Sadie

Sadie
by Courtney Summers
Wednesday Books, 2018. 311 pages. Young Adult

Sadie is used to taking care of things herself. Even before their mom left, Sadie was more a mother than a sister to Mattie. She never minded despite the sacrifice; Mattie has been her whole world since she was born. And that world is shattered when Mattie is found murdered. Months later, the case already gone cold, Sadie decides to take care of things again. Like always.

West McCray remembers hearing about Mattie's murder while traveling doing research for his radio show. To his surprise, nearly a year later he's contacted by a family friend of Sadie and Mattie, pleading for help. For Sadie. She's been missing for months, her car apparently abandoned. Reluctant at first, West soon becomes obsessed with finding Sadie, starting a new podcast to track his investigation of Sadie's journey, desperate to find her before it's too late.

Read this book. Just do it. Better yet, listen to the audiobook, which makes the podcast chapters (West's perspective) really come to life! There's theme music, and sound effects like sound quality of recorded phone calls and crickets chirping in the background of an outdoor, nighttime interview. Alternating between West's chapters/podcast and Sadie's perspective, this story is a brilliant melding of grief, hardship, mystery, and thriller. Sadie is a wonderfully developed protagonist, and really so is every other character. I've never heard/read anything quite like this before. This story feels so real; as a podcast and true crime fan myself, this book felt exactly like listening to podcasts like Serial. SADIE is masterful storytelling done in such a clever and compelling way.  I can't stop thinking or talking about this book! Fellow podcast fans, particularly my fellow true crime fans, will eat this up.

MW

Strange Planet

Strange Planet
By Nathan Pyle
Wm Morrow Gift, 2019. 144 pages. Graphic Novel

Based on the popular Instagram, Strange Planet, Pyle has published many of his most popular comics, and some that have never been seen, into this adorable and hilarious collection. On a planet not wholly unlike our own, these strange beings live out their lives in short and often hilarious vignettes about family, life, pets, and work among others.

These simple comics in pink, blue, green, and purple are so sweet and enjoyable that it’s hard to put down. Something as simple as telling a child “sweet dreams” has become “imagine pleasant nonsense,” and playing pick-a-boo becomes a game of “have I ceased to exist? Deception! I have not!” Whether the beings are watching a sports game (“catch the orb!”) or celebrating a birthday (emergence day) these wholesome and creatively interpreted comics based on real life situations will bring a smile to your face.

ACS

Untamed

Untamed
By Glennon Doyle
The Dial Press, 2020. 352 pages. Nonfiction.

In her third memoir, Untamed, Glennon Doyle discusses what it is like to go from tamed and small, to untamed and free to be herself. With topics ranging from raising children, becoming disenchanted with Christianity, falling in love, and being confronted with her own racial privilege, Doyle explores the many kinds of social conditioning that women go through in their lives. Though her life has changed drastically since her first memoir, Carry On, Warrior, Doyle’s open and insightful style of writing hasn’t.

I have been a fan of Doyle’s for many years, and have really enjoyed reading her three memoirs. She is brutally honest and yet intensely empathetic in her discussion of what she sees as the shortcomings of society and the world in general. And in true Glennon-style, she does not exempt herself from these critiques. I think the biggest take-away from the latest installment is that we may not know that the life we have been socialized to accept is not the only option that we have. Doyle shows great courage in outlining her new life and new truths in this complex and inspiring read.

AGP

Dragon Hoops

Dragon Hoops
by Gene Luen Yang
First Second, 2020. 445 pgs. Young Adult Comics

Gene is an artist and understands stories, so when he hears about the boys’ varsity basketball team at the high school where he teaches, he knows that this is his next story to tell. But, he doesn’t know anything about basketball. The varsity team, the Dragons, is having a phenomenal season that is decades in the making. Each win brings them closer to the California State Championships, but as Gene gets to know the individual players, he realizes that their stories are just as thrilling as any comic book. He knows that he must follow this story to its end, but he doesn’t realize that it will change the lives of Dragons and his own.

This comic book was as exciting, exhilarating, and hopeful as any adventure or superhero comic. There were funny, laugh-out-loud moments, especially from Yang’s wife. I felt a deep connection to a number of the players, and appreciated that Yang provided stories for most of the varsity players, not just the stars, as well as controversial topics regarding the team. The illustrations are colorful, fun, and give life to the story of the Dragons. While I personally enjoy basketball stories, this would be a great read for anyone who enjoys stories about overcoming adversity, sports, or graphic nonfiction.

TT

Seven Deadly Shadows

Seven Deadly Shadows
by Courtney Alameda
HarperTeen, 2020. 376 pages. Young Adult

Kira Fujikawa is not your typical High School student living in Kyoto. She is a shrine maiden who can see yokai, the ghosts and demons that haunt the streets of Japan. Her life turns upside down when she learns that Shuten-doji, the demon king, will rise at the next blood moon and bring darkness to the world. Needing help to find the monsters, she enlists seven powerful death gods to aid her.

This is a fun and clean YA fantasy book that reads almost like a manga or anime. The story is fast paced and engaging, capturing the reader's attention and keeping it through the whole book. Kira is a strong and brave female protagonist but can also be unsure of herself, especially as she faces problems beyond her talents and knowledge. Luckily she has a variety of death gods to help her through the biggest threat she has ever known and as she learns from them she slowly gains more confidence in herself.

ME

Her Quiet Revolution

Her Quiet Revolution: A Novel of Martha Hughes Cannon: Frontier Doctor and First Female State Senator
By Marianne Monson
Shadow Mountain, 2020, 357 pages, Historical Fiction

This fictionalized version of the true life story of Martha Hughes Cannon shows just what an impressive and talented person the first female state senator was. She was a trained orator, she was a doctor, she ran a nursing training school, she promoted the suffragist cause, and as a politician, she devoted herself to improving the public health systems throughout the fledgling state of Utah.

Martha, or Mattie, also met with some interesting challenges. As the plural wife of a church leader around the time of the manifesto, she struggled with the fact that the man she loved had other families and commitments. And after the manifesto, she struggled with the inability to claim her husband as her own in public.

After reading this novel, I really wish I could sit down and have a one-on-one conversation with this fascinating woman. Monson paints Cannon as a woman who struggled with frustrations and doubts, but she didn’t let her limitations stop her from speaking out for women and the impoverished, even when those who had authority didn’t agree with her views. I was left wanting to know more about the life of Martha Hughes Cannon, but the glimpse I got gave interesting insights into what it was really like to live in Utah around the turn of the 20th century. I'm grateful that pioneers like Martha Hughes Cannon helped blaze the trail to help make Utah what it is today.

Monson also mentions Martha Hughes Cannon in her excellent nonfiction book about women in the west, Frontier Grit.

MB

More Than Words Can Say

More Than Words Can Say
by Karen Witemeyer
Bethany House Publishers, 2019. 358 pgs. Historical Romance

Abigail Kemp is determined to not lose her family’s bakery. The city council tells her that she must have a man’s name on her deed or she will have to close down, so she decides she’ll have to ask a man to marry her but convince him that she still gets to run the bakery the way she wants. Zach has had a rough past but is trying his best to do what is right and has no intention of getting married and settling down. He is shocked when Abigail proposes to him but he can’t resist a damsel in distress.

This book was so much fun to read. Abigail doesn’t think much of herself and can’t believe that anyone would be attracted to her because she is plump and plain. Zach is rough around the edges and puts on a tough front but he has a heart of gold. I loved watching their relationship grow. Karen Witemeyer is a great author. She has great historical details, perfect romances and lots of laugh-out-loud moments. She also has just the right amount of religion so that it doesn’t feel overbearing.

AL

The Lost Heiress

The Lost Heiress
By Roseanna M. White
Bethany House, 2015. 439 pgs. Inspirational Fiction

Brook Eden has never known where she really fits in. She was raised by an opera singer in Monaco and many people think her the illegitimate daughter of the Prince. As she gets older she decides to find the truth. Justin, a long-time English friend, agrees to help her search for answers. It soon appears that she may be the lost daughter of an Englishman and heiress to a fortune. Brooke goes to England to meet a family she has never known. Everything seems to be falling into place. Soon some disturbing stories begin to surface and Brooke is in a race to find out why her real mother was killed as she was fleeing for her life on a dark and stormy night before Brook's life is threatened too.

This novel has a little bit of everything: romance, mystery, adventure, and religion. Brooke is a strong heroine who doesn't sit back and wait for life to happen. She knows how to shoot a gun, drive a car, and break unbreakable horses which are all things that women of her time shouldn't do. Justin is more thoughtful and cautious. They help to balance each other out when they aren't driving each other crazy. I liked that this historical fiction novel had a layer of mystery to carry the story along. This novel would be good for fans of Sarah Eden or Julianne Donaldson.

AL

Elemental

Elemental: How the Periodic Table Can Now Explain (Nearly) Everything
By Tim James
Abrams Press, 2019. 216 pages. Nonfiction.

Our universe was formed 13.8 billion years ago. As the unorganized soup of particles cooled after the Big Bang, the elements were born. James recounts the history of the elements, from the ancient Greeks to the contemporary scientists who have created new elements in labs to complete the table.

This light-hearted book is nothing like the boring chemistry class you slept through in high school. Telling the story of the elements, James uses facts to answer questions like:

• What is the chemical formula for a human being? 
• How many bananas can you eat before you die of radiation poisoning? 
• How did the medieval dream of turning lead into gold become a modern reality? 

I'm a big nerd, even by librarian standards. Before beginning my career as a librarian, I studied chemistry and even earned a BS in Chemistry. So, of course a new book about chemistry would pique my interest. But this one isn't just for people who get excited about chelation, dimers, and coordination complexes. (Don't judge me.)

I found this to be a refreshing history and outline of chemistry, covering a broad range of topics in a fun and interesting way. Unlike other books about hard science, Elemental is very accessible and doesn't get weighed down with confusing jargon or mathematical details. Without reservation, this is the most delightful book I've read about chemistry in several years. Even if you have zero background in science, this book will make for an entertaining exploration of the building blocks of the universe, without even leaving your home.

DT

Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel

Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel
by Odyr
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019. 175 pgs. Graphic Novel.

Odyr, a Brazilian graphic novelist, brings to life the events of George Orwell's Animal Farm with page after page of gorgeous surrealist-esque images. Odyr took Orwell's vision of a parable fable and gets across in images the truly bloody results of communism and trusting societal powers too much. On a farm in England, a pig named Major has a dream, a dream that tells him of the farm animal's oppressed state, of the fact that they are slaves. Once major dies, his dream becomes the prophetic backing for a new movement called Animalism, where those with two legs are the enemy, those with four legs or wings are friends, all animals are equal, and animals should not wear clothes, drink alcohol, sleep in a bed, or kill another animal. An opportunity arises, and the animals rebel, taking over the farm. With the power in hand, the animals set out to make a world where their animalism values are honored, and in the process trade one oppressive leader for another.

For those who like the classics like Ray Bradbury's Faranheit 451 and Orwell's 1984, but want to experience a classic in a different way, this book is for you. The graphic novel edition also does a great job of giving you some emotional distance from the characters so you can really see and understand what Orwell was trying to say about the political philosophies that gave rise to the Soviet Union.

Knitting Magic

Knitting Magic
by Tanis Gray
Insight Editions, 2020. 207 pgs. Nonfiction

In this first official Harry Potter knitting pattern book, there are over 25 beautiful patterns based on the iconic books. Projects are divided into four sections: crafty creatures, wizarding wardrobe, inspiring apparel, and delightful décor. In addition to the patterns, there are photos and behind-the-scenes information from the Potter films in full color. From House scarves to subtle patterns and motifs, there is something for every Potter fan.

As an avid Potter collector, I absolutely love this book. I am not a knitter, but these patterns make me want to learn. My favorite patterns are the most subtle ones, like the “Owl Post Pullover” or the “Deathly Hallows Lace-Knit Beaded Shawl.” The colors and photographs are beautiful for each project and evoke the magic and wonder of the Potter world. There are projects for all skill levels, but it does not have a beginners’ guide, so a basic knowledge of knitting is needed. This is perfect for knitters or Harry Potter lovers and simply beautiful to browse through.

TT

The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek 
By Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal
Crown, 2019. 326 pages.

The small town of Bleak Creek takes pride in it’s city BBQs, its conservative values, and its highly successful reform school for troubled youth. Rex and Leif just want to spend their summer making their home-movie masterpiece, Polterdog, with their friend Alicia. But when a scene in their movie goes horribly wrong, Alicia is sent to the Whitewood School, and the teens soon realize that there is something sinister boiling under the surface of their small town’s sleepy façade.

You know you have a winning book when it gives you the same feelings of nostalgia and horror as the hit show Stranger Things. The characters are endearing, and the plot is well-paced and full of enough easy humor to balance out the supernatural creepiness. If you enjoy tales of the supernatural, spunky adolescent heroes, or if you are fans of the authors’ award-winning web series, this is a must-read!

If you want to read more about the authors, check out their semi-biographical guide to creativity and tomfoolery here.

ALL

Me

Me 
by Elton John
Henry Holt. 2019. 374 pages. Biography

I love Elton John. I have been drawn to his music since I was a child. And I’m not just talking about The Lion King and The Road to El Dorado soundtracks. Songs such as “Your Song” and “Tiny Dancer” and “Rocketman” were on my radar from a very young age. I have always wondered about the man behind the music. Is he the flamboyant man the media portrays him as? Is he more than just the wildly, fantastic outfits and glasses? The answer to both questions is yes.

This book, his first and what he promises as his only official autobiography, really helped me get a sense of what shaped Reginald Dwight into Elton John. I always take autobiographies with a grain of salt; after all, we all see our own lives differently than everyone else sees them. But the story that John weaves about his childhood and first influences, his first gig in a rock band, and his transition to being a soloist in his own right, threw the flashy media coverage of his life and his music into a more compassionate light.

John, clearly after years of therapy, is able to talk about his choices with a certain sense of clarity and tenderness for his young self. The writing is funny and empathetic. It was so easy to read and I never once felt like a ghost writer had taken over the story. It felt authentically like Elton John the whole time. If you like celebrity bios, or just want to know more about Elton John and his music, this book is one to read. If you want to listen to the audiobook, Taron Eggerton (the lead in the movie Rocketman) reads it and does an outstanding job.

 AG

The Hidden Power of F*cking Up

The Hidden Power of F*cking Up
By The Try Guys
Dey Street Book, 2019. 275 pages. Nonfiction.

Ever try something new and fail at it miserably? The popular YouTube group, The Try Guys, discuss their philosophy of trying and how that leads to the ultimate success. Ned, Keith, Zack, and Eugene have built a career where together they make videos of themselves pushing themselves outside comfort zones and trying something new and different.  They put their words into actions as each one attempts something new. Go on a journey with them as a meat-lover becomes a vegan, a father transforms into a fashionista, a perpetually single sidekick becomes a romantic lead, and a child of divorced parents tries to grow closer with his family.

There are many self-help books about failure but this one is the most relateable. The guys are honest while being funny and serious at the same time. It is a fun book to read as it feels interactive. There is of course language in the book that may not be appropriate for some but it is a great book to help you overcome fears of failure. 

ME

The Dutch House

The Dutch House
By Ann Patchett
Harper, 2019. 352 pages. Fiction

At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy began an empire in real estate with the purchase of the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs of Philadelphia intended for his family to reside.  But what he hopes will be a joy to his family instead only brings heartbreak.  Cyril's son Danny and his older sister, Maeve, are exiled from the house by their stepmother after their father's death. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another. It is this unshakable bond between them that both saves their lives and thwarts their futures. Danny and Maeve are only truly comfortable when they're together, and throughout their lives, they continue to revisit what they've lost with both humor and anger. When at last they're forced to confront the people who left them behind, the relationship between this brother and sister is finally tested.

This is a sweeping tale that spans generations and will give readers a lot to think about and discuss.  Themes of family, loss, forgiveness, and nostalgia are heavy in this book, but for all the grief that one family may experience over a lifetime, there is hope as well. This audiobook is narrated by Tom Hanks who brings his own charm and a sense of lightheartedness, despite the sometimes melancholic subject matter, to the story. 

BHG

Going Postal

Going Postal
by Terry Pratchett
Harper, 2004. 471 pages. Fantasy.

The book starts with Moist Van Litwig, an accomplished con man, thief, swindler, etc., waiting for his own execution. Just after he is hanged, he wakes up to find Lord Ventinari, the ruler of Ankh-Morpork, offering him job--a government job. Always the swindler, Moist decides that a job that might lead to his freedom is a far better choice than death and so he becomes the Postmaster. Ventinari tasks Moist with restoring the the post office (a once grand institution) to its former glory, especially because the Grand Trunk, a communication company that uses light to pass messages between towers, has started to shut down so often it's like they don't exist. Somewhere in the process of getting the position, Moist does what he does best, cons himself into actually achieving more than anyone would have thought from an already dead conman.

Despite this being book 33 of 40 Discworld novels, it is a great place to start if you want to get used to Pratchet's comedic timing and writing style before starting the trek from book 1 to 40.

-SMM

Go to Sleep (I Miss You)

Go to Sleep (I Miss You): Cartoons from the Fog of New Parenthood
by Lucy Knisley
New York : First Second, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press, 2020.177 Pages. Graphic Novel

Following the completion of her pregnancy memoir Kid Gloves (and the birth of her baby), Lucy embarked on a new project: documenting new motherhood in short, spontaneous little cartoons, which she posted on her Instagram, and which quickly gained her a huge cult following among other moms.

As soon as I saw the title of this book, I knew it was for me. Being a new mother myself, I'm familiar with how desperate you feel when your baby doesn't sleep, and also how much you remember your baby when she finally does sleep. This book made me laugh out loud. Just about every page reminded me of something I have experienced on my journey through motherhood. I appreciate Lucy Knisley's honesty, her sense of humor, and, of course, her art. If you're a mom, read this. If you know someone who is a mom or will be a mom, give this book to them. 

NS

This Tender Land

This Tender Land
By William Kent Krueger
Atria Books, 2019, 450 pages, Literary/Historical Fiction

In 1930s Minnesota, Odie O’Banion is an orphan living at the Lincoln School, a horrible place where the students’ education is spotty and most of the students are Native Americans who have been forcibly separated from their parents. One fateful night Odie, his brother Albert, and their best friends Mose and Emmy steal away in a canoe, heading down the river to hide from the authorities and find a place they can call their own. As they travel, they run into other adrift souls, and they learn to find hope and family in the unlikeliest of places.

This book is one that will stay with me for a while. A combination of The Odyssey, Huckleberry Finn, and The Grapes of Wrath, this book can stand proudly next to its classic forebears. Travelling down the Missouri River and then the Mississippi, Odie and his friends encounter Hoovervilles, beleaguered farmers, those who are haunted by the past, and people who are trying to help others even when they don’t have much themselves. I reveled in the beautiful writing, and found the overall message of the book, one of family and forgiveness, to be really powerful. This is a book not to be missed.

MB

The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild

The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild 
by Lawrence Anthony
Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press, 2009. 368 pgs. Nonfiction

 In the midst of dealing with a sophisticated poacher problem, Anthony Lawrence was asked to accept a herd of rogue elephants on his South African game reserve or they would be killed. Against common sense, he took them in to save their lives. Lawrence chronicles his struggles and triumphs to care for the herd and the rest of his preserve in this breath-taking account of high-stakes adventure. 

The first part of this book is intense! Nothing goes as planned and the elephants are in all sorts of danger. I am seldom so sucked in from the very beginning with nonfiction, but this one was gripping from the start.  As things settle down it's no less interesting; the elephants keep Lawrence on his toes.  I listened to it and approve of the narrator. This would make a great read for anyone interested in nature/animal writing, conservation, or elephants.

ER

Pet

Pet
By Akwaeke Emezi
Make Me a World, 2019. 204 pages. Young Adult

Seventeen-year-old Jam lives in a future society that claims to have gotten rid of all monstrous people. Everyone lives in peace and safety, and there’s no reason not to trust your neighbor. One evening Jam goes down to her mother’s studio to sneak a peek at one of her new paintings. However, an accident in the studio summons the giant horned creature in the painting from another dimension, and Jam wonders how she can hide the creature from her parents. Unfortunately, the creature, who dubs itself “Pet,” has other plans. There’s a monster in Jam’s world that Pet has been sent to hunt, and it needs Jam’s help to figure out who the monster is.

This is a thought-provoking read with a very specific focus. Very little is said about how the society was perfected, only that it was. Pet’s existence proves this is false. The focus is on monsters, both Pet and the person he’s hunting. Jam and Pet have to investigate the people around them, but because Jam has lived in a world where “evil” no longer exist, she doesn’t know how to identify it. It’s an interesting exploration of how one finds something when lacking points of reference.

 Even though her naïveté makes this feel like a younger YA novel, the subject matter and some of the language might skew this toward a more mature YA audience. That said, I felt it was overall both a compelling and insightful read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

ACS

The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America

The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America
By Matt Kracht
Chronicle Books LLC, 2019. 169 pages. Nonfiction

This snarky, illustrated handbook is equal parts profane, funny, and -- let's face it -- true. Featuring 50 common North American birds, Kracht identifies all the idiots in your backyard and details exactly why they suck with humorous, yet angry, ink drawings. Each entry is accompanied by facts about a bird's (annoying) call, its (dumb) migratory pattern, its (downright tacky) markings, and more.

It's no secret that I love birds; they've always been dear to my heart. This refreshing and hilarious read was written by an adamant bird-hater, so you'll need at least a little sense of humor and a tolerance for Kracht's strong language. I thoroughly enjoyed this witty and irreverent commentary, because let's be honest: no matter how much you love birds, everyone hates that white splatter on their windshield.

DT

A Woman is No Man

A Woman is No Man 
By Etaf Rum
Harper, 2019. 337 pages.

Spanning two generations of an Arab-American family, this debut novel is a startling look into the lives of women in a male-centered world. The story begins with Isra, a Palestinian Muslim woman who has come to New York for an arranged marriage, then jumps forward many years to the perspective of Deya, Isra’s now teenage daughter. Both women share a tale of isolation, powerlessness, and abuse at the hands of the men in their lives, but both have hopes that they might be able to break free from the repressive traditions of previous generations.

Debut author Etaf Rum gives a voice to the voiceless, exposing the harsh reality that many women face in patriarchal societies. The characters’ struggles with worthlessness, familial and cultural pressure, and domestic violence will strike a chord with many women across all religions, classes, and cultures. This book may make you cry, rage, and curse the inhumanity the characters face, but you will come away from the experience with eyes now opened to the invisible plight of repressed women.

ALL

The Truth About Magic: Poems

The Truth About Magic: Poems
By Atticus
St. Martin’s Press, 2019. 250 pages. Nonfiction

If poetry intimidates you, this collection is a good place to start. Author Atticus became famous for their Instagram poetry account and soon won a book deal with St. Martin’s Press. Because of their beginnings on Instagram, most of the poems are quite short and almost like sayings or epigrams. Atticus’s words are lovely and full of life. The whole theme of the collection is magic: the magic you feel when you meet someone, the magic you feel in a new city, and the magic you feel when you have a moment alone. You can finish the book in a day, or savor it slowly over a few weeks. It is easy to put down, but you might find yourself longing to pick it back up again.

I was first introduced to Atticus on Instagram, and I have been following their career over the last few years. I thought this was a great read because the poems are short, powerful, and quite thought provoking. It was nice to just sit and read poetry and copy out some of the phrases into my journal. This book is a great introduction to modern poetry that is fresh and timely.

AGP

The Language of Fire

The Language of Fire
by Stephanie Hemphill
Balzer + Bray, 2019. 512 pages. Young Adult

The endlessly inspiring story of Joan of Arc is retold in this novel in verse. After years and years of defeat, it's rightful king in exile, France seems lost to the British. But one ordinary girl heeds the divine call to save her country. Young, inexperienced, but full of faith and determination, Joan gains the trust of generals and royalty, leads armies, crowns a king, and changes a nation's fate.

Joan of Arc has been a hero of mine since childhood. Her courage in the face of overwhelming obstacles remains to this day one of the greatest underdog stories in history. This book re-imagines her life, starting from childhood to her tragic end. Terribly well researched, the author worked hard to stay true to fact and historical accounts while streamlining for story's sake. I loved the voice that she created for Joan; her characterization felt every bit like the Joan I've imagined all these years. Passionate and kind, determined and courageous, and at times unsure and afraid, I've never felt the joys and burdens of Joan's destiny quite like this before. For fellow admirers of The Maid or fans of poetry and historical fiction, this one's for you.

MW

Waiting for Tom Hanks

Waiting for Tom Hanks
By Kerry Winfrey
Berkley, 2019. 288 pages. Fiction

Annie Cassidy grew up watching all the Nora Ephron classics like Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally, and You've Got Mail, among dozens of other classic 90's romantic comedies.  After a lifetime of being enamored with on-screen sweethearts, she can't help but dream of finding her own Tom Hanks, complete with charming houseboat.  When her job on the set of a movie filming in her hometown throws her into the path of lead actor Drew Danforth, she can't believe how un-Tom-Hanks-like he is: a prankster who doesn't take anything seriously. But the way she keeps bumping into him (sometimes literally) reminds her a lot of those classic rom coms she grew up watching with her mom.  Surely he can't be her Tom Hanks?

This is a light read especially good for fans of rom coms like While You Were Sleeping, or those who wax nostalgic about 90s comedies in general.  Some of the conflict here may be contrived, some of the plot may be predictable, some of the characters may be one-dimensional, but what good rom com doesn't have any of those things?  Read this for the fun, but maybe head for other waters if you're wanting something with a bit more depth.

BHG

The Toll

The Toll
By Neal Shusterman
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2019. 625 pgs. Young Adult

This is the third book in the Arc of the Scythe series. It is really hard to review this book without giving away spoilers for the first two books in the series. I can't share as much as I would like in this review.

The Toll starts off three years after the cliff hanger conclusion of Thunderhead. The Thunderhead has always been silent to the Scythes but after the events at the end of the last book, the Thunderhead is silent for everyone else in the world as the ultimate punishment. It still runs the world and keeps everyone alive but people are lost without the compassionate friend and confidant that the Thunderhead has played in their lives. The only person the Thunderhead will communicate with is Greyson Tollivar. He is placed in the strange situation of people turning to him for comfort and guidance as the mouthpiece for the Thunderhead.

Goddard is back and is focused on world domination. He is the ultimate bully and no one dares stand up to him. Meanwhile a salvage captain named Jerico finds more in the wreckage of Endura than he expected and sets the world on a path that will change humankind forever.

I have to admit that this book was probably my least favorite of the three. I felt like there was a lot of  extra commentary on organized religion, propaganda, fear mongering, political issues and gender identity. It did make me stop, as a reader, and think about a lot of things that are going on in our world today. My biggest complaint is that this book felt long. It didn't hold my interest like the first two books. I still finished to find out what happened to all the characters but I felt an overall sense of disappointment that this didn't live up to my expectations for the series.

AL

Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years

Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years
by Julie Andrews
Hachette, 2019, 340 pages, Biography

In her second memoir, Julie Andrews reflects on her career in Hollywood, from her first film, Mary Poppins, in the early 1960s, to the early 1980s. She covers the struggles of balancing work and family life, the help and support that come from therapy sessions, her marriage to director Blake Edwards, her unexpected career as an author, and other interesting turns her life took as she toured the world singing.

Fans of Julie Andrews will love this book about her life, which gives a lot of behind-the-scenes details on the filming of many of her most famous movies. I found myself wanting to throw a Julie Andrews binge-watching party after reading this book.

Told in a conversational style, and compiled with the aid of Andrews’ extensive journals, Andrews also shares personal details that took a lot of courage to share. Although Andrews has a reputation of being classy and charming, she dealt with some really hard things that made me marvel at how she became the lovely person she is. Since this book only covers through the early 1980s, I hope she’s working on publishing a book covering the next chapters of her life soon.

I highly recommend that you listen to the audiobook version of this book, since Julie Andrews reads it herself. She has such a distinctive accent, and I have such fondness for her, that listening to her tell me her life story was absolutely enjoyable.

MB

The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London

The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London 
by Christopher Skaife
Straus and Giroux, 2018. 256 pgs. Nonfiction

 Legend has it that if the ravens of the Tower of London ever leave, the Tower will crumble and great harm will befall the kingdom. This mix of history, autobiography, and ornithology is the tale of the Tower ravens, told by the man responsible for their care, Chrstopher Skaife, the current Ravenmaster. Skaife describes life at the Tower (did you know people actually live there?), how he became the Ravenmaster, and especially the behavior of the ravens.

 I loved this book so much! The author narrates the audiobook, and his voice and accent are delightful. I highly recommend listening to the audio version. The way it’s written and narrated feels like sitting around on comfortable furniture after a good meal listening to a storyteller. Plus now I can tell the difference between a raven and a crow without seeing them side by side! This book would be great for anyone interested in history, nature/animal nonfiction, birds, strange jobs, or narrative nonfiction.

ER

Ninth House

Ninth House
by Leigh Bardugo
Flatiron Books, 2019. Fantasy.

For her entire life, Galaxy "Alex" Stern has been able to see the dead, an ability that lands her acceptance to Yale University and a position with Lethe House. Lethe House has one express purpose, to manage and control the magical rituals of the other house societies. But it's not all pixie dust and wands, these rituals require blood or human capital to work, and Lethe is the only house that makes sure the other houses don't go to far. When a local girl turns up dead, a girl with a connection to one of the houses, Alex can't shake that the feeling that more is going on than just a local drugging getting killed by her boyfriend, so she investigates. What starts with the death of a girl, becomes a journey that helps Alex discover who and what she is, and shows us all how privilege and complacency can influence even those most intelligent and kind person to destroy their moral compass.

For those that like secret societies and magic more aligned with the TV show Supernatural than Harry Potter, this book is for you.

The Burdens of a Bachelor

The Burdens of a Bachelor (Arrangement, #5)

By Rebecca Connolly 

Phase Publishing, 2017. 283 pages. Romance

What the eye cannot see...

Colin Gerrard has everything. He is a handsome, charming, and unattached gentleman in possession of a fortune. But what nobody knows, and would never suspect, is that he is not nearly as carefree as he seems, nor is his heart free from anyone's taking. It was already taken long ago, and when his lost love unexpectedly reappears, in London of all places, he very much afraid that she has it. 

...the heart already knows.

Lady Susannah Hawkins-Dean had no intention of ever seeing Colin again after their terrible departure sixteen years ago. She never wanted to see anyone that knew her in the past. There too many secrets, too much shame, and he, of all people, could not know them. But when Colin refuses to leave her in the past, Susannah finds that she is just as in love with him as she ever was, and it could ruin them both. 

This book was so much fun to read. It moved at a great pace and there were new turns that made it so I didn't want to put it down. This is the fifth book in Rebecca Connolly's Arrangement series but you do not need to read them in order to fall in love with the characters and to understand their story. If you are looking for a sweet romance book that is clean and you are fan of Sarah M. Eden or Julianne Donaldson this book is for you.

ME