Staff Reads: What We Read for the Week of 6/21-6/27

Title: Love and other unknown variables

Author:  Alexander, Shannon Lee

Call #: YA FIC Alexander, S 2014

Summary: Charlie Hanson has a clear vision of his future. A senior at Brighton School of Mathematics and Science, he knows he'll graduate, go to MIT, and inevitably discover solutions to the universe's greatest unanswered questions. He's that smart. But Charlie's future blurs the moment he reaches out to touch the tattoo on a beautiful girl's neck. The future has never seemed very kind to Charlotte Finch, so she's counting on the present. She's not impressed by the strange boy at the donut shop--until she learns he's a student at Brighton where her sister has just taken a job as the English teacher. With her encouragement, Charlie orchestrates the most effective prank campaign in Brighton history. But, in doing so, he puts his own future in jeopardy. By the time he learns she's ill--and that the pranks were a way to distract Ms. Finch from Charlotte's illness--Charlotte' gravitational pull is too great to overcome. Soon he must choose between the familiar formulas he's always relied on or the girl he's falling for (at far more than 32 feet per second squared).

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: If you liked Fault in Our Stars you would enjoy this. The themes are very similar. High school seniors in a technical high school uphold the tradition of driving out the Senior English Literature teacher.The complication is that the leader is falling for the teacher's attractive young sister. (Medora, Adult and Teen Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title:The great darkness saga

Author: Levitz, Paul

Call #: YA GN Legion 100 2010

Summary: Gathers comic books from the 1980s to tell the story of the Legion of Super-Heroes and their stuggle against the villain Darkseid and his campaign against their peaceful 30th century world, considered one of the best storylines of all.

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book:This was a good, fun read, and historically an interesting look at a time before the serialized comic books were fashioned into story arcs. It's a glimpse at a time when they planted the seed of a story into stand-alone comics, then climaxed in a glorious, devastating story. It is a "must read" for comic book fans of all ages. (Doug, Administration Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: The nightingale

Author:  Hannah, Kristin

Call #: FIC Hannah, K 2015

Summary:
In love we find out who we want to be.
In war we find out who we are.

FRANCE, 1939

In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France...but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When France is overrun, Vianne is forced to take an enemy into her house, and suddenly her every move is watched; her life and her child’s life is at constant risk. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates around her, she must make one terrible choice after another.

Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old girl, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets the compelling and mysterious Gäetan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can...completely. When he betrays her, Isabelle races headlong into danger and joins the Resistance, never looking back or giving a thought to the real--and deadly--consequences.

With courage, grace and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah takes her talented pen to the epic panorama of WWII and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women’s war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France--a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime.

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book:I absolutely loved this book. It is a story of two sisters trying to survive in Nazi occupied France. One sister wants to fight the Nazis, the other merely wants to survive and protect her young daughter while her husband is away. Hannah's writing was beautiful and the novel was difficult to put down. There were times she had me on the edge of my seat waiting for the worst to happen. Loved it!(Melissa, South Branch)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: Below stairs : the classic kitchen maid's memoir that inspired "Upstairs, downstairs" and "Downton Abbey"

Author:  Powell, Margaret

Call #:  BIO Powell, M, 2012

Summary: This work is a kitchen-maid's through-the-key hole memoir of life in the great houses of England. At fifteen, she arrived at the servants' entrance to begin her life as a kitchen maid in 1920s England. The lowest of the low, her world was one of stoves to be blacked, vegetables to be scrubbed, mistresses to be appeased, and even bootlaces to be ironed. Work started at 5:30 am and went on until after dark. In this memoir, the author tells her tales of service with wit, warmth, and a sharp eye. From the gentleman with a penchant for stroking housemaids' curlers, to raucous tea dances with errand boys, to the heartbreaking story of Agnes the pregnant under-parlourmaid, fired for being seduced by her mistress's nephew, this book evokes the long vanished world of masters and servants portrayed in Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs. This is the remarkable true story of an indomitable woman, who, though her position was lowly, never stopped aiming high.

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book:What was it really like to be a member of the household staff working for a wealthy family shortly after World War I? Read this memoir and find out. Margaret grew up in great poverty and, despite being an excellent student, left school and went to work as a young teen. Her stories of domestic service in England are eye-opening, heartbreaking, and at times hilarious. This book, with its inside view of the life of domestic staff, served as the basis for the Downton Abbey television series. (Faith, Administration Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title:The Wright brothers

Author: McCullough, David G.

Call #: BIO Wright, 2015

Summary: As he did so brilliantly in THE GREAT BRIDGE and THE PATH BETWEEN THE SEAS, David McCullough once again tells a dramatic story of people and technology, this time about the courageous brothers who taught the world how to fly, Wilbur and Orville Wright.--Provided by publisher

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: Enjoyed the book a lot. I have not heard of the character or family of the Wright Brothers but now I know. They were very hard working and shy men. Their private life and their life concerning aviation were equally interesting. (DeEtta, Russiaville Branch)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: First frost

Author:  Allen, Sarah Addison

Call #: FIC Allen, S 2015

Summary: Autumn has finally arrived in the small town of Bascom, North Carolina, heralded by a strange old man appearing with a beat-up suitcase. He has stories to tell, stories that could change the lives of the Waverley women forever. But the Waverleys have enough trouble on their hands. Quiet Claire Waverley has started a successful new venture, Waverley's Candies, but it's nothing like she thought it would be, and it's slowly taking over her life. Claire's wild sister Sydney, still trying to leave her past behind, is about to combust with her desire for another new beginning. And Sydney's fifteen-year-old daughter Bay has given her heart away to the wrong boy and can't get it back.--Provided by publisher

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: I really liked this novel, but I wonder how other readers who haven't read Garden Spells will feel about it. While this isn't a true sequel, there are a lot of references to the events in Garden Spells, and maybe some things that might confuse readers who haven't read it. Setting that aside however, this was an entertaining book that I liked better as the story went on. It is a bit slow in the beginning, but picks up towards the end. If you have read Garden Spells the characters and their lives will be familiar to you and you will probably welcome the return to read more of their stories. If you haven't read Garden Spells you may not have the patience for the slow beginning. Ultimately it was entertaining, but slow to build interest. (Melissa, South Branch)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: Flash boys : a Wall Street revolt

Author:  Lewis, Michael (Michael M.)

Call #: 332.6 Lewis, 2014

Summary: In Michael Lewis's game-changing bestseller, a small group of Wall Street iconoclasts realize that the U.S. stock market has been rigged for the benefit of insiders. They band together—some of them walking away from seven-figure salaries—to investigate, expose, and reform the insidious new ways that Wall Street generates profits. If you have any contact with the market, even a retirement account, this story is happening to you.--summary from Goodreads.com

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book:Lewis tells of how several out-of-the-box thinkers strived to make stock trading fair for all investors, not just High Frequency Traders. Fascinating tale of the importance of microseconds in trading! (Medora, Adult and Teen Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: The stars never rise

Author: Vincent, Rachel

Call #: YA FIC Vincent, R 2015

Summary: In a world ruled by the brutally puritanical Church and its army of black-robed exorcists, sixteen-year-old Nina tries to save her pregnant younger sister from the Church's wrath and discovers that not only is the Church run by demons but that Nina herself is one of the very few who can genuinely exorcise them.

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: I was a big fan of Rachel Vincent’s Soul Screamers series {okay, mostly because of the awesome Reaper Tod but, whatever} and I was beyond ecstatic when I heard she was writing a new YA series.

I really liked Finn’s character, and I totally shared Nina’s opinion when she first found out what he could do. I thought “No, surely he’s lying to her…” and that’s all I’m going to say about that.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the story, even though it had its slow parts. I can’t wait to see what happens to Nina and the rest of Anathema in the books to come. I have my ideas, and I really hope that I’m wrong, but we’ll see. (Kaitlynne, South Branch)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: Hello, I love you

Author: Stout, Katie M

Call #: YA FIC Stout, K 2015

Summary: Grace Wilde is hoping for a fresh start from her family, famous in the music industry, and escapes to the farthest place from home she can think of, a boarding school in Korea, but when her roommate Sophie's twin brother Jason turns out to be the newest Korean pop music superstar, Grace is thrust back into the world of fame and love.

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This book was slightly reminiscent of Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, which is okay with me because I thought that book was fantastic.

The relationship between Jason and Grace was funny, sometimes sweet, but ridiculously frustrating at times. They spent the majority of the book fighting with each other, determined not to let the other know their true feelings. But I think all that tension is what made them getting together at the end much more satisfying.

There was a twist in the book, close to the ending, that kind of took me by surprise. And, looking back now, it really shouldn’t have. I guess I was just so focused on other things that were happening and I missed all the clues.

One thing I didn’t like about this book, was the way things were left between Grace and her Mother… I needed more closure on that, especially after finding out what really happen. But it seemed like the issues that they had were just swept under the rug, or pushed into the corner to be ignored…

Overall, I think this book is a cute, quick, summer read, though I wouldn’t suggest reading this if you are a die-hard K-Pop fan, because I’ve heard that it doesn’t represent the awesomeness that is K-Pop. (Kaitlynne, South Branch)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down:Thumbs Up

Title: Unforgettable : a son, a mother, and the lessons of a lifetime

Author: Simon, Scott

Call #: 070.92 Simon, 2015

Summary: When NPR's Scott Simon began tweeting from his mother's hospital room in July 2013, he didn't know that his missives would soon spread well beyond his 1.2 million Twitter followers. Squeezing the magnitude of his final days with her into 140-character updates, Simon's ... meditations spread virally. Over the course of a few days, Simon chronicled his mother's death and reminisced about her life, revealing her humor and strength, and celebrating familial love ... Spending their last days together in a hospital ICU, mother and son reflect on their lifetime's worth of memories, recounting stories laced with humor and exemplifying resilience.-- Provided by publisher

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: What a great story for mothers of sons. It tells a story of how we would all hope our sons would be in our last days. What a life these two shared. (DeEtta, Russiaville Branch)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: The Sisters brothers

Author:  deWitt, Patrick

Call #: WEST deWitt, P 2011

Summary: When a frontier baron known as the Commodore orders Charlie and Eli Sisters, his hired gunslingers, to track down and kill a prospector named Herman Kermit Warm, the brothers journey from Oregon to San Francisco, and eventually to Warm's claim in the Sierra foothills, running into a witch, a bear, a dead Indian, a parlor of drunken floozies, and a gang of murderous fur trappers.

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: Contract gunmen, yes, but the Sisters Brothers are also adventurers, and their exploits are hilarious! Eli and Charlie have very distinct personalities and big ideas.This title would make a fun movie with shades of O.Brother Where Art Thou? (Medora, Adult and Teen Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: Generation Why

Author:  Wilson, G. Willow

Call #:  YA GN Ms.Marvel 200.2 2015

Summary: Who is the Inventor, and what does he want with the all-new Ms. Marvel and all her friends? Maybe Wolverine can help! If Kamala can stop fan-girling out about meeting her favorite super hero, that is. Then, Kamala crosses paths with Inhumanity--by meeting the royal dog, Lockjaw! But why is Lockjaw really with Kamala? As Ms. Marvel discovers more about her past, the Inventor continues to threaten her future. Kamala bands together with some unlikely heroes to stop the maniacal villain before he does real damage, but has she taken on more than she can handle? And how much longer can Ms. Marvel's life take over Kamala Khan's? Kamala Khan continues to prove why she's the best (and most adorable) new super hero there is! -- Page [4] of cover

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: I will admit that I am not an avid graphic novel reader. When I do read graphic novels I tend to gravitate to the individual stand alone graphic novels especially biographies and nonfiction. I simply don't do superhero graphic novels. Well that changed for me when I picked up the first book in this series, No Normal. I really enjoyed reading about the new Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan. She is a smart 17 year-old girl who struggles with her family's expectations and her own desires. Then she discovers she has superpowers and winds up with a whole new set of problems. Her struggles as she learns about her powers and learns to accept who she is are interesting and well drawn. In this novel, she is still struggling for balance and trying to figure out why her powers work the way they do. I look forward to reading more about the new Ms. Marvel in the future. (Melissa, South Branch)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

What Our Staff Read Last Week 6/14-6/20

Title: City of Ashes  

Author: Clare, Cassandra  

Call #: YA FIC Clare, C 100.2 2008  

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Clary continues trying to make sense of the swiftly changing events and relationships in her life as she becomes further involved with the Shadowhunters and their pursuit of demons and discovers some terrifying truths about her parents, her brother Jace, and her boyfriend Simon.

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: City of Ashes is the second book in the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. It is a fast-paced, supernatural drama. It has lots of fight scenes and some bizarre love scenes. I'm planning on finishing the rest of the series this summer. I'll have to choose a favorite book from the series when I'm done. (Courtney, South Branch)  

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: Dear Killer

Author: Ewell, Katherine

Call #: YA FIC Ewell, K 2014

Summary: "Kit, a seventeen-year-old moral nihilist serial killer, chooses who to kill based on anonymous letters left in a secret mailbox, while simultaneously maintaining a close relationship with the young detective in charge of the murder cases."-- Provided by publisher

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: An interesting thriller with a very interesting narrator. This novel takes you inside the mind of a teenage serial killer who is known throughout London as the "Perfect Killer." It was an unusual story, and incredibly well written. (Melissa, South Branch)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: The monuments men : Allied heroes, Nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history

Author: Robert M. Edsel; with Bret Witter

Call #: 940.531 Edsel, 2009

Summary: At the same time Adolf Hitler was attempting to take over the western world, his armies were methodically seeking and hoarding the finest art treasures in Europe. The Fuehrer had begun cataloguing the art he planned to collect as well as the art he would destroy: "degenerate" works he despised.

In a race against time, behind enemy lines, often unarmed, a special force of American and British museum directors, curators, art historians, and others, called the Momuments Men, risked their lives scouring Europe to prevent the destruction of thousands of years of culture. Focusing on the eleven-month period between D-Day and V-E Day, this fascinating account follows six Monuments Men and their impossible mission to save the world's great art from the Nazis.

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: A little known story about the brave men who tried to save the cultural history of Europe during WWII. It was a fascinating story. A little long, but well worth the read. (Melissa, South Branch)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: I found the topic very interesting and inspiring. I am not sure if it was because I had seen the movie first (which I really liked) or if it was the reader (I did the audio verison). I just had trouble getting into it. But that was probably just me. (Tonya, Adult and Teen Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: The Lazarus project

Author: Hemon, Aleksandar

Call #: FIC Hemon, A 2008

Summary: On March 2, 1908, nineteen-year-old Lazarus Averbuch, an Eastern European Jewish immigrant, was shot to death on the doorstep of the Chicago chief of police and cast as a would-be anarchist assassin.

A century later, a young Eastern European writer in Chicago named Brik becomes obsessed with Lazarus's story. Brik enlists his friend Rora -- a war photographer from Sarajevo -- to join him in retracing Averbuch's path.

Through a history of pogroms and poverty, and a prism of a present-day landscape of cheap mafiosi and even cheaper prostitutes, the stories of Averbuch and Brik become inextricably intertwined, creating a truly original, provocative, and entertaining novel that confirms Aleksandar Hemon as one of the most dynamic and essential literary voices of our time.

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: Lazarus Averbuch is murdered in 1908 Chicago as he attempts to deliver a letter to the police chief. The immigrant history of him and his sister Olga is later researched by Brik, a Bosnian refugee in this century who wishes to be a great writer. His trip back to Eastern Europe helps to bring meaning to the lives of both families. The author tells a good story, and finds humor even in difficult situations. (Medora, Adult and Teen Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: Brown Girl Dreaming

Author: Woodson, Jacqueline

Call #: JUV BIO Woodson, J, 2014

Summary: "Jacqueline Woodson, one of today's finest writers, tells the moving story of her childhood in mesmerizing verse. Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child's soul as she searches for her place in the world. Woodson's eloquent poetry also reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become. Praise for Jacqueline Woodson: Ms. Woodson writes with a sure understanding of the thoughts of young people, offering a poetic, eloquent narrative that is not simply a story. but a mature exploration of grown-up issues and self-discovery"-The New York Times Book Review"-"The author shares her childhood memories and reveals the first sparks that ignited her writing career in free-verse poems about growing up in the North and South."- Provided by publisher

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This novel in verse describes the author's life growing up and events that encouraged her to become the person and writer she is now. It is amazing. The language is so lyrical and she conveys so much meaning in her poetry. A beautiful biography. (Melissa, South Branch)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: Can't wait to get to heaven

Author: Flagg, Fannie

Call #: FIC Flagg, F 2006

Summary: Strange things begin to happen when Mrs. Shimfessle, an eighty-year-old woman, falls out of a fig tree in her own front yard, in a novel about one woman's offbeat experiences in the hereafter

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: I picked this up as an audio cd for some humorous travelling entertainment, because I know that Fannie Flagg is a never miss in this category. I was not disappointed. When 80 something Eleanor falls out of a tree she is pronounced DOA. While her shocked community mourns, she is transported to a heavenly place. Even in a close knit community, things are not always what they seem. Why was there a loaded gun in Eleanor's laundry basket? (Medora, Adult and Teen Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: The Outsiders

Author: Hinton, S. E

Call #: YA FIC Hinton, S 1997

Summary: The struggle of three brothers to stay together after their parent's death and their quest for identity among the conflicting values of their adolescent society.

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This books is a timeless classic, it is for all ages. I recommend it for all. (Stephanie, Adult and Teen Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: Alice in Zombieland

Author: Showalter, Gena

Call #: YA FIC Showalter, G 700.1 2012

Summary: Alice Bell must learn to fight the undead to avenge her family and learn to trust Cole Holland who has secrets of his own.

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: Alice in Zombieland was a very good book to read, I listened to the audiobook as I worked and it made work go by so much faster! It is very well written and I'd definitely recommend this to any teen girl who likes zombies, sass and cute boys. (Hannah, South Branch)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title:Elena vanishing : a memoir

Author:  Dunkle, Elena

Call #: YA 616.85262092, Dunkle, 2015

Summary: "Seventeen-year-old Elena is vanishing. Every day means renewed determination, so every day means fewer calories. This is the story of a girl whose armor against anxiety becomes artillery against herself as she battles on both sides of a lose-lose war in a struggle with anorexia."--Amazon.com

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: I would recommend Elena Vanishing to anyone who can handle eating disorders and mental disorders well, it was a very well written book and a true story. I really enjoyed it because the girl was my age and it really hit home in some spots. (Hannah, South Branch)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title:The cat encyclopedia

Author: DK Publishing, Inc. editor

Call #: 636.8 Cat, 2014

Summary: More than 86 million Americans own at least one cat (that's 10+ million more than own a dog). Cats are truly Americans' favorite pets.

Offering everything you need to know about cats in one easy-reference volume, The Cat Encyclopedia features stunning photographs of cat breeds from around the world combined with expert advice on kitten and cat care, and a celebration of cats in art and culture.

The Cat Encyclopedia is packed with information on the characteristics, origins, and behaviors of each type of cat, and includes beautifully photographed profiles of the world's cat breeds.--from Goodreads.com

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This is a must for all cat parents and cat lovers. With three cat children of my own, this is a very informative book on breeds, temperaments and general caring for cats. (Stephanie, Adult and Teen Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: FIC Bender, A 2010

Author: Bender, Aimee

Call #: FIC Bender, A 2010

Summary: Being able to taste people's emotions in food may at first be horrifying. But young, unassuming Rose Edelstein grows up learning to harness her gift as she becomes aware that there are secrets even her taste buds cannot discern.

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: I was intrigued by the storyline involving Rose, who at age 9 discovers that she can sense the origin of the ingredients, and the emotions of the people who create food items when she bites into the food, especially baked goods. While Rose learns to deal with this very mixed blessing, she discovers that strange talents run in her father's side of the family and other family members don't deal with them as well. Her grandfather could not deal with people's smells, her father avoids hospitals because he knows he should be doing something there, and her brother can turn into furniture and finally disappears forever. Besides the general oddness of the narrative, the author's failure to use quotation marks throughout the book leads me to give the book an overall thumbs down. (Medora, Adult and Teen Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Down

What Our Staff Read for Week One of the Summer Reading Club!

Title: Memory Man

Author: Baldacci, David

Call #: FIC Baldacci, D 600.1 2015

Summary: "Amos Decker's life changed forever--twice. The first time was on the gridiron. A big, towering athlete, he was the only person from his hometown of Burlington ever to go pro. But his career ended before it had a chance to begin. On his very first play, a violent helmet-to-helmet collision knocked him off the field for good, and left him with an improbable side effect--he can never forget anything. The second time was at home nearly two decades later. Now a police detective, Decker returned from a stakeout one evening and entered a nightmare--his wife, young daughter, and brother-in-law had been murdered. His family destroyed, their killer's identity as mysterious as the motive behind the crime, and unable to forget a single detail from that horrible night, Decker finds his world collapsing around him. He leaves the police force, loses his home, and winds up on the street, taking piecemeal jobs as a private investigator when he can. But over a year later, a man turns himself in to the police and confesses to the murders. At the same time a horrific event nearly brings Burlington to its knees, and Decker is called back in to help with this investigation. Decker also seizes his chance to learn what really happened to his family that night. To uncover the stunning truth, he must use his remarkable gifts and confront the burdens that go along with them. He must endure the memories he would much rather forget. And he may have to make the ultimate sacrifice"-- provided by publisher.

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: Very suspenseful, exciting and makes you anxious for the second book. (Rhonda, Outreach Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: MacNamara's woman

Author: Scott, Alicia

Call #: ROM Scott, A 100.1 2013

Summary:Three siblings searching for the truth about their family are about to find more than they bargained for....

When Tamara Allistair lost her family, she quickly learned that the only person she could rely on was herself. Now Tamara wants revenge against the man who wronged her. But going after a target with far-reaching connections is a dangerous gamble, and soon Tamara is the one being threatened.

A man with his own share of family issues, ex-marine C. J. MacNamara knows that protecting Tamara is the right thing to do. Keeping her safe is no easy task, but getting her to trust him is an entirely different challenge. As Tamara attempts to right a wrong ten years in the making, C.J. puts his own life on the line to protect the woman who is more worthy of love than anyone he’s ever known. --summary from Goodreads.com
 Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: Lisa Gardner's books are full of suspense and you never know how it is going to end...love them. (Rhonda, Outreach Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: Call the Midwife

Author: Worth, Jennifer

Call #: BIO Worth, J, 2012 

Summary: An unforgettable story of the joy of motherhood, the bravery of a community, and the hope of one extraordinary woman

At the age of twenty-two, Jennifer Worth leaves her comfortable home to move into a convent and become a midwife in post war London's East End slums. The colorful characters she meets while delivering babies all over London-from the plucky, warm-hearted nuns with whom she lives to the woman with twenty-four children who can't speak English to the prostitutes and dockers of the city's seedier side-illuminate a fascinating time in history. Beautifully written and utterly moving, The Midwife will touch the hearts of anyone who is, and everyone who has, a mother. --summary from Goodreads.com

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: Historical, informative and great story line.
(Rhonda, Outreach Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up   

Title: What to do when it's your turn (and it's always your turn)

Author: Godin, Seth

Call #: 158.1 Godin, 2014

Summary: Seth Godin has pushed the boundaries again by creating a new book format that reads more like a magazine. The book is in full color and is a collection of short stories and essays that help the reader know "what to do when it's your turn" in life.

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This is a motivational photo-essay. I rarely would pick up a book like this, but the format lends itself to a quick read, and the positive thoughts were welcome. The scrapbook type illustrations tell a story of their own. (Medora, Adult and Teen Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up 

Title: Gone Girl

Author: Flynn, Gillian

Call #: MYS Flynn, G 2012 

Summary: On the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick's wife Amy suddenly disappears. The police immediately suspect Nick. Amy's friends reveal that she was afraid of him, that she kept secrets from him. He swears it isn't true. A police examination of his computer shows strange searches. He says they aren't his. And then there are the persistent calls on his mobile phone. So what really did happen to Nick's beautiful wife?

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: Gone Girl has been a runaway hit for several years. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about before I watch the movie. I do enjoy a mystery with significant twists, and this fills that requirement. I wish that Alfred Hitchcock was still around to do the film! (Medora, Adult and Teen Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up  

Title: China Dolls

Author: See, Lisa

Call #: FIC See, L 2014

Summary: "In 1938, Ruby, Helen and Grace, three girls from very different backgrounds, find themselves competing at the same audition for showgirl roles at San Francisco's exclusive "Oriental" nightclub, the Forbidden City. Grace, an American-born Chinese girl has fled the Midwest and an abusive father. Helen is from a Chinese family who have deep roots in San Francisco's Chinatown. And, as both her friends know, Ruby is Japanese passing as Chinese. At times their differences are pronounced, but the girls grow to depend on one another in order to fulfill their individual dreams. Then, everything changes in a heartbeat with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Suddenly the government is sending innocent Japanese to internment camps under suspicion, and Ruby is one of them. But which of her friends betrayed her?"-- Provided by publisher

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: It tells of 3 oriental girls who meet in San Francisco shortly before WWII made life difficult for Chinese and Japanese people living in America. The story revolves around their show business careers, lives and loves. Enough historical details were provided  to peak my interest in the era. (Medora, Adult and Teen Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up  

Title: Way of the Warrior

Author: Various

Call #: ROM Way 2015

Summary: EIGHT PASSIONATE LOVE STORIES ABOUT AMAZING MILITARY HEROES BY BESTSELLING AUTHORS: Suzanne Brockmann, Julie Ann Walker, Catherine Mann, Tina Wainscott, Anne Elizabeth, M.L. Buchman, Kate SeRine, Lea Griffith

To honor and empower those who've served, all author and publisher proceeds go to the Wounded Warrior Project.

The Wounded Warrior Project was founded in 2002 and provides a wide range of programs and services to veterans and service members who have survived physical or mental injury during their brave service to our nation. Get involved or register for programs and benefits for yourself and your family online at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

"It is a proud privilege to be a soldier." —George S. Patton Jr.
"We sleep safely at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us." —Winston Churchill --summary from Goodreads.com

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This is a romance anthology of eight short stories to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. A couple of the stories were very poorly written, but most were enjoyable. (Heather, Administration Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Down

Title: Gameboard of the gods

Author: Mead, Richelle

Call #: SF Mead, R 400.1 2013

Summary: "Richelle Mead, the #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Vampire Academy and Bloodlines YA series--whose books have sold more than one million copies in hardcover--debuts on the Dutton list with Gameboard of the Gods, the first novel in her Age of X series. In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military's most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills. When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board. Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead's Age of X series, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense"-- Provided by publisher 

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: Richelle Mead writes about incredible characters. I've finished three of her series, each one with at least 5 books in the series. So, her books are fantastic and this is no exception. It's set in a futuristic, dystopian world. (Courtney, South Branch)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up   

Title: City of Bones

Author: Clare, Cassandra

Call #: YA FIC Clare, C 100.1 2007

Summary: Suddenly able to see demons and the Darkhunters who are dedicated to returning them to their own dimension, fifteen-year-old Clary Fray is drawn into this bizzare world when her mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a monster.

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book:I've read City of Bones once before and didn't care for it. After one of my favorite reviewers raved about the series on Youtube, I decided to give it another chance. It was better the second time, because I knew the big reveal at the end was coming. I could look for the clues along the way and wasn't as shocked at the end. I've already started the next book in the series this time. (Courtney, South Branch)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up

Title: How (not) to fall in love

Author: Roberts, Lisa Brown

Call #: YA FIC Roberts, L 2015

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Darcy Covington never had to worry about money or where her next shopping spree was coming from. Even her dog ate gourmet. Then one day, Darcy's car is repossessed from the parking lot of her elite private school. As her father's business hit the skids, Dad didn't just skip town, he bailed on his family. Fortunately, Darcy's uncle owns a thrift shop where she can hide out from the world. There's also Lucas, the wickedly hot fix-it guy she can't stop crushing on, even if she's not sure they'll ever get out of the friend zone. But it's here among the colorful characters of her uncle's world that Darcy begins to see something more in herself...if she has the courage to follow it. 

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: I think what I liked best about this book was the fact that even when Darcy finds out that she and her mom are broke, she doesn't fall apart. She isn't that clichéd spoiled princess that you would expect, and she is able to take care of herself very well. (Kaitlynne, South Branch)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up  

Title: Criminal confections

Author: London, Colette

Call #: MYS London, C 100.1 2015

Summary: "Hayden Mundy Moore is an expert on everything chocolate, helping clients develop new products and revamp recipes until they're irresistible. But sometimes, a dash of murder finds its way into the mix... Hayden Mundy Moore has bushwhacked through African jungles and haggled in exotic markets to find the finest cacao beans and the most flavorful blends. It's thrilling work but rarely dangerous--until a colleague turns up dead at the exclusive chocolate-themed Lemaître resort spa in San Francisco. Adrienne Dowling's heart attack is blamed on an accidental overdose of the secret ingredient used in Lemaître Chocolates' new line. Hayden can't believe that conscientious Adrienne would make that mistake. And between chocolate body scrubs, cocoa mud baths, and a non-stop frenzy of chocolate-based treats, Hayden starts to suspect that she, not Adrienne, was the intended target. Finding a killer among the rival chocolatiers and potential suspects won't just be satisfying--it might save her life"--Page [4] of cover 

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This was an easy, light, enjoyable read. Who doesn't love chocolate? Even reading about it is fun! (Ashley, Administration Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up  

Title: Every fifteen minutes

Author: Scottoline, Lisa

Call #: FIC Scottoline, L 2015

Summary: "Dr. Eric Parrish is the Chief of the Psychiatric Unit at Havemeyer General Hospital outside of Philadelphia. Recently separated from his wife Alice, he is doing his best as a single Dad to his seven-year-old daughter Hannah. His work seems to be going better than his home life, however. His unit at the hospital has just been named number two in the country and Eric has a devoted staff of doctors and nurses who are as caring as Eric is. But when he takes on a new patient, Eric's entire world begins to crumble. Seventeen-year-old Max has a terminally ill grandmother and is having trouble handling it. That, plus his OCD and violent thoughts about a girl he likes makes Eric a high risk patient. Max can't turn off the mental rituals he needs to perform every fifteen minutes that keep him calm. With the pressure mounting, Max just might reach the breaking point. When the girl is found murdered, Max is nowhere to be found. Worried about Max, Eric goes looking for him and puts himself in danger of being seen as a "person of interest" himself. Next, one of his own staff turns on him in a trumped up charge of sexual harassment. Is this chaos all random? Or is someone systematically trying to destroy Eric's life? New York Times best selling author Lisa Scottoline's visceral thriller, Every Fifteen Minutes, brings you into the grip of a true sociopath and shows you how, in the quest to survive such ruthlessness, every minute counts. "-- Provided by publisher

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This is a fast moving, riveting story about a sociopath who is terrorizing a compassionate, wonderful doctor.  I kept trying to guess who the sociopath was and with all the twists and turns it kept my attention until the end! (Melanie, Genealogy)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up   

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book:I've enjoyed all of the Lisa Scottoline books I've read, but this one got off to a slow start.  The second half of the book was much better paced, and led to a surprise ending! (Susan, South Branch)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up  

Title: Joyride
Author: Banks, Anna
Call #: YA FIC Banks, A 2015
Summary: A popular guy and a shy girl with a secret become unlikely accomplices for midnight pranking, and are soon in over their heads—with the law and with each other—in this sparkling standalone from NYT-bestselling author Anna Banks.

It’s been years since Carly Vega’s parents were deported. She lives with her brother, studies hard, and works at a convenience store to contribute to getting her parents back from Mexico.

Arden Moss used to be the star quarterback at school. He dated popular blondes and had fun with his older sister, Amber. But now Amber’s dead, and Arden blames his father, the town sheriff who wouldn’t acknowledge Amber's mental illness. Arden refuses to fulfill whatever his conservative father expects.

All Carly wants is to stay under the radar and do what her family expects. All Arden wants is to NOT do what his family expects. When their paths cross, they each realize they’ve been living according to others. Carly and Arden’s journey toward their true hearts—and one another—is funny, romantic, and sometimes harsh.

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This book is awesome! It deals with a very pertinent issue (that of immigration) but delivers it in a lighter way, but doesn't leave any action to be desired. (Mikayla, South Branch)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up  

Title: The storied life of A.J. Fikry

Author:Zevin, Gabrielle

Call #: FIC Zevin, G 2014

Summary: When his most prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, is stolen, bookstore owner A. J. Fikry begins isolating himself from his friends, family and associates before receiving a mysterious package that compels him to remake his life.

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: I really enjoyed the book. A lot going on in a small bookstore in a small eastern town. The characters were interesting, main and minor. (DeEtta, Russiaville Branch)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up  

Title: Bonhoeffer : pastor, martyr, prophet, spy : a righteous gentile vs. the Third Reich

Author: Metaxas, Eric

Call #: BIO Bonhoeffer, D, 2010

Summary:"Bonhoeffer" presents a profoundly orthodox Christian theologian whose faith led him to boldly confront the greatest evil of the 20th century, and uncovers never-before-revealed facts, including the story of his passionate romance. 

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book:This intriguing biography reads like a novel.  Having grown up in a very cultured, educated and refined family, and with the means to leave Germany if he wished, it is all the more remarkable that Bonhoeffer stayed in Germany during the war and actively resisted the Hitler regime.  Even though the reader knows how the story plays out, this book will keep you absorbed to the end.  Bonhoeffer is a fascinating figure who lived out his faith even though it meant almost certain death for himself. (Marsha, Adult and Teen Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up  

Title: Marriage Game

Author: Weir, Alison

Call #: FIC Weir, A 2014

Summary:"In this novel of Tudor drama and suspense, the author brings to life one of England's most scandalous royal love affairs: the romance between the 'Virgin Queen' Elizabeth I and her courtier Lord Robert Dudley"-- Provided by publisher

Staff Member's Thoughts on This Book: This novel recounts the story of Queen Elizabeth I and her quest for a royal match and marriage.  The book renders a lively, detailed and entertaining account of the queen's political and personal marriage dilemma. (Marie, Adult and Teen Department)

Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down: Thumbs Up