When Women Ruled the World: Six Queens of Egypt

When Women Ruled the World: Six Queens of Egypt
by Kara Cooney
National Geographic, 2018. 399 pages. Nonfiction.

 Throughout history women seldom ruled, but in ancient Egypt women repeatedly reigned as the head of state. Egyptologist Kara Cooney examines this phenomenon of repeated female rulers over the course of Egypt’s long history, and delves into the cultural conditions that allowed for women to hold the highest position in the land. Through a close look at the lives of six female rulers, a fascinating story of the rise and fall of Egyptian dynasties unfolds.

One of this book’s main points is women rule differently than men. Author Kara Cooney really hits home on this point, and demonstrates these differences not only in the way women ruled Egypt, but also uses contemporary political figures. Cooney makes some interesting conclusions on the subject, and carefully backs her reasoning and assertions, while also acknowledging when her conclusions are controversial among Egyptologists. Overall it felt well researched and cited within the text and made for a fascinating read. I’d recommend for anyone interested in Egyptian history, women’s history, or just looking for an interesting nonfiction book.

ER

Snow Like Ashes

Snow Like Ashes
Sara Raasch HarperCollins, 2014. 422 pages. Young Adult

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

This book was so much fun to read and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Meira is a fun, strong character to follow as she struggles with wanting to do anything for her fallen kingdom but also wanting to live her own life. The story is beautifully woven, leaving breadcrumbs that make you keep coming back. I loved the idea of 4 kingdoms that represent the 4 seasons and the type of people and commerce each season is known for, very creative. A very fun young adult read.

ME

The Herbalist’s Healing Kitchen: Use the Power of Food to Cook Your Way to Better Health

The Herbalist’s Healing Kitchen: Use the Power of Food to Cook Your Way to Better Health
By Devon Young
Page Street, 2019. 192 pages. Nonfiction

For those looking to cook their way into better health, The Herbalist’s Healing Kitchen provides tips, tricks, and techniques for bringing healing herbs into recipes and menus. Every recipe is categorized by flavor profile (sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and/or pungent), as well as by what type of healing each recipe promotes. With beautiful pictures and easy-to-access formatting, readers can skim for recipes or dive deeper into the theory behind flavor profiles, detoxification, and healthful cooking. 

This cookbook has a bite-sized and delicious approach to learning about cooking for healing. Ingredients are fairly approachable, with nothing too specialized or difficult to find (with a few exceptions). There are several vegetarian dishes, with many dishes that can easily be altered for vegan diets, as well as including recipes welcome for keto or other dietary needs. With a wide range of recipes from snacks to dessert, fermented to fresh, I recommend this versatile cookbook for anyone looking to incorporate healthy ingredients with purpose or for those looking to try something deliciously innovative. 

AS

Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: Big Questions from Tiny Mortals about Death

Will My Cat Eat my Eyeballs?: Big Questions from Tiny Mortals about Death
by Caitlin Doughty W.W. Norton & Company, 2019. 222 pages. Nonfiction.

If you are a mortician and a funeral director, you may get a lot of questions about death. Caitlin Doughty certainly does. But she never expected that the most interesting questions would come not from grieving adults, but from the curious minds of children. This book is a charming collection of Doughty’s hilarious answers to actual questions asked of her by tiny mortals. Will my cat (or dog) eat me if I die? What happens when someone dies on an airplane? Can I keep my friend’s skull as a keepsake?

This book is informative, slightly irreverent, and laugh-out-loud funny. Each chapter is short and easily digestible, so it makes for a great book on the go. Even though this is found in the adult nonfiction section, Caitlin Doughty wrote the book with children in mind, so I found it to be a great book to read aloud with my children. A fun and easy read that will give you a lot to talk about around the dinner table—or maybe you’ll want to talk about it somewhere else.

ALL

Valley of Dreams

Valley of Dreams
By Sarah M. Eden
Mirror Press, 2020. 296 pgs. Historical Romance

The newest book in the Hope Springs series tells the story of Patrick O'Connor. He is the brother everyone believed died in the battle of Gettysburg ten years ago. He has his reasons for not telling his family that he actually survived the battle, while his brother Grady did not. He has suffered years of loneliness and grief and a demon that is too big for him to battle alone. In a moment of deep darkness he decides to reunite with his family in Hope Springs, WY.

Eliza Porter is a young widow who is also traveling to Hope Springs with her young daughter in the hopes of finding a better life than she had as a factory worker in New York City. Eliza and Patrick have an instant connection, even though Patrick tries to push everyone away. Their journey has lighter moments, but they have to travel some dark roads for Patrick to find healing and hope.

I love the O'Connor family! This is the fifth book in the series and, while each book focuses on a different family member, the characters you come to know and love from previous books play into the newest story line. This romance isn't all fluff and good feelings. There are real struggles and darker plot lines but it makes the good times so much sweeter.

AL

The Girl the Sea Gave Back

The Girl the Sea Gave Back
By Adrienne Young
Wednesday Books, 2019. 327 pages. Young Adult

When she’s just a young girl, Tova is found washed ashore by the Svell. Now at 18, memories of her own clan have long since faded, but prolific tattoos mark her as a Truthtongue, someone who can cast the ruin stones and divine the future. Although the Svell fear her, they also realize they can use her abilities to their advantage. With a clan war looming, the Svell think Tova will foresee their victory, but interpreting the future isn’t quite as straightforward, or as promising, as the Svell want to believe. Faced with a choice between life and honor, Tova’s decision will have dramatic consequences for both clans.

Though Tova was raised by the Svell, the constant prejudice she faces weighs her down. She’s been subservient for so long that her own life and personality have been stifled, and as a character she struggles to become her own person. The story’s perspective changes between Tova and Halvard, the young leader of the Nadhir. The paths of both characters cross in strange ways, and the war between their people is gruesome. Still, both characters rise up to discover their own place in the world. This is an interesting historical fantasy with the feel of a Viking world. This is technically a companion novel to Sky in the Deep, but it’s not necessary to read one before the other. They work well as stand alones.

ACS

Mooncakes

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu
Lion Forge, 2019. 256 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novel.

Nova (she/her) is not your ordinary teen. She is a witch, well, she’s in training. She helps out at her grandmothers’ store where they lend out magic books and generally monitor their New England town for any supernatural occurrences.

One night, Nova walks by the woods and stumbles on a werewolf fighting a ghost horse. Not only that, but when the wolf changes, it turns out to be Nova’s best friend from childhood, Tam (they/them). Nova, her grandmothers, the neighbors, and even their cat set out to find out why the ghost horse is following Tam. But will what’s coming for Tam come for them all?

 Nova Huang is a young female protagonist I can love unabashedly. She is strong, empowered (quite literally), and kind. She does not seek out adventures, they come to her because she is helping people who are already in trouble. She is unafraid of figuring out what is going on with Tam, but also gives Tam space and asks for permission before she discusses Tam’s life with anyone. There need to be more people like Nova Huang.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January

The Ten Thousand Doors of January
By Alix E. Harrow
Redhook Books, 2019, 374 pages, Historical/Fantasy Fiction

In the early 1900s, January Scaller, a biracial teenager, isn’t sure where she belongs. Her mother died when she was a baby, and her father travels the world, acquiring precious artifacts for Mr. Locke, a wealthy man whose hobby is collecting rare treasures from around the world. January spends her days in a corner of Mr. Locke’s house, mostly forgotten. When her father goes missing, January is devastated, and she only finds solace in a book called The Ten Thousand Doors of January, which contains a tale of love and travel between worlds that’s hard to believe. Despite Mr. Locke’s active disapproval, January becomes determined to find out what happened to her father, which leads her on an adventure she would have never had the courage to embark on before.

This book is a perfect blend of historical fiction, magical realism, fantasy, adventure, and romance. (A bit like the beloved Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, although that book is more obviously a fantasy novel than The Ten Thousand Doors is.) I read this book at the same time as I read Erin Morgenstern’s The Starless Sea, and I was surprised at how similar these two books were, although The Starless Sea has a contemporary setting. Both books are about people who find solace in reading, and then discover secret worlds behind ordinary doorways and go on to have amazing adventures. Both books also tell multiple stories, switching between the adventures of the main character, and the story that the main character is currently reading. The setting and writing style of The Ten Thousand Doors makes this book feel more like literary fiction than The Starless Sea, which has more of a modern vibe. I unreservedly loved both books, and highly recommend them both.

MB

The Proposal

The Proposal
by Jasmine Guillory
Jove, 2018. 325 pages. Romance

A Dodgers game becomes extremely awkward for freelance writer Nikole Paterson where her actor boyfriend proposes unexpectedly. Of course she says no: he didn't even spell her name right on the Jumbotron. But dealing with a stadium of disappointed fans is more overwhelming than it would seem. Just in the nick of time, handsome stranger Carlos Ibarra and his sister show up, pretending to be Nik's friends, and whisk her away from the camera crew. Carlos and Nik's friendship withstands the social media backlash of the failed proposal, and knowing that Carlos can't be looking for anything serious, Nik starts a fun rebound relationship with him. But as it evolves into something more, they have to learn where to draw the line.

One of my favorite aspects about this NY Times Bestseller was how there wasn't much plot to get mixed up in. That might sound like a negative, but the overall story mostly follows Carlos and Nik's relationship, and they're so cute together that it's hard to get upset about it. The diverse cast of characters is likable and memorable (even minor ones), not to mention realistic. If you're a fan of modern romance, this one's perfect for you.

DT

The Poppy War

The Poppy War

by R. F. Kuang

Harper Voyager, 2018. 530 pages. Fantasy.

Inspired by the bloody history of China's 20th century, R. F. Kuang brings an a unique tale of fantasy where gods inhabit the bodies of those who seek them out. For Rin, a war orphan whose been forced to work with her aunt's opium business, the gods are the furthest thing from her mind. All she wants to do is escape marrying a man triple her age. Do to that, she goes to the extreme and finds a way to test into the most prestigious war school in the country. What starts as simply a journey of running away, leads Rin to face the worse prejudices of her country, discovering magic through altered states of mind, learning of that magic's dangers, and choosing destruction over safety for her world.

For those that like Ken Liu's Grace of Kings and N. K. Jemisin's Inheritance trilogy, this book starts a strong fantasy trilogy that does not shy away from showing the horrors of war.

-SMM

Eat Joy

Eat Joy: stories & comfort food from 31 celebrated writers 
Edited by Natalie Eve Garrett
Black Balloon Publishing, 2019. 194 pages. Nonfiction 

Growing pains, loss, healing, homecoming—food can play a major role in each phase of our journey through life. Food can be full of memories, can help us cope with the loss of a parent, heartache, and loneliness. In this collection of short stories, beloved authors and writers share their experiences (and recipes!) of food and how it helped them through difficult times in life.

This is a great read for anyone that has a special emotional connection to food. The book is split into four parts—growing pains, loss, healing, and homecoming—and each short story focuses on those themes. The stories are autobiographical, and are short enough to be easily digestible for when you just have a few minutes to sneak some reading in. My favorite part is the inclusion of recipes at the end of each story. Lev Grossman’s after-divorce General Tso’s Tofu is as delightfully delicious as his story is painfully hilarious. And Chantel Acevedo’s nostalgic story about her abuela’s merenquitos will fill you with longing for a quiet moment with a sweet treat.

ALL

Kings of the Wyld

Kings of the Wyld
by Nicholas Eames
Orbit, 2017. 529 pages. Fantasy.

In one of the most unique recent twists on the adventuring fantasy genre, Kings of the Wyld follows a band of adventurers who have retired from the hero life. Clay "Slow-hand" Cooper has retired to a tiny village and works as a guard to support his wife and daughter. Then one of Clay's former band companions, Gabe, shows up asking for help with an impossible task--to infiltrate a city besieged by an army of monsters to save his daughter Rose. What ensues is an amazing adventure of washed out heroes completing impossible task after impossible task, losing limbs, saving the known world, and finding the cure of an incurable disease, all while they begrudgingly deal with the fact that they aren't as young as they used to be. If anything, Clay learns that being a hero is more about the friends you have, not being afraid to take risks, and a whole lot of luck.

Eames injects a huge dose of humor into his absurdist fantasy story (a la Terry Pratchet) while grounding it in a very relatable situation--a father doing everthing he can to save his daughter. For readers who liked The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch and Terry Pratchett's Discworld, this book is a must read.

The Nickel Boys

The Nickel Boys
by Colson Whitehead
Doubleday, 2019, 213 pages, Literary/Historical Fiction

Elwood Curtis is a black, straight-A student who lives in Harlem in the 1960s and loves the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. When an innocent mistake sentences Elwood to the Nickel Academy, a Florida reform school, he quickly learns to rely on a fellow inmate named Turner to learn how to survive in this new environment. It turns out the Nickel Academy isn’t a reform school; it’s a den of horrors, where the staff beat and abuse the students, corrupt officials steal food and supplies, and any boy who resists is likely to never be heard from again. This is the story of how Elwood and Turner learn to cope with their experience in the Nickel Academy, and how it affects the rest of their lives.

The Nickel Boys is a devastating work of fiction that was hard to read at times, but I couldn’t put it down. Part of this is because of the book’s roots in actual history (the Nickel Academy is based on a real school in Florida called the Dozier School for Boys), and part of it is because the characters are incredibly complex and you can’t help but root for them. Elwood has such pure motives, and he always tries to believe the best of people, but time and time again he is disappointed. Turner is much more cynical, and it’s his real-talk that helps Elwood learn to survive in a horrible place, while Elwood’s hopeful spirit possibly allows Turner to move on from the horrors of the Academy once he leaves.

Colson Whitehead recently became the fourth person in history to earn not one, but two Pulitzer Prizes, the second being for this book. This accomplishment is very well earned. This is an important book that’s not to be missed.

MB

Not If I Save You First

Not If I Save You First
By Ally Carter
Scholastic Press, 2018. 293 pages. Young Adult

Maddie Manchester thought she and Logan would be friends forever. But when your dad is a Secret Service agent and your best friend is the president's son, sometimes life has other plans. After her father was wounded in an attempted kidnapping, the pair moved to a cabin in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness with no phone and no Internet. And not a single word from Logan. Maddie tells herself it's okay and starts to move on, until Logan shows up six years later... and Maddie wants to kill him. But before that can happen, an assailant appears out of nowhere, knocking Maddie off a cliff and dragging Logan to some unknown fate. Maddie knows she could turn back and get help. But the weather is turning, and the terrain will only get more treacherous, the animals more deadly. Maddie still really wants to kill Logan. But she has to save him first.

In some novels for young adults, the romantic elements feel clunky and artificial. But this winner of the 2020 Beehive Book Award certainly is not one of them. The chemistry between Maddie and Logan is believable (teen awkwardness and all), and it helps to lighten up this complex story of loss and revenge. As they begin to heal old wounds, the two friends find real, healthy connection. Beyond the romance, Carter strikes a careful balance of action and angst. Get ready for a fun, quick-paced thriller with a witty, capable heroine and some dark twists.

DT

Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times

Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times

by Jennifer Worth
Penguin Group USA, 2012. 340 pgs. Biography

 Young Jenny is a trained nurse who unknowingly chooses a convent to complete her midwifery training in the 1950s. In the slums of the East End of London, Jenny trains with the Sisters, delivering babies in all sorts of conditions at all times of day or night. She learns to respect the Sisters and not to judge the poor she serves so quickly. Join in her journey as she meets a colorful cast of women from all walks of life from the warm-hearted nuns, to a young girl caught in prostitution, to a woman who doesn’t speak English and is pregnant with her 24th child.

 This biography is also a social history of living conditions during post-war slums of London, especially concerning childbirth. It’s written in a narrative style, with each chapter focusing on a different patient. I listened to it and I enjoyed the narration, so the audiobook gets a thumbs up from me! Anyone interested in medical history, social history, midwifery, post-war England, or the television series Call the Midwife would enjoy this book.


ER

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