The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune Adult/YA crossover Fantasy * * * Stars (Pretty good) Linus Baker, 40, has always been a good cog in the bureaucratic machine that is the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He has spent his career as a case worker and has not stood out in anyway apart from his thorough, no-nonsense reports. He is most surprised when Extremely Upper Management selects him to investigate the … Read more
Wild Bird by Wendelin Van Draanen Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Everything changes when Wren’s family moves right before she starts middle school. Wren feels lost and alone and disconnected from everyone. She has trouble making friends and the only person who does seem to accept her is Meadow – a year older and Trouble. Over the next couple of years, Wren starts drinking and smoking pot, stealing from her parents, and … Read more
The Inheritance Games Inheritance Games #1 by Jennifer Lynne Barnes Mystery Suspense Thriller * * * Stars (Pretty good) Teenager, Avery Grambs, is living in her car when she gets the surprising news that she is an heiress. Billionaire Tobias Hawthorne – recently deceased – has apparently left most of his fortune to her. No one seems to know what the connection is – why Avery? And the Hawthorne family are pretty upset. The only … Read more
I Hate Running and You Can Too: How to Get Started, Keep Going, and Make Sense of an Irrational Passion by Brendan Leonard Nonfiction * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Despite being a ultrarunner, Brendan Leonard mostly hates running except when he loves it briefly. This is a short, encouraging, and realistic look at how you can start your own love-hate relationship with it. It might get you out the door and on your … Read more
The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead Juvenile Fiction Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Bea’s biological parents are divorced, but she’s accustomed to going between their two households and following a schedule that allows her to spend time with both of them. She keeps a list in her notebook of the “Things That Will Not Change,” and one of them is that her parents still love her and … Read more
Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt Realistic Fiction Tween * * * Stars (Pretty good) Carter Jones and his family have been left the service of a butler in his grandfather’s will (and also an eggplant colored Bentley). Just in time to help them whip their household into order, too. The butler is unforgivingly English and his attempts to instill English ways and sensibilities into the family occasionally meet with some resistance. But, … Read more
My Last Summer with Cass by Mark Crilley Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) When they were little, Megan and Cass used to spend part of each summer together at a rental cabin with their parents. Both of them loved art and collaborating on pieces together. When they drew on the wall of the rental, the owner even praised their talent! Cass’ parents end up divorcing and the families stop vacationing … Read more
Ink and Bone The Great Library #1 by Rachel Caine Fantasy Science Fiction Suspense Thriller * * * Stars (Pretty good) When Jess’ family sends him to train at the great Library of Alexandria, Jess is thrilled that he’ll be able to indulge in his passion for books and learning, though it puts him into conflict with his family’s shady business (which involves smuggling rare books and the black market). The training is difficult and … Read more
Pawcasso by Remy Lai Graphic Novel Juvenile Fiction Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) While Jo is in town she sees a dog carrying a basket and follows him, curious about what he’s doing/where he’s going. In the basket are a list and some money, and at each shop the dog gets a few items and lots of pets and treats from proprietors. At the bookstore, Jo is mistaken for the dog’s owner, … Read more
The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig Adventure Historical Fiction Romance Science Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Nix and her father are navigators – they can travel through space and time on their ship, The Temptation, if they have an accurate map which they’ve never used before. Captain Slate, Nix’s father, is desperate to find a way back to the time before his wife’s death – he’ll pay anything, do anything, for a … Read more