power to grant her one wish, and the only Wish Olivia wants is her sister back again. With Violet again by her side, both girls get a second chance at life. And as the sisters soon discover, they have two more dresses and two wishes left.
Olivia learns that magic can't solve everything and she is forced to confront her ghosts to learn how to laugh, love and live again.
WISH asks the question: If you could have anything, what would you wish for?

Pat
South Norfolk Library

Tough Without a Gun: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of Humphrey Bogart

2011-04-07T04:31:00.001-07:00

Tough Without a Gun: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of Humphrey Bogart
By: Stefan Kanfer

Ranked by the American Film Institute as the greatest male star in American cinema history, Humphrey Bogart was one of a kind.

In a new biography, Tough Without a Gun: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of Humphrey Bogart, Stefan Kanfer explores the fascinating journey that led Bogart - a cultured, courtly man off-screen- to become the most imitated tough guy in motion pictures.

The book presents Bogart as a man who decided early in life that there were two kinds of people: professionals and bums. He wanted to be a professional - and he spent many years working toward that goal in New York theaters and in Hollywood studios, eventually becoming the highest-paid actor of his time. High Sierra, The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca…any actor would be proud to have one of these films on his resume; Bogie had all three - and an Oscar, too, for his performance in The African Queen.

Tough Without a Gun is both entertaining and engaging, a sleek biography guaranteed to send the reader in search of the films so richly described within it.

I would recommend this book to any Bogart fan or movie buff.

Melanie
Central Library

Dead Man Running

2011-04-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

Dead Man Running
By: Ross Coulhart and Duncan McNab

Their motto is “We are the people our parents warned us about.” They are one of the most notorious and salacious biker gangs in American and Australian history. They are the Bandidos, one of the infamous “One Percenter” outlaw motorcycle gangs that populate the international criminal underworld. Dealing in drugs and illegal weapons, among other, even less savory forms of income if such can be imagined, the Bandidos have carved a bloody and vicious foothold in the Australian criminal circuit. As related to the authors by a former member-turned-information, Stevan Utah of their Australian chapter, the book details the dealings and sordid history of the Bandidos motorcycle gang, one of the criminal element that has served to give Australian biker gangs a deservedly sanguine reputation. The authors tell the tale through correspondences and indirect dealings with Steve Utah, a man at one time responsible for club security and counterintelligence who tired of the criminal life and turned rat on his former gang brethren, knowing full well that doing so would turn him into a “Dead Man Running.” He condemned himself, he knew, to forever fleeing the inevitable and violent end that was sure to befall him if his former brothers ever caught him for revealing their shady dealings. Michael Duffy of the Sydney Morning Herald called it “…a good read, full of accounts of murder, mayhem and dirty dealing.” True to form, the book lives up to its reputation, and was an engaging peek into the world of the outlaw motorcycle gang, told from the perspective of a man, who even to this day, frightfully awaits his sudden end by the knife, the gun or the bomb wielded by a former friend.

Jack
Russell Memorial

The Politician

2011-04-06T12:35:00.000-07:00

The Politician
By: Andrew Young

“An insider’s account of John Edwards’s pursuit of the presidency and the scandal that brought him down”

Have you ever worked with someone on a particular project that you both had a common interest in and then found out later that he/she betrayed your trust and damaged your reputation? Well that’s what happened to me. I worked on a presidential campaign and accompanied the candidate early in the campaign when he was asked by the media, if he had an affair with his campaign filmmaker. He repeatedly denied the accusations. One day he finally decided to “come clean” and admit his infidelities and acknowledge the birth of an illegitimate daughter.

All of this sparked my interest when I saw the cover of a book by Andrew Young, long time aide to John Edwards. Young tells an account of Edwards’ rise and fall as a presidential hopeful as it relates to his affair with Rielle Hunter. He explained how John and Rielle were able to meet each other on the campaign trail and how the author himself assisted in the scheduling of their various rendezvous down to the details of hotel arrivals and departures so that they would not be seen. Young went as far to book reservations under his name, causing suspicion from his wife.
Looking for some real life political drama, this may be the book for you.

Jennifer
Russell Memorial

Wishful Thinking

2011-04-06T12:23:00.000-07:00

Wishful Thinking
By: Alexandra Bullen

Hazel has a pretty dreary life. She was adopted as an infant, her Mom passed away when she was young, she's lived in foster homes ,and she now lives with a man, Roy, who's relationship to her is unclear other than he loved her Mom. It seems taking pictures with an old camera that belonged to her Mom is the only thing that gives her any happiness. Then on her eighteenth birthday Roy hands her an envelope with her birth certificate inside.

After researching her mother's name Hazel discovers she will be at an event only four bus rides away. Determined to met her mother, she takes the one dress she owns to a seamstress whose card was inside it to have a seam fixed, only to have the person in the store tell her they are closed. On her way out the dress falls out of her bag and catches the seamstress' eye. After a few questions she agrees to take the dress and tells Hazel to come back in two hours. Hazel realizes when changing in the ferry station that the dress is different, but it looks so good on her she doesn't care and is off.

So how would you feel to finally be meeting your real mother, in a great dress and looking better than you ever have, and realize that you are at her wake? Hazel scrambles out of the restaurant as fast as she can and walks onto a ferry in a daze. She's thinking life is unfair and she wishes she had gotten to know her mother first. Exhausted from all the emotion Hazel lays her head down on her arms. When she awakens things don't look right. She doesn't even recognize the ferry she is on! In the dress bag she finds a note that explains her dress had the power to grant a wish. Hazel is now in a place where her mother was before Hazel was even born. She has her chance to get to know her mother.

I found taking Hazel's journey of gaining confidence, finding her real mother, helping her and making some tough choices very enjoyable.

Christine
Indian River Library

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

2011-04-06T10:02:00.000-07:00

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
By: Mo Willems

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is one of my all time favorite book. The main character in this story is a sly pigeon named Pigeon. The story begins with a bus driver needing to step away from his bus for a second, but before he leaves he says to the readers "Don't let the pigeon drive the bus.". Shortly after the pigeon appears trying to trick its readers into allowing him to drive the bus. The Pigeon comes up with clever ways into trying to trick the readers. Once the bus driver returns to the bus the pigeon is sad, because he did not get a chance drive the bus. When you turn the last page and the pigeon sees a fire truck and says "hey", with a slick smirk on his cute face. I love the simple illustrations in the story, the face expression of the pigeon will leave you in giggles. I will recommend this book to readers of all ages just to get a little laugh.

Brittany
South Norfolk Library

To Kill a Mockingbird

2011-04-06T05:14:00.000-07:00

To Kill a Mockingbird
By: Harper Lee

Scout is a young girl living in a small Alabama town in the 1930’s who is about to learn that life is not fair, that your neighbors may not be what they seem, and that heroes emerge from surprising places. The story is told from Scout’s point of view as her father, a small town lawyer, is asked to defend a black man accused of raping a white woman. Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel graphically describes the conflicts, dangers, and injustices encountered in the pre-civil rights south. Her characters are richly drawn with the weaknesses we fear and the strengths to which we aspire.

I have read this book many times and each time I come away with new insights. This book is a timeless classic which I highly recommend.

Lillian
Major Hillard Library

The Hot Box

2011-04-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

The Hot Box
By: Zane

The novel is about a veterinarian who tries to make her wealthy ex-fiance jealous by establishing a fake date. She has no luck finding a date, so she decides to pay a homeless man to be her date for the night. They later fall in love, but she gets herself in a love triangle. I highly recommend this novel because it shows that love has no boundaries, but its for mature audiences only.

Lamesha
South Norfolk Library

McDuff Moves In

2011-04-06T04:57:00.000-07:00

McDuff Moves In
By: Rosemary Wells

This book is the beginning of a series of books centering around a little white Westhighland Terrier. He jumps out of a dogcatcher truck and tries to find a good home. After several attempts he finds a young couple with no children and no other pets. On the way back to return him to the dog pound, the couple decide to keep him. It becomes a perfect fit for all 3 and the beginning of an adorable series centering around the little dog and his growing family.

Robin
Central Library

Kushiel's Dart

2011-04-06T04:52:00.000-07:00

Kushiel's Dart
By: Jacqueline Carey

I highly recommend Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey, a fantasy with historical and mythological elements. It is the first in a trilogy that follows Phedre through her homeland of Terre D'Ange and far beyond it's borders. She is a courtesan with unique skills and unusual desires, but she is quickly drawn into a world of political intrigue. Underestimated by most, she becomes much more than a simple servant.

Carey creates a colorful and fascinating world, all the more appealing because of it's roots in our own past.

Kim
Central Library

The Wedding Bargain

2011-04-06T04:48:00.000-07:00

The Wedding Bargain
By: Agnes Sligh Turnbull

Lisa Hanford was, for the past 7 years, in love with her millionaire boss, Daniel Morgan. When he asks her to marry him she accepts the bargain he offers her to be a wife in name only.Outwardly she was the perfect wife for Daniel but inwardly she is rebellious of her new life and the bargain she has made. But when Daniel is accused of murder and his dark past in the coal fields of Pennsylvania comes into play. Will Lisa’s pride stand in the way or will she fight to save the man she loves? Story takes place in 1930, but even today it’s a real page turner.

Gabriele
Greenbrier Library

The One Minute Millionaire

2011-04-06T04:42:00.000-07:00

The One Minute Millionaire
By: Robert G. Allen and Mark Victor Hanson

I recommend “One Minute Millionaire”, written by Robert G. Allen & Mark Victor Hanson who share secrets of ways of achieving wealth and success. This book gives simple but practical explanations on how to use the “millionaire minute” solutions and how to gain and become wealthy with several important money management skills. This book is split in two, the right side of the book (the brain) tells fictional stories of how principles can be applied to real life situations, the left side of the book (the brain)contains facts and figures which teach the principles, thought patterns, and techniques used by thousands of millionaires across the country.
“One Minute Millionaire” is an excellent read that manages to both entertain and instruct. The authors provide in depth personal experience and share time-tested money making strategies, an individual can gain knowledge, skills, and desire to become successful in their financial and personal lives from reading this book."

Andrieta
Greenbrier Library

God Don't Like Ugly

2011-04-06T04:38:00.000-07:00

God Don't Like Ugly
By: Mary Monroe

God Don't Like Ugly follows the life of Annette Goode from childhood to early adulthood and the struggles and hardships that she endured during this time. Annette is abandoned by her father and raised by a single mom. The book focuses on Annette being molested from the age of 7 to teenager by a family friend and boarder, Mr Boatwright. With the support of her good friend Rhoda, she is able to get through this difficult time. The book is somewhat of a tearjerker and maybe difficult for some to read. I enjoyed it because it showed how Annette was able to triumph over barriers to get to a positive outcome in her life. Definitely and pageturner, but highly recommened to everybody

Erinn
Indian River Library

Wither

2011-04-05T13:44:00.000-07:00

Wither
By: Lauren DeStefano

Wither opens on a world suffering from the aftershocks of excessive genetic engineering. Every person born into the second generation dies a premature death, at the age of 20 for women and 25 for men. This has resulted in mass hysteria among the public and kidnapping of young women who are then forced into polygamous marriages. Rhine Ellery lives a cautious and difficult life with her brother until the day she is knocked out and thrown in a dark truck with numerous other girls. Rhine becomes one of three girls chosen to be the new wife of Linden Ashby, the governor’s son. Expecting a life of abuse and rape, Rhine is surprised to find that Linden is respectful of her and kind. However, his father, Vaughn is a scientist determined to find a cure for his son before Linden’s 25th birthday. Vaughn’s quest to heal his son knows no bounds and he will try anything, no matter how cruel, to reach his goal. Although Rhine begins to love her sister-wives and even makes a friend with servant boy, Gabriel, she must find a way to escape the house before Vaughn decides to experiment on her.

Wither is Lauren DeStefano’s debut work and what a story she created! Although the world that Rhine inhabits is very dystopian, DeStefano shuns excessive world-building and instead focuses on developing convincing relationships between her characters. Not one character is wholly good or bad and their interactions with each other are the heart of the book. In some cases that might make for quite a dull storyline but Wither keeps you on your toes until the very end. This was a truly fascinating debut and I look forward to getting my hands on the next book in the series.

The Bottom Line: Wither was an intriguing dystopian book by a talented debut author. The storyline is inventive but read it for the amazing characters! They are the heart of the book. Fans of dystopian fiction, particularly the new release Across the Universe, should really enjoy this one. It also might appeal to readers who enjoy YA fantasy as well.

Stephanie
Russell Memorial Library

Hilda the Wicked Witch: Snow White Revisited

2011-04-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

Hilda the Wicked Witch: Snow White Revisited
By: Paul Kater

In this book it is basicaly a recap of the story snow white, but it is told from the point of view of a witch that lives in the forest and how she would try to stop the queen from killing snow white. in the book author gose of from the movie and the original version when talking about snow white. the book itself was funny and a great why to spend your time if you have a free weekend. the book also mentions some fairy tale characters from other stories.

Thomas
Indian River Library

Rhett Butler's People

2011-04-05T13:07:00.000-07:00

Rhett Butler's People
By: Donald McCaig

This is the authorized novel based on Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind. If you love Gone with the Wind then I think you will LOVE this book as much as I do. This has become one of my all time favorite novels.

Donald McCaig weaves a wonderful story that is a true compliment to GWTW. The story is told thru the eyes of Rhett Butler. We discover the back stories of Belle Watling, Rhett’s sister Rosemary and childhood friend Jack Ravanel, just a few of the people and relationships that shape the character of the man we have come to love. We get to meet Rhett before that fateful Twelve Oaks picnic and the book continues to weave in and out of the well known events of GWTW. Donald McCaig takes us beyond the Rhett’s dramatic GWTW exit.

I couldn’t put this book down, have read it several times over and I often recommend it to patrons when they are searching for something new to read.

Cami
Indian River Library

The Necklace From Antiquity to the Present

2011-04-05T12:47:00.000-07:00

The Necklace From Antiquity to the Present
By: Daniela Mascetti and Amanda Triossi

I recently read and re-read the book, The Necklace From Antiquity to the Present by Daniela Mascetti and Amanda Triossi. This was an absolutely riveting non-fiction book. I have always loved to browse through the nicer jewelry stores. From the time I was a small child I loved to browse the jewelry stores at the mall. Did you know that even Neiman Marcus's fine jewelry associates are courteous and will let an average girl try on jewelry worth more than $100,000?

This book helped me learn so much about the origins of the necklace. I learned about Egyptian broad collars and pectorals, Greek necklaces made of gold acorns and coins, and later necklaces of fine gemstones. There are chokers, garlands, fringe, sautoirs, and lavallieres to name a few of the types.

I loved this book. The many pictures were amazing- I only wish I could hold and admire the real necklaces! In light of Elizabeth Taylor's recent passing and love affair with jewelry- I am glad to have read this one cover to cover. It's encouraged me to travel once again north to The Smithsonian's Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Gems and Minerals to admire the beauty our earth produces.

Enjoy!

Kerry
Central Library

The Great Divorce

2011-04-05T11:42:00.001-07:00

The Great Divorce
By: C.S. Lewis

Most people are familiar with C.S. Lewis's children's series The Chronicles of Narnia, however he wrote fables or allegories for adults as well. The Great Divorce is a tongue in cheek ghost story following a group of people on a bus ride from Hell to Heaven. Hell is described as place where people wait at the same dark dirty bus stop everyday in the pouring rain. As soon as the bus riders arrive in Heaven it's obvious that most of them cannot stay because they will not change, they expect Heaven to change for them. As one of ghosts notes the grass is hard on their feet and it will not bend. I recommend this book because C. S. Lewis successfully uses symbolism to prove a point about human nature and his writing style is so enjoyable wether he is writing for children or adults.

Marianne
Central Library

Cate of the Lost Colony

2011-04-05T11:39:00.001-07:00

Cate of the Lost Colony
By: Lisa Klein

This historical fiction young adult novel tells the story of Cate, a maid for Queen Elizabeth who develops a romantic interest in Sir Walter Ralegh. Cate angers the Queen, who claims that Sir Walter is hers and hers alone, and is sent to the Tower for punishment. The smitten Ralegh convinces the Queen to sent Cate to America, where he secretly plans to join her. Cate's life is drastically changed as she establishes her new life in Roanoke. Will she survive long enough to see Sir Walter Ralegh again?

Sasha
Indian River Library

I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!

2011-04-05T09:51:00.000-07:00

I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!
By: Karen Beaumont and David Catrow

This colorful book introduces a young boy who loves to paint… EVERYWHERE. When his mama catches him painting on the floor, ceiling, walls, curtains, and door she takes away the paint and tells him "Ya ain't a-gonna paint no more!" However, the boy finds the paint and proceeds with painting his body. Cleverly written in rhyming verses, and enhanced by quirky and colorful illustrations, this book is a sure win with any young child. Children will have fun guessing what the next rhyming word is going to be, and enjoy the pictures as they interact with the story. The rhymes in this book can either be read, or sung. The possibilities are endless.

Jessica
Indian River Library

Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook

2011-04-05T09:39:00.000-07:00

Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook

This edition contains 500 recipes which I found to be very enjoyable and healthy for all occasions. It also included a new chapter on slow cooking which I really loved.The full-color pictures are very inviting. There are plenty of tips, advices and ideas for the new as well as experienced cooks. There are more selections on vegetarian and whole grain dishes. Recipes are easy to follow and the ingredients are simple and easy to find. How-to-instructions and nutritional information are very helpful and informative. I tried some of the recipes and I enjoyed every bite of it! This book gets my 4 star ratings.

Raquel
Indian River Library

Savvy

2011-04-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

Savvy
By: Ingrid Law

Mississippi Beaumont, or Mibs, isn't a typical twelve year old. She's got a brother who can make lightning strike, a brother who can cause hurricanes, a mom who's just perfect, and Mibs is about to turn thirteen and find out what her secret talent (or her Savvy) is. When her dad is in an awful car crash the day before her birthday she stows away on a big pink bus along with her storm-causing brother Fish, her silent brother Samson, and the local preacher's kids to try to get to her Poppa and save him. Along the way she and her band of mischief-makers learn a lot about themselves and their relationships with each other.

The most striking thing about this novel is the voice. Mibs and her brothers have to learn to "scumble their savvies" and Law describes Mibs' Grandpa as such: "When Grandpa wasn't a grandpa and was just instead a small-fry, hobbledehoy boy blowing out thirteen dripping candles on a lopsided cake, his savvy hit him hard and sudden...and the entire state of Idaho got made. At least, that's the way Grandpa Bomba always told the story." The relationships between Mibs and her brothers, as well as between the Beaumont siblings and their newfound friends are authentic and well-formed. Savvy is an extremely enjoyable read for kids ages 9 to 12.

Laura
Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee Library

This Time Together - Laughter and Reflection

2011-04-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

This Time Together - Laughter and Reflection
By: Carol Burnett

I read Carol Burnett's biography "This Time Together Laughter and Reflection" and I definitely would recommend it for those of us who grew up with her weekly comedy show. It took me back to memories I had of watching her show with my family and friends a very different time from the shows we have today. If you liked her show you will like her book. She manages to bring her comedic self into her book has some very funny stories to tell.

Lydia
Central Library

The Walking Dead

2011-04-05T08:11:00.000-07:00

The Walking Dead
By: Robert Kirkman

Whenever I finish reading a good book I often think, “That would make a great movie!” This time it worked the other way around for me. After watching the TV series “The Walking Dead”, I found to my delight that the library had a four-volume set of graphic novels which contain the comic book series this show was created from. I don’t normally read graphic novels, but the artwork in these was amazing! Although the subject was the usual “apocalyptic disaster turns people into Zombies” common to horror books and films, the characters in this saga were so lifelike that (should there be a future Zombie attack) you would definitely want to be among this group of survivors! The book differed from the TV series in that it was a little darker, a little bloodier and a little more disturbing – which is the way any good horror story should be; otherwise it really would be just a comic strip.

Alice
Central Library

The Screwtape Letters

2011-04-05T08:08:00.000-07:00

The Screwtape Letters
By: C.S. Lewis

We all know the feeling, you’re sitting in church or synagogue and feel like the minister/preacher/rabbi is speaking directly to you. You don’t look over our shoulder for fear you’ll meet someone’s eye and THEY WILL KNOW. Read this thin book by C.S. Lewis and you’ll experience the same feeling, but HORROR, IT’S THE DEVIL WHO IS SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO YOU and boy, does HE know. Listen to the book on CD and you’ll need to sleep with the lights on.

Ann
Central Library

The Shack

2011-04-05T08:04:00.000-07:00

The Shack
By: William P. Young

I READ THIS BOOK ON OUR WAY TO MAUI LAST July. THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS ARE A LITTLE SLOW. I ALMOST GAVE UP. I PUT IT DOWN AND READ THE AIRLINE MAGAZINE A PASSENGER NOTICED THE BOOK AND SAID HE HAD READ IT AND CHANGED HIS LIFE. HMMM, REALLY? HOW? THEN HE WARNED ME NOT TO SKIP AND NOT TO CHEAT. SO I PICKED IT UP AGAIN AND CONTINUED. IT GAVE ME ANOTHER VIEW ON FINDING THE DIVINE IN OUR DAILY ENCOUNTERS. I LIKE THE WAY HE CHARACTERIZE THE HOLY TRINITY PARTICULARLY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THE AUTHOR SKILLFULLY EXECUTED A REMARKABLE FICTION THAT CAN ENABLE THE READER TO SAFELY GO TO A PLACE WE MAY HAVE NEVER BEEN AND WALK AWAY WITH A NEW OUTLOOK IN LIFE.

Teresita
Greenbrier Library

Decision Points and Marley and Me

2011-04-05T07:50:00.000-07:00

Decision Points
By: George W. Bush
Marley and Me
By: John Grogan

Decision Point- Biography- Former President George W.Bush. During his term he explains his decision about many subjects including what it was like to be a President, the Iraq war, cloning, Katrina, etc. I liked, I learned underneath the commander in chief there is a man like any other who had a problem with addiction, and his speech; he is a son, husband, father, friend and a business man.

Marley and Me - Relationship between a dog a man and his family. I have never read a book that has made me cry and laugh so much.

Izilda
Greenbrier Library

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

2011-04-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
By: J.K. Rowling

“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is the first book in J.K. Rowling’s seven-book series. It introduces us to Harry Potter, a young boy living with his abusive Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. Just before his eleventh birthday, Harry starts receiving letters from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Though his aunt and uncle try desperately to keep the letters from him, he eventually reads one and learns that he is a wizard and has been accepted at Hogwarts for wizard training.

After this introduction into Harry’s life, the book chronicles his first year at Hogwarts. We get to see him befriend Ron and Hermione, learn how to ride a broomstick, concoct potions and cast spells, and use an invisibility cloak. We see Harry come face to face with Voldemort, the wizard who killed his parents, and we learned that Harry is alive due to his mother’s love. Though “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” was technically written for children and young adults, it is a book that I highly recommend for all.

Jennifer
Central Library

The Lady Elizabeth

2011-04-05T07:44:00.000-07:00

The Lady Elizabeth
By: Alison Weir

The Lady Elizabeth is historical fiction. Written by Alison Weir it chronciles the life of Elizabeth I from the age of three, at the time of the death of her Mother Anne Boleyn at the hands of her father to the time she became Queen of all England.

Ms Weir weaves a very readable story about a truly historic figure and sheds some light on events that helped shaped the lady Elizabeth into a great Queen.

This book is extremely readable and hard to put down as are all of Alison Weir's books. Elizabeth was truly a daughter of Henry VIII.

I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history especially Tudor England. Even with minimal knowledge of Tudor England this book is fasinating and hard to put down.

Nancy
Central Library

The Fleet Street Murders

2011-04-05T07:41:00.000-07:00

The Fleet Street Murders
By: Charles Finch

Recently engaged amateur sleuth Charles Lennox is ask to run for Parliament. At the same time, he is looking into the murders of two journalists in London. As the Parliament race becomes heated, the investigation of the murders takes a twist. I recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries.

Jean
South Norfolk Library

Fruits Basket, Volume One

2011-04-05T07:37:00.000-07:00

Fruits Basket, Volume One
By: Natsuki Takaya

Attention all shojo manga fans! Fruits Basket, written and illustrated by mangaka Natsuki Takaya, is a “must have” for your already extensive manga collection. Volume One in this series introduces the key characters in this romantic comedy. Tohru Honda is a high school student who lives in a tent following the death of her mother. As she is walking to school one morning, she happens upon the home of one of her fellow high school peers, Yuki Sohma. Tohru soon discovers a terrible secret about the Sohma family. Several members are possessed by the animal spirits of Chinese zodiac. When one of them is hugged by a member of the opposite sex, he or she transforms into their zodiac form! Join Tohru in her adventures with the Sohma family in this 24 volume series! Once you’ve read one volume, you’re sure to be racing to the library to check out more!

Shallery
Indian River Library

The Strain

2011-04-05T07:34:00.000-07:00

The Strain
By: Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan

The Strain is a dark and fast paced thriller co-written by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan that gives a fresh take on a tired genre. If your idea of a good vampire book is Twilight or even the Sookie Stackhouse novels, then this is probably not the book for you. If you enjoy being kept on the edge of your seat and missing a few nights of sleep, then you're going to love this book. The Strain is book one in a trilogy about what happens when a vampiric plague is unleashed upon the world and the only thing standing between the human race and total annihilation is a rag tag group of survivors led by a doctor and an elderly holocaust survivor. The book reads like a movie and will leave you hungry for the next book in the series. I highly recommend reading it.

Erin
Central Library

The Passage

2011-04-05T07:31:00.000-07:00

The Passage
By: Justin Cronin

The best book I have read in a long time. Kept me enthralled from cover to cover. Read it before the movie comes out!!

Stacy
Central Library

Brando: The Biography

2011-04-05T07:12:00.000-07:00

Brando: The Biography
By: Peter Manso

Brando:The Biography is a riveting full detail biography of Marlon Brando the undisputed greatest actor of the 20th century and arguably of all time.
From his melancholy childhood in Omaha, Nebraska to his shocking revolutionary performance in "A Streetcar Named Desire", From his courageous activism in the 60's & 70's to his triumphant acting comeback with both "The Godfather" and Last Tango In Paris". Peter Manso's research is the stuff of obsession, but it's tough to argue the payoff as he delivers the most accurate and in-depth uncovery of a brilliant though tragically flawed American genius to date. I read this book a few months before I went to college and it literally changed my life, unlocking new vistas of creative expression in my life by displaying what can be accomplished through raw artistic talent not to mention soul hot acting. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who has a passion for the arts, acting, or who's just looking for the fulfillment of a thrilling psychological journey! If this nugget fails to be of inspiration to you, you may well just have a big ol hole in your soul :)

Lynn
South Norfolk Library

The Time Traveler's Wife

2011-04-05T07:09:00.001-07:00

The Time Traveler's Wife
By: Audry Niffenegger

The book that I read is The Time Traveler's Wife by Audry Niffenegger. The main characters of the book are Henry DeTamble and Clare Abshire. The plot revoves around their intertwined lives and how they deal with Henry's frequent, dangerous, and unplanned bouts of time travel to different times of his life, both future and past. All of the characters in the book were interesting and it was written in a style that was easy to read. The plot was such that you need to pay attention at all times to fully understand what is happening in the story. There are happy events in the story but in general it is a dark story. You may need a kleenex at times! I would definitely recommend this book. If you don't get it at first keep reading!

Kristine
Central Library

Sarah, Plain and Tall

2011-04-05T07:04:00.000-07:00

Sarah, Plain and Tall
By: Patricia MacLachlan

This story is set in the nineteenth century and is a Newberry Award Winner.
Anna's prairie home has been lonely for years, ever since her mother died giving birth. However when her papa places an ad in the paper for a new wife, Sarah comes to stay and brings a new spirit of love to the family.

When you look at us now and you don't have to wait on taking out an ad you can communicate by internet, you don't have to wait for a mail ordered bride or mate to come.

Sharon
Central Library

Tick Tock

2011-04-05T06:59:00.000-07:00

Tick Tock
By: James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Detective Michael Bennett is a widower on vacation with his family of 10 adopted children, his grandfather and their nanny, when he gets a call about horrific crimes of infamous killers from New York City being recreated and the whole city is terrified. Being the best NY detective there is, Bennett has to get involved. His family is put in danger, he discovers feelings for a colleague and questions his relationship with the children's nanny. Patterson has created a believable character in Michael Bennett and I enjoy reading about him. Bennett is tough and gets the job done and everyone knows that will happen, once he is on the case. A wonderful and suspenseful read for anyone.

Robbie
Major Hillard

The Great Gatsby

2011-04-05T06:56:00.000-07:00

The Great Gatsby
By: F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a story that takes place during the Roaring Twenties. The major characters of the novel are Nick Carraway, Tom and Daisy Buchanan, Myrtle and George Wilson, and Jay Gatsby. One of the major themes of the novel is the promise of the American Dream. However, in the 1920’s the American Dream became a fantasy. In writing The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald conveys the message that one cannot return to the past. He accomplishes this through narrating the fall of Jay Gatsby, whose tragic flaw is his desire to retrieve the past. After meeting Daisy, falling in love with her, and then losing her; Gatsby spends five years trying to get her back. He did not just simply want Daisy back, he yearned to seize the happy moments he had when they first met. In trying to go backwards, Gatsby is unable to achieve his dream of having Daisy for himself. I immensely enjoyed the abundance of symbolism in The Great Gatsby. It is perfect for anyone searching for a novel full of unexpected plot twists and unforgettable characters.

Jennifer
Major Hillard

Promises Beyond Jordan

2011-04-05T06:37:00.000-07:00

Promises Beyond Jordan
By: Vanessa Davis Griggs

About nine days before pastor Landris wedding, he finds out that the woman he was once in love with was in a bad car accident. He tells his wife to be he’s going out of town to see about a close friend. The day before the wedding he is not home. I could not put this book down. It’s a great book I recommend it.

Cynthia
South Norfolk Library

The Beekeeper's Apprentice

2011-04-05T06:33:00.000-07:00

The Beekeeper's Apprentice
By: Laurie R. King

Mary Russell is 15 when she runs into Sherlock Holmes, literally tripping over him as she wanders the Downs of Sussex England with her nose in a book. She has taken to wandering the Downs to escape her aunt’s oppressive presence, and in Sherlock Holmes she finds a mentor, a friend, and a sanctuary. Holmes teaches her all he knows about detection, and ultimately accepts her assistance on a variety of cases, including the kidnapping of an American Senator’s daughter. During this case, the pair comes to realize there is a master criminal involved: one whose ultimate target is Holmes himself. This is a great book, one that I reread regularly when I want to revisit the time and place peopled by the characters Ms. King so skillfully bring to life. The partnership of Holmes and Russell continues on in subsequent novels, all of them equally enjoyable.

Ann
South Norfolk Library

The Song (Sons of Destiny, No. 4)

2011-04-05T04:56:00.000-07:00

The Song (Sons of Destiny, No. 4)
By: Jean Johnson

The Song. Book 4 in the Nightfall series. This is a romance series about a group of 8 brothers born in 4 sets of cursed twins. Their country exiled them to the island of Nightfall. These books are a about the meeting of each brothers destined wife and the breaking of the curse. These books are written in an almost simultaneous fashion for each set of twins. What makes these books so unique is that the author blends different cultures and magics into a working whole while building a kingdom from scratch according to a very different set of rules for the founding of a kingdom. This is a real melding between magic and science all done with a true sense of humor.

Bonnie
Russell Memorial Library

Changing Faces

2011-04-04T13:50:00.000-07:00

Changing Faces
By: Kimberla Lawson Roby

Friends, Whitney, Taylor and Charisse are as different as salt and pepper. Whitney is constantly battling her weight, self-esteem issues and a mother and sister who insist on putting her down. Taylor is a successful attorney who has been dating a man for two years that refuses to commit despite her overwhelming desire to be married. Charisse is a control freak who makes her husband and daughter miserable while pretending all is fine around church members and friends. As the story ends, each woman either finds or loses her way.

Changing Faces is a thought-provoking and entertaining read. The author explores various issues in today’s society, facing not only African American women but women altogether. Roby's ability to draw her readers into the intertwined lives of three women while exploring each of their lives individually is commendable. During the course of the story I found myself cheering for one of the women, getting mad at one and shocked by the actions of the other. I couldn’t read the book quick enough.

Tina
Major Hillard

Not Easily Broken

2011-04-04T13:47:00.000-07:00

Not Easily Broken
By: T.D. Jakes

Not Easily Broken is about an upper class African American couple who find that their marriage has fallen into disrepair right before their eyes. The characters in this book are real. Clarice is caught up with keeping up with the Joneses and climbing the ladder of success in the real estate business; Dave is a down to earth man who is more interested in mentoring young males in the community than making money. The real drama unfolds when after a tragic accident, a young single mother and her son comes into their lives and Dave finds himself attracted to the woman. Clarice realizes that she could lose her husband and finally takes some action and looks outside of her own wants and needs to try to save the marriage. Despite a tragic turn of events; they both acknowledge that they have something worth saving. With the help of a marriage counselor and a renewed faith in God; Clarice and Dave discover that their bond is "not easily broken." I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.

Sylvia
Central Library

Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook

2011-04-04T13:41:00.000-07:00

Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook
By: Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain’s second foray into the underbelly of the restaurant industry offers up just as many snarky comments as his previous book, Kitchen Confidential with this entertaining undiluted love note. As I am a huge Top Chef fan and have watched Bourdain offer cutting criticism to many of the contestants, this book peeked my interest and did not disappoint. The written style is very similar to his inner monologues on No Reservations and the imagery he presents is just as lush and straightforward as the show. Bourdain does not mince his words but some of his tirades can take a toll on the reader if not used to his more “colorful” expressions. Despite some of his cockiness, he offers up a bit of humble pie on certain Kitchen Confidential stories with apologies to some famous cooks, permission to eat restaurant fish on Mondays, and admits that he would not be able to hack it through to the finals in Top Chef. And though I am not a particular fan of people who rage against others and their inadequacies, I would probably read anything Anthony Bourdain publishes in the future. As his ability to show the humor in his tales and within his own faults makes for an appetizing afternoon read.

Melissa
Central Library

Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral

2011-04-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral
By: Kris Radish

Katherine, Laura, Rebecca, Jill, and Marie will carry Annie's ashes to the special places in her life. At every stop there's a surprise encounter and a small miracle waiting, and as they whoop it up across the country, attracting interest wherever they go, they share their deepest secrets--tales of broken hearts and second chances, missed opportunities and new beginnings. And the celebration of Annie’s life....

Shirley
Central Library

Clever Jack Takes the Cake

2011-04-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

Clever Jack Takes the Cake
By: Candace Fleming

This book is about a poor boy named Jack. He has been invited to the princess’s 10th birthday party, but poor Jack has no money for a gift. All he owns is a spinning wheel, quilt and an ax. But clever Jack comes up with a great idea. He trades his belongings for the necessary ingredients to make a cake for the princess. While on his way to the castle he is attacked by crows, confronted by a troll, enters a dark spooky forest, is entertained by a gypsy and her dancing bear, and tricked by the castle guard. When he reaches the princes he has no gift for her. All he has left is “A STORY” And the princess loves it.

Candace Fleming has created a unique story that would be enjoyed by many boys and girls.

Jack is the reason I like this book. He’s a clever boy that is determined to make a beautiful gift for the princess.

Patricia
Russell Memorial Library

What the Night Knows

2011-04-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

What the Night Knows
By: Dean Koontz

A man fears for his family’s safety when the ghost of a brutal serial killer he killed twenty years ago when he was fourteen returns to take revenge on his wife and children. Alton Turner Blackwood murdered four families over a period of a couple of months until he was killed himself by John Calvino, the last survivor of the last family he killed. Now a homicide detective, John must face the fact that he is dealing with supernatural forces that will stop at nothing to destroy his family. I thoroughly enjoyed the development of the characters that you really grow to care about and the fast pacing of the scenes, especially towards the end.

A real page turner, great ghost story, Koontz’s latest is almost impossible to put down. It would make a great movie!

Gene
Russell Memorial Library

Turtle in Paradise

2011-04-04T13:05:00.000-07:00

Turtle in Paradise
By: Jenni Holm

TURTLE IN PARADISE is a Depression-era tale about an eleven-year-old girl named Turtle. Turtle’s Mom is a housekeeper who keeps losing her jobs and getting her heart broken . When Turtle’s Mom gets a job with an old lady who doesn’t like children, she has no other choice but to send Turtle home to Key West to live with her sister, Minerva, and three boy cousins none of whom Turtle has ever met.
Her eleven-year-old cousin, Beans, runs the Diaper Gang, a group of boys who babysit for candy. The Gang has one rule. NO GIRLS ALLOWED! Turtle usually tags along anyway and eventually learns their secret cure for diaper rash. Along the way they have adventures, meet the colorful locals (including a very familiar mustached author) and find a long lost treasure map.
TURTLE IN PARADISE is a great historical fiction novel that readers of all ages will enjoy. It is written by Jenni Holm who also writes the Baby Mouse series.

Donna
Russell Memorial Library

2011-04-04T12:15:00.000-07:00

Foxy: My Life in Three Acts
By: Pam Grier with Andrea Cagan

I admit I had some preconceptions about Pam Grier and her book before I read Foxy: My Life in Three Acts. But it’s not my fault. Until now, I had to rely on second-hand information from other people who were alive during her heyday. That information varied drastically depending on whom I asked. All of my uncles smiled and looked away whenever someone mentioned her name. My aunts talked about her “bad threads” (which I’m told meant stylish clothes) and how she beat, stabbed, and burnt a bunch of no-good men on screen. Media reports labeled her as everything from an exploited victim who was drugged up while filming her infamous nude scenes to the first Black female action hero role model on the big screen. As usual, the truth falls somewhere in between both extremes.

I enjoyed this memoir because Ms. Grier used her life as a way to address two very important issues, for women in particular: sexual abuse and sacrificing independence for matrimony. Pam was very honest about being raped twice (first time at age 6) and how those experiences shaped the rest of her life. We know her as an outspoken sex symbol now, but she grew up as a stuttering tomboy who purposely downplayed her beauty as a defense mechanism against any future abuse. She’s over 60 years old now and still gets scared around men who wear striped shirts because one of her attackers wore a similar shirt.

Given how many men, from legendary athletes and performers to businessmen and janitors, wanted to breathe the same air as Pam Grier, I can’t believe how unlucky in love she was! Truthfully, she chose to date a bunch of drug-addicted losers. Even the ones who didn’t have a warning sign tattooed on their foreheads didn’t make great long-term partners for Pam. I don’t know if it was because of her past abuse by men, but Pam refused to allow herself to be controlled in any way by a man. She treasured her freedom and dropped anyone who put their addictions before her, felt God didn’t like Daisy Dukes, or covertly tried to impregnate her.

This memoir is recommended. Quick, entertaining read. She gives some juicy and shocking tales of her love life (see the Richard Pryor chapter), but there’s an overall message of defiance and triumph which supersedes the kiss and tell aspects of the book.

Donna
Russell Memorial Library

Actual Size

2011-04-04T11:58:00.000-07:00

Actual Size
By: Steve Jenkins

As a Children’s Librarian Assistant, I am constantly asked, what are some good children’s nonfiction books that my child might enjoy? Actual Size by Steve Jenkins is at the top of my list. Did you ever look a giant squid in the eye? Have you seen inside a crocodile’s mouth? You can in this book. Jenkins’ artwork is stunning and the renditions of paper cut animals are actual size which allows children to compare their own selves to the animal pictured on the pages of this book. Children can lay their hand on top of the hand of a gorilla, they can put their foot on the actual foot of an elephant, or the scariest for me, see what it would be like if a 12 inch Goliath Birdeater Tarantula was crawling across the floor. At the end of the book are thumbnail images of the featured animals along with more information about their habitat and behavior in the wild. Actual Size is geared to multiple age levels and is an effective tool for connecting children with the wonderful world of non-fiction literature. Jenkins also has written Prehistoric Actual Size, What do you do with a tail like this? (Caldecott Honor Book), and many other nature based books.

Debbie
Russell Memorial Library

At Home: A Short History of Private Life

2011-04-04T11:50:00.001-07:00

At Home: A Short History of Private Life
By: Bill Bryson

I always enjoy Bill Bryson’s books, and though this one didn’t have me laughing out loud like A Walk in the Woods did, it’s still pleasant reading. In this book, the author goes from room to room in the old English house and uses each room’s function as a lead in to all sorts of interesting trivia about the way the world was when the house was first built or even earlier, and how things have evolved over time. The Drawing Room, for instance, (which, Bryson explains, comes from an older term Withdrawing Room, and was a room that the family could withdraw to for privacy) starts out as a discussion of comfort but soon wanders into topics ranging from crop rotation to English furniture. If you like history and enjoy learning bits of unusual trivia this would be an excellent book choice.

Sallie
Indian River Library

The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom

2011-04-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom
By: Jonathan Haidt

Professor Haidt shares several personal struggles with the reader, against a background of ancient and modern ideas of how each of us can become the best person we can be. His engaging writing style helps you tackle several chapters at one sitting. I took notes to keep some of the “ancient wisdom” nearby as I personally examined my own journey. This book could be helpful to people who work with groups of people to understand some of the basic dynamics. The Happiness Hypothesis has 3 parts: examine how the human mind works; review our social lives, examining Reciprocity and Hypocrisy; and question the meaning – why some people make developmental progress, change, and live productive lives and why some people refuse to work to change and to be happy.

Valary
Indian River Library

Cleopatra: A Life

2011-04-04T11:28:00.000-07:00

Cleopatra: A Life
By: Stacy Schiff

This book, by Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff, came out with a lot of fanfare in November and has received mixed reviews. After orienting myself to the time period and remembering the many important historical figures and writers, I began to enjoy the book after a slow beginning. Using all available texts which refer to Cleopatra, the author was able to paint a detailed picture of life in ancient Alexandria. Much of Cleopatra herself remains ‘probable’ as she is recorded by historians (all male) primarily in her relationships and dealings with other rulers (also male). Here she is presented as an intelligent, powerful, and wealthy leader who ruled Egypt for 22 years using more than seductive charms to form military alliances and political deals for her country. Her lavish court productions are memorable (especially in the movies) and presented Egypt to the world as she manipulated and guided events and leaders. Not a light read, but an enjoyable visit to the days of a unique and remarkable woman of her times.

Ann
Greenbrier Library

The Millenium Trilogy

2011-04-04T11:24:00.000-07:00

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl Who Played With Fire
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
By: Steig Larsson

This is a GREAT series. It has suspense, mystery, love. If you've only seen the movies, then you are missing half the story. You must read the books. Lisbeth Salander is one of the greatest characters I have ever met. You will feel sorry for her at times, but you will also want to cheer her on as she finds her way through and out of some situations which put her out of her comfort zone. I plan on reading and listening to this series again and again.

Juanita
Greenbrier Library

The Underneath

2011-04-04T11:21:00.000-07:00

The Underneath
By: Kathi Appelt

One of the most original and haunting books I’ve ever read. It’s disguised as a children’s book but, as all great children’s books do, The Underneath sings to readers of all ages. On the surface, I could say it’s a story about an old hound dog in the Florida bayou who’s been chained under his abusive owner’s trailer for most of his life and what he finds the strength to do… to protect and defend two kittens from being used as alligator bait by his “master”. He does this by hiding them under the porch- he can keep them safe as long as they stay in the “underneath”. But if I left it there, that would be a disservice to a great work. This powerful book is really about ancient themes- love and loss, betrayal, redemption, magic and love. Read and savor this more than once in your life.

Jean
Greenbrier Library

Magic Tree House #2: The Knight at Dawn

2011-04-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

Magic Tree House #2: The Knight at Dawn
By: Mary Pope Osborne

If you are a child looking to go on an adventure in history try reading "Magic Tree House #2: The Knight at Dawn" by Mary Pope Osborne. This juvenile series stars Jack and Annie, a brother and sister, who encounter a tree house that makes their wishes come true. It is a magical place in which they find a book with a picture and travel back in time. In this particular book Annie wishes to travel back in history to meet gallant knights and their magic tree house takes them to medieval times. The informative aspect of this book that parents would enjoy is that it teaches facts about this era such as the weight of a knight's armor and the purpose of a moat for castles. In "The Knight at Dawn" Jack is practical and factual while Annie is in-tuned with nature and experiencing adventures. Once the siblings arrive at their new destination they both venture into the castle where they are greeted with a feast of music, food, and enjoyment until castle guards capture them in the armory. The two children are then taken to the dungeon where their fate is unknown. The author is talented in her narrative skills in keeping the reader in suspense about whether Jack and Annie will make it home safely. Through the children's futuristic technology located in a flashlight they escape the castle guards and are taken safely back to the tree house by their heroic knight. Jack and Annie make it back home safely with many more adventures to come in this historically informative and exciting series for young children.

Vanessa
Greenbrier Library

The Uglies

2011-04-04T11:13:00.000-07:00

The Uglies
By: Scott Westerfeld

This book is a great read that took me on a suspenseful journey through a future world with Tally Youngblood. Set hundreds of years in the future, in a society created after human kind became an endangered species due to their own wars, this book paints a picture of a world where everyone is "ugly" until they turn 16 when they get surgery to make them "pretty." It is a rite of passage in this world. When a new government is established it is decided that in order to keep human beings from destroying themselves, there needs to be a controlled population of people who all looked the same- beautiful. They reason that if everyone is beautiful there will be no reason for war.

The story begins when we meet up with Tally a few weeks before her surgery. Tally is the last of her friends to turn 16 and she is anxiously awaiting her surgery so that she can rejoin them. I was immediately taken in by Tally because she is somewhat of a rebel and a daredevil. She sneaks into “New Pretty Town” to talk her friend Peris who has already had the surgery. I got a little bit of an adrenaline rush when Tally jumps off a roof wearing a bungee jacket, must like a life-vest, that pulls her up from the earth at the last second. Tally likes to push the limits and I really like this about her.

Tally meets another ugly named Shay who is also awaiting her surgery that will take place in a few weeks. Shay changes Tally’s world when she tells her of a place called The Smoke, where people choose not to become pretty. Intrigued by this place, Tally finds herself on a journey of betrayal and discovery to the Smoke. One of my favorite parts of the book is when Tally arrives in the Smoke and sees magazines of people from our current world, like Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt, and only considers them to be mediocre in the looks category. She also considers our “super models” to be much too thin. I couldn’t help but laugh at that.

While in The Smoke, Tally makes discoveries about what it means to become pretty that will cause her to re-think her decision. I’m not going to spoil the ending of the book for you, but I will let you know that I couldn’t wait to start the next book in the trilogy. The action in this book makes it a fast-paced, interesting read and made me think about my own standards of what it means to be pretty.

Jessica
Greenbrier Library

Shopaholic & Baby

2011-04-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

Shopaholic & Baby
By: Sophia Kinsella

If you are looking for a light, humorous read, then the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella will fill the bill. Shopaholic and Baby, the fifth book in the series, follows heroine Becky Bloomwood and her handsome husband Luke through the adventures of their first pregnancy. Determined that her baby will be fabulously stylish, Becky shops all the upscale baby boutiques in London and snags the famous Hollywood obstetrician Venetia Carter (who turns out to be Luke’s ex-girlfriend). Becky suspects that her husband and doctor begin an affair and she goes to great lengths to save her marriage. Becky reminds me of a modern day, British, Lucy Ricardo, who comes up with some really hair brained schemes but always finds a way to land on her feet. I listened to this book on CD which made my commute to work a fun one and I can’t wait for the sequel, Mini-Shopaholic to come out on CD as well.

Susan
Greenbrier Library

Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type

2011-04-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type
By: Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin
2001 Caldecott Winner

Click Clack Moo is a picture book appropriate for children. I enjoy the book every time I read it. The cows discovered a typewriter and they typed a demand letter to Farmer Brown. The cows are cold. They want electric blankets. Farmer Brown refuses. The chickens want electric blankets too. Farmer Brown refuses. So, the animals go on strike. No Milk or Eggs. Farmer Brown is furious. That is when they negotiate a deal. He will give them electric blankets if they surrender the typewriter. Duck who is a neutral party will bring the typewriter to Farmer Brown instead he brings his own demand letter requesting a diving board because the pond is boring and it needs a diving board!

Rhonda
Major Hillard Library

Abandoned

2011-04-04T11:01:00.000-07:00

Abandoned
By: Cody McFadyen

A fast moving suspense thriller. Fourth book in the Smokey Barrett series. Barrett is a FBI serial killer profiler. Barrett
herself was a victim of a vicious attack by a serial killer (Shadow Man) that left her the sole survior, the take the lives of her husband and daughter.

Now almost four years later, Smokey is married, expecting a child and happy raising her adopted daughter (who is the daughter of her best friend that was a victim of a serial killer). Barrett and crew are on the hunt for the serial killer named Dali who kidnappes and tortures his/her victims for serveal years. Recommed for suspense thriller readers.

Arlice
Major Hillard Library

A Reliable Wife

2011-04-04T10:57:00.000-07:00

A Reliable Wife
By: Robert Goolrick

I enjoyed this book. It was a creepy tale of a man who had fallen in love as a young man with a woman that married him for his money. After disposing of his first wife, many years later he decides to marry again and advertise for a new wife. Determined not to repeat the same mistake of falling in lust the ad states that he is looking for “a reliable wife”. The person who answers the ad, Catherine, sends him a picture of her plain cousin and not one of herself. Upon her arrival at the train station her potential husband discovers that he has been tricked again. Catherine is an attractive woman and not plain at all. This is the first of many deceptions throughout the book.

Nancy
Indian River Library

The Four Seasons

2011-04-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

The Four Seasons
By: Mary Alice Monroe

The Four Seasons, by Mary Alice Monroe, follows the remaining three Season Sisters, after the death of their youngest sister, Meredith “Mary” Season, who must deal with the secrets and mistakes of the past. Published by BrillanceAudio, the novel is performed beautifully by Sandra Burr and should appeal to anyone who is interested in family drama and the rebuilding of relationships.

Jillian “Jilly” Season, a formal model and actress in her 40’s, returns to her childhood home for her sister’s funeral and the two sisters that she has avoided since she departed a home filled with despair, pain and secrets. Currently, down on her luck, Jilly is a free spirit who becomes grounded when she discovers her secret is known by her sisters, Beatrice and Rose. Together the Sisters with Beatrice’s daughter, Hannah, bring the past to light and find healing to their souls and relationships.

Kevin
Indian River Library

Fablehaven

2011-04-04T10:33:00.000-07:00

Fablehaven
By: Brandon Mull

Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull, is a wonderful new fantasy series for kids around Grade 5 and up. In it, a sister and brother are sent to stay with their grandparents in Connecticut while their parents are on vacation. While there, they discover that the grandparents are the caretakers of a sanctuary for magical and mythical creatures. I love this book because the brother and sister, naturally curious about the odd things that happen, stumble onto the truth of their grandparent's estate and discover the fabulous beings, both harmless and dangerous, that live there. There is one scene, where the grandfather has told the brother NOT to do something, (which he does anyway), where you just want to say "NOOOOO, don't do it!!!" The siblings courageously work together to put things right, and even help their grandfather to solve a mystery concerning the grandmother!

April
Central Library

Skywalkers: Mohawk Ironworkers Build the City

2011-04-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

Skywalkers: Mohawk Ironworkers Build the City
By: David Weitzman

Have you ever wondered how all those sky scrapers and big steel bridges were built? Who were the people that climbed out on the beams way up in the air? Did they do some of those crazy stunts that show up in the old cartoons? You know, where a character is sleepwalking from 1 swinging beam to another and doesn't fall.

This book tells the story of those men who dared to work on the steel beams so high above the ground. Native Americans from a number of Indian Nations that were collectively known as the Mohawks became the skywalkers. Using narrative text and illustrations to tell an amazing story. Beginning with the early 1600s when the Mohawks regrouped after being decimated by European diseases and worked as boatmen; to becoming suppliers of timber and stone for early bridges these amazing people eventually become the skilled ironworkers who helped to shape the skylines of New York, Chicago, and other cities.

From the review in School Library Journal--"Abundant archival photos and primary-source quotes lend realism and drama to the text."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Martha
Central Library

The Penderwicks

2011-04-04T06:35:00.000-07:00

The Penderwicks
By: Jeanne Birdsall

If you would like a good old-fashioned book to share with your children then check out The Penderwicks. It is about a family of four sisters and their widowed father who go on vacation to the Berkshire Mountains. The four girls interact with a young boy next door whose mother is a bit snobbish. The girls and boy have a rollicking summer and there’s even a hint of romance for the oldest sister and the young gardener. This book brought back memories of my childhood, when things seemed so much simpler. I highly recommend The Penderwicks. There is a sequel, The Penderwicks On Gardam Street, and a third book, The Penderwicks At Point Mouette, which will be released in May.

Cindy
Greenbrier

Identical Strangers: A Memoir of Twins Separated and Reunited

2011-04-04T06:32:00.001-07:00

Identical Strangers: A Memoir of Twins Separated and Reunited
By: Elyse Schein and Paula Bernstein

Imagine that you were adopted and one day on a whim, you begin looking for information about your past. Imagine that you find out you are a twin! Elyse Schein and her identical twin sister Paula Bernstein have written a fascinating memoir about their journey of discovery. Who they have become and how their path through life was determined by others. Why were they separated at birth in 1969 America? Their personal history is wonderfully performed by Alma Cuervo and Effie Johnson in “Identical Strangers: A Memoir of Twins Separated and Reunited”.

Check it out today.

Vicki
Greenbrier Library

A Great & Terrible Beauty

2011-04-04T06:28:00.000-07:00

A Great & Terrible Beauty
By: Libba Bray

This book is a great read and keeps you interesting throughout the entire story. The book is set in 1895 in London. While this book may not seem like a fantasy/adventure book at first glance, both of these elements build as the story progresses. The main character’s name is Gemma Doyle. She is sent to a London boarding school after the mysterious death of her mother. Gemma is strong willed and does not have the typical female conformist attitude that most girls at her boarding school posses. She also has abilities that she must come to acknowledge and explore throughout the story. All of Bray’s characters are well developed and believable. She also does a great job intertwining Victorian/Gothic fiction with fantasy. Once you pick up this book, you’re going to be hooked. There are also 2 sequels to this book which are both great. So if you’re in the mood to get away from the real-world for a while, this book is perfect for you!

Jennifer
Greenbrier Library

The end is near...various titles

2011-04-04T06:24:00.000-07:00

The end is near...various titles

The end is (on a book shelf) near (you.) Apocalypse has come to the literary world, and I couldn’t be happier! We have zombies and aliens and airborne diseases. We have human negligence, and weather anomalies. We have deities and denizens. Plotting the apocalypse we have Orson Scott Card (Ender’s Game), Lois Lowry (The Giver), Cormac McCarthy (The Road) and H. G. Wells (War of the Worlds.) Children’s authors have stepped into the game: Tony DiTerlizzi (The Search for WondLa) and Jeanne DuPrau (The City of Ember.) Zombies roam rampant with authors Carrie Ryan (The Forrest of Hands and Teeth), Robert Kirkman(The Walking Dead) and Jason (The Living and The Dead.) We have new dystopian societies being built up from the remains of our ruined civilization from authors Allie Condie (Matched), Scott Westerfeld (Uglies) and Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games.) In short, we have a whole lot of awesome coming from a lot of different directions, and as it is a growing genre, I suspect there will be more to come. While we may be facing the end of days according to the Mayan calendar, I personally intend to read all the way to The End and I think you should do the same. Bring it on 2012. Bring. It. On.

Katie
Greenbrier Library

Murder Shoots the Bull - A "Southern Sisters" Mystery

2011-04-04T06:20:00.000-07:00

Murder Shoots the Bull - A "Southern Sisters" Mystery
By: Anne George

If you love to laugh, and I do, you will love the "Southern Sisters" mysteries by Anne George (now deceased). Her stories take place in Alabama with sisters (6 ft. Mary and size 6 Mary Alice). One title to give you an example is Murder Shoots the Bull. This title alone is funny. In this book the sisters try to clear the name of neighbor who is accused of killing his wife. In the process, the sisters get into all kinds of mischief themselves. You will just have to read or listen (listening is better because you get to hear the characters voices) to find out what happens.

Happy reading,

Brenda
Greenbrier Library

A Woman of Substance

2011-04-04T06:06:00.000-07:00

A Woman of Substance
By: Barbara Taylor Bradford

Never considering myself a historical novel reader or one who could ever get into what’s called “period” fiction, imagine my surprise when I picked up the hard bound copy of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s A Woman of Substance (all 755 pages worth) and found myself drawn into Emma’s story. What an intriguing journey commencing in 1904 where you meet Emma her father, mother and brothers. Experience what they mean to each other, how they handle the many struggles and hardships of living life in poverty, a life that leads her to taking a job as a maid for a wealthy family. See how she matures and manifests a strong will to succeed and her triumphant rise into the successful owner of a multimillion dollar enterprise. Along the way she develops friendships that last a life time and relationships that cause much heartache. A journey that takes nearly six decades to complete and then joy of joys, when the book ends you find out that it doesn’t really end. THERE ARE SEQUELS!!! And that’s a good thing because believe me you will want the story to go on. Why not embark on the journey; it is well worth the trip.
p.s. now in paperback, all 944 pages

Sharon
Central Library

Winston the Book Wolf

2011-04-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Winston the Book Wolf
By: Marni McGee & Ian Beck

Winston is a wolf that does not like to read books, he likes to eat them. What does he do when he sees a “No Wolves Allowed” sign posted in front of the library? He eats the sign! Rosie, a little girl in a red-hooded sweatshirt, teaches Winston how to “eat books with his eyes” or, how to read. Disguised as Granny Winston, this book hungry wolf returns to the library to register for a library card. He ends up reading to the children at storytime.
Children will recognize the Three Little Pigs in Beck’s colorful cross-hatched illustrations. A particularly fun example is the two page spread of Grandma pinning her dress on the clothesline. In this scene Winston asks Rosie to trust him with a plan to use Grandma’s clothes for a disguise. In the background the Three Little Pigs peek around their house of bricks, sticks and straw. In another illustration that alludes to classic literature, Rosie and Grandma (Winston) follow the yellow brick road to Town to visit the library.

Winston the Book Wolf is a book that celebrates the pleasure of reading. The message: words are delicious, reading is a treat. In a 2006 School Library Journal review, Linda Ludke said “With his love of language, Winston quickly develops a taste for “sweet and juicy words like sunset and swoosh and rambunctious”. Just like Winston, children ages 5-7 will gobble up this book!

Sandi
Russell Memorial Library

Bibliography
Ludke, Linda. "McGee, Marni. Winston the Book Wolf." School Library Journal 52.12 (2006): 108. General Reference Center Gold. Web. 3 Apr. 2011.

The Decorated Page: Journals, Scrapbooks & Albums Made Simply Beautiful

2011-04-04T05:53:00.000-07:00

The Decorated Page: Journals, Scrapbooks & Albums Made Simply Beautiful
By: Gwen Diehm

I have been keeping a journal since I was a teenager. In addition to writing in my journal, I enjoy reading books about journaling techniques as well as published diaries and journals. I was delighted to find The Decorated Page: Journals, Scrapbooks & Albums Made Simply Beautiful by Gwen Diehn on the library shelves. Diehn, an art teacher, encourages readers to go beyond the written aspects of journaling to explore visual elements. Diehn starts the book by giving readers a guide to choosing appropriate materials for a visual journal project. She provides a supply list of basic materials that can be used to customize journals and blank books. In addition, Diehn talks about the history of visual elements in books and journals that included medieval illuminated manuscripts and Japanese pillow books. Furthermore, Diehn introduces the reader to a variety of visual elements that can be used to modify books and journals. These visual elements include stamps, ribbon, beading, cloth and labels. Moreover, Diehn encourages the reader to use a variety of techniques that incorporate paints, inks, charcoal, and collage to create beautiful journal pages. Diehn includes instructions with variations for each of the techniques she describes. Additionally, each page of the book features a beautiful photograph of a modified journal or book from Diehn’s collection. After reading The Decorated Page, I am inspired to create my own visual journal.

Rekesha
Central Library

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

2011-04-04T05:47:00.000-07:00

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
By: Stieg Larsson

It was a chilly, blustery day, with dark clouds smothering the horizon. A threatening rain seemed to be waiting for just the right moment to unleash its precipitous fury. A perfect afternoon for curling up with ‘The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest’. This action adventure thriller was the third offering in Stieg Larrson’s much heralded trilogy (translated by Reg Keeland). It follows ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ and ‘The Girl who Played with Fire’.

Having only seen the first two as movies, I was intrigued enough by them and from what talk I overheard in the stacks, to take the plunge. I saw it at the library – on the “New Fiction” table that seemed to offer the latest releases from distant mythic publishing houses. It had a silvery colored cover and its dark lettering not only grabbed your attention but quickly imprinted itself on one’s psyche. I quickly picked it up and scanned its back, to see if its short infonopsis pulled me the final distance. It did. I devoured its 500+ pages in one long sitting - though I don’t recommend staying awake til 4 in the morning if you have a big day planned for later. It was just the right book for a wonderfully gloomy day. And I probably learned a few new things about Sweden.

Clyde
Russell Memorial Library

The Girl Who Could Fly

2011-04-04T05:38:00.000-07:00

The Girl Who Could Fly
By: Victoria Forester

Every one of us has special gifts and talents. What if you discovered your gift is that you can fly ? That is what our main character Piper McCloud finds out and she practices to improve her skill. Fearing the reactions of the people in their town, Piper's parents keep her at home and do not allow her to go anywhere unattended. Alas, her flying skills are accidentally revealed and soon some "officials" arrive to recommend to Piper's parents that she be sent away to a school for those with "special" skills. Piper is sent away to the school called "I.N.S.A.N.E". There she finds that her classmates as well as her teachers have some very unusual quirks and skills. This book is fun, uplifting, has a lot of suspense and some great plot twists. It is a good read for pre-teens as well as teens and both boys and girls will enjoy it. I think that there may be a movie in the works!

Lisa
Central Library

Smoke Screen

2011-04-02T08:12:00.000-07:00

Smoke Screen
By: Sandra Brown

If murder, corruption and a touch of romance is your reading pleasure, than this
book is for you. Read along as the two main characters Britt Shelley, a tv news personality and Raley Gannon, a former firefighter who are both friends of Jay Burgess is found dead in bed beside Shelley the next morning. Two complete strangers joined together by one person, Jay. Is his murder a cover-up or set-up at the highest level?

Ravell
Russell Memorial Library

Moon Over Manifest

2011-04-02T04:57:00.000-07:00

Moon Over Manifest
By: Clare Vanderpool

A delightful first novel that takes place in Manifest, Kansas in 1936. A twelve-year-old girl is sent there by her father, to stay with his boyhood friend. The story is full of great, quirky characters and easily moves from past to present through letters from a WWI soldier and stories eloquently told by Miss Sadie. Abilene slowly learns about the mining town and the lives of its residents in 1918, as she tries to learn more about her Dad’s life. The details of the story weave expertly between past and present, and they are full of charm, heartbreak and surprises. I hated to see it end!

Kathy
Central Library

Bubble Gum Bubble Gum

2011-04-01T12:17:00.001-07:00

Bubble Gum Bubble Gum
Lisa Wheeler

A blob of pink bubble gum melting in the middle of the road, causes big trouble for five animals. The toad joined by a shrew, goose, bee and crow almost get hit by a truck 'cause their stuck! My favorite part of the book is when they chew and chew and chew. I would recommend this book to all parents (as I do Often) to read to young children and pre readers.

Peggy
Major Hillard Library

Once

2011-04-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

Once
By: Morris Gleitzman

This is a young adult novel about a Polish Jewish boy named Felix who lived in a Catholic orphanage for nearly four years during WWII. He believes his parents sent him to the orphanage so their bookstore could be repaired. He runs away from the orphanage in search of his parents and along the way witnesses the horrible persecution of innocent people. He also recues a little girl named Zelda from her burning home and has the heavy burden of explaining that her parents were executed by Nazis soldiers. The horror of the Holocaust Felix experienced as a young boy is told through this excellent work of historical fiction.

Renee
Major Hillard Library

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

2011-04-01T12:12:00.001-07:00

The Forest of Hands and Teeth
By: Carrie Ryan

Mary dreams of the ocean. She knows it’s exists, even though she only has an old photograph to look at. Mary lives in a village protected by fences and the guidance of the Sisterhood. No one comes, and no one leaves. Surrounding the village is the Forest of Hands and Teeth and it is inhabited by the Unconsecrated, or the undead. One bite will transform you quickly. The Sisterhood give comfort and the Guardians protect the barriers to keep everyone safe, especially from breaches of the Unconsecrated, who never relent. Through a series of events, Mary is forced to live in the cathedral, with the Sisters, and starts to learn the truth about their protected lives and the world outside. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, Mary and her friends have no choice but to enter the Forest and struggle to stay alive. Here Mary learns more about the one she loves, and about what is really important. Will she ever get to see the ocean? Will she survive to tell their story?
This is a post-apocalyptic story, similar to “The Village” and "I Am Legend". This book was thrilling and intense, and I couldn't put it down! This is the first in a thrilling series.

Elizabeth
Russell Memorial Library