The River Why

The River Why is by David James Duncan. A beautifully written realistic fiction novel centered around fly fishing, nature, and family. Gus Orivston leaves his fishing-crazed family and takes a cabin in the Pacific Northwest to fish and, unbeknownst to him, find himself. The novel is laugh-out-loud funny in places and poignantly beautiful in others. The descriptions of nature are magnificently written and the sections on one man's search for happiness profound. The characters are real and really funny. A must read for fisherman and nature lovers, and anyone who wants to feel in touch with other people and nature. 

Ratings: Adult - 8 out of 10. 

One Rainy Day in May

One Rainy Day in May is by Mark Z. Danielewski. The first in the cyper-punk series called The Familiar. I would love to tell you what this book is about, but I'm not quite sure. It is written in a very experimental way and covers a strange variety of characters, from gang members to scientists to recovering addicts to game designers and therapists. It seems to center around a young girl named Xanther, whose father takes her out to buy a dog but instead rescues and brings home something else. This book is a challenging read, but worth the try if for nothing but the novelty.

Ratings: Adult - 6 out of 10 - P (profanity) - V (violence). 

Beartown

Beartown is by Fredrik Backman. The first in the realistic fiction Beartown duology. Beartown is a small town in the middle of the forest; a community that is slowing dying as its residents have to leave to find jobs. The only hope they have of saving their town is their junior ice hockey team. As the team prepares to complete in the national semifinals, everyone in Beartown is depending on the Bears for the future of the town. The team centers around Kevin, a talent the team's general manager, Peter, is depending on to secure a victory for the team. One night, and one horrible series of decisions, could bring the team and the town to its knees. A magnificent look at what people will do when driven to protect the people, town, and sport they love. A fantastic novel!!

Ratings: 11th grade - 9 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content). 

Beastly Bones

Beastly Bones is by William Ritter. The second in the fantasy Jackaby series. Abigail and her employer Jackaby are called in to investigate two suspicious murders surrounding an archaeological dig near New Fiddleham that has uncovered the bones of a massive creature, possibly a dinosaur. But nothing surrounding Jackaby is straightforward, and they soon find themselves fighting for their lives. An enjoyable continuation of a fun series. 

Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10 - V (violence). 

The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt's Masterpiece: Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer

The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt's Masterpiece: Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer is by Anne Marie O'Connor. A magnificent nonfiction look at the history of Klimt's masterpiece and the people involved in its creation, theft, and recovery. When the Bloch-Bauer's fled Austria after the country welcomed the Nazi's, all Jewish property was looted and stolen. Klimt's portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer survived the war, but was not returned by the Austrian government. O'Connor walks us through every step of battle to return the painting to the Bloch-Bauer heirs, one of the most famous in the ongoing battle to return art stolen by the Nazi's to its rightful owners. 

Ratings: 11th grade - 8 out of 10. 

Lost in a Good Book

Lost in a Good Book is by Jasper Fforde. The second book in the charming Thursday Next fantasy series. Thursday Next is a renowned agent in the SpecOps literary crimes unit. After her adventure in the Eyre Affair, Thursday hopes to settle down with her husband and prepare for the birth of their first child. Then she is recruited to be a Prose Resource Operative, her time traveling father informs her the world is about to end, and Goliath Corporation eradicates her husband from her current timeline. Thursday must retrieve a vanquished enemy from Poe's "The Raven," save the world from certain destruction, complete her apprenticeship with Miss Havisham, avoid capture by both her own agency and Goliath, and fulfill all of her publicity tour obligations. It's just another day in the life of a literary detective. This series is a total delight, especially for bibliophiles. 

Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10. 

Binti: The Night Masquerade

Binti: The Night Masquerade is by Nnedi Okorafor. The final installment in the science fiction Binti trilogy. Binti and Okwu have returned to Earth to Binti's home. Unfortunately, the ancient Meduse/Khoush conflict has followed her home. While she is away from her village the Khoush attack her family and attempt to kill Okwu. Believing her family to be dead, Binti and her friend Mwinyi hurry back to her village to try and stop the ancient war once and for all. But the attempt will cost Binti more than she ever imagined. A fantastic ending to a wonderful series. 

Ratings: 9th grade - 9 out of 10. 

The Last Little Blue Envelope

The Last Little Blue Envelope is by Maureen Johnson. The sequel to Johnson's realistic fiction novel Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes. Ginny is getting ready to apply to colleges after her trip to Europe over the summer. She still regrets that she never got to complete her Aunt Peg's quest. Then she receives an email from a boy in England; he has come into possession of her old backpack with the letters inside. He wants her to come to England and finish her journey. Ginny is thrilled, but of course things are not as they appear. A charming conclusion to a fantastic story.

Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10. 

The Gracekeepers

The Gracekeepers is by Kirsty Logan. A haunting dystopian fiction novel set in a strange and water-covered world. Callanish is a Gracekeeper, she officiates at water burials since most of the land has sunk beneath the waves. She feels she is atoning for the sins of her past, a past that still haunts her. North works in a floating circus owned by Red Gold, the ringmaster, she dances with her bear to the delight of the crowds. Red Gold wishes her to marry his son, but North has a secret that hopefully will save her from a marriage she doesn't want. Told from the perspectives of various characters in the book, this novel is sad, yet hopeful at the same time. It shows us a world that has changed once, and is on the verge of changing yet again. 

Ratings: 10th grade - 8 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content). 

Dept. of Speculation

Dept. of Speculation is by Jenny Offill. A charming realistic fiction book about marriage: the good, the bad, and the ugly. They referred to their love as "Dept. of Speculation" to represent all of the mysteries their future contained. Then they got married, had a child and tried to juggle jobs, bed bugs, lice, rodents, childcare, and all of the other everyday trials of married life. When their marriage is on the verge of destruction, the wife tries to look back and figure out how they arrived at this breaking point and where they will go from here. 

Ratings: 10th grade - 7 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).

Verses for the Dead

Verses for the Dead is by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. The 18th installment in the realistic fiction Agent Pendergast series. There has been a changing of the guard at the New York FBI headquarters and the new boss wants to get rid the famous pain-in-the-neck agent Pendergast. When a serial killer begins killing women in Miami and leaving their hearts at the graves of suicide victims he sees his chance to kill two birds with one stone. He sends Pendergast down to Florida to handle the case, with a partner to report back every time Pendergast steps out of line. Another great installment in this amazing series. Fans will not be disappointed. 

Ratings: Adult - 9 out of 10 - V (violence) - AC (mature thematic contents). 

Endlessly

Endlessly is by Kiersten White. The final book in the Paranormalcy fantasy series. IPCA has been taken over by "new management" who demand Evie to return to work for them. When she refuses and attempts to discover what has happened to Raquel, the former head of IPCA, who has gone missing she discovers there is much more going on than she thought. Lend's mother wants her to open a gate to send the immortals and faeries back to their own world, but if she agrees what will it cost her? Will Lend leave since he is half-immortal? When Reth reappears and shows her the humans the Dark Queen is kidnapping, Evie must decide what she is willing to sacrifice to save them. Fans of the series will enjoy this final installment.

Ratings: 8th grade - 7 out of 10. 

Supernaturally

Supernaturally is by Kiersten White. The second in the Paranormalcy fantasy series. Evie has finally escaped from the clutches of the IPCA. She is going to high school and living above a diner with her vampire roommate and falling more and more in love with her half-water elemental boyfriend. Then IPCA asks her to come back to work for them.They have found a way to travel that doesn't involve faeries, but a strange teenager named Jack. Then Evie's faerie ex-boyfriend Reth returns and Evie is caught in the middle of a war between the Seelie and Unseelie courts. 

Ratings: 8th grade - 7 out of 10. 

The Thirteenth Tale

The Thirteenth Tale is by Diane Setterfield. A poignant realistic fiction story about families and the secrets they keep. Vida Winter is a famous author who has managed to elude every attempt to ferret out information on her past. Margaret Lea works in a bookstore owned by her father, but wants to be a biographer. When the elusive Vida Winter summons Margaret to write her official biography, Margaret is stunned. She accepts the job and soon discovers that there are layers upon layers of secrets surrounding Ms. Winter's past. A beautifully written and touching story.

Ratings: 10th grade - 9 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content).

Kraken

Kraken is by China Mieville. An astonishing and creepy work of fantasy. Billy Harrow works at London's Natural History Museum which houses a perfectly preserved specimen of giant squid. One day as he proceeds to lead a tour to view the squid, Harrow discovers it has been stolen, but no one is able to discover how the theft was committed. In a London filled with magic, myth, and cultists, Harrow finds himself swept up into a battle that could bring about the end of the world. This book is strange and creepy, and you wonder until the end exactly what is going on. 

Ratings: Adult - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content) - V (violence). 

Caraval

Caraval is by Stephanie Garber. The first in the Carval fantasy trilogy; this story is deep and dark and a total joy to read. Carval is a mystical performance held yearly by the mysterious Legend. You are invited to join the performance by invitation only, although many come just to watch. Scarlett has always wanted to attend a performance and for years has written to Legend to seek an invitation. On the eve of her arranged marriage to a man she has never met, she receives the long-awaited invitation. Enlisting the aid of a young sailor named Julian, Scarlett's sister Tella arranges for them to sneak away from their abusive father and head to Caraval. The minute they arrive Tella is kidnapped and Scarlett discovers Legend has made Tella a part of this year's performance. The first to find her wins. Scarlett and Julian rush to decipher the mysterious clues that will enable her to win the game and find her sister before it is too late. A magnificently plotted and original work. I can't wait for the next book in the series. 

Ratings: 10th grade - 9 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content). 

The Devil & Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, & Obsession

The Devil & Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, & Obsession is by David Grann. Grann collects a variety of nonfiction stories which reveal that truth is stranger than fiction. Grann investigates the murder of a Sherlock Holmes fan, tracks a con artist, searches for the elusive giant squid, and investigates the case of a man who may have been executed for a crime he didn't commit. A fascinating collection that is a great deal of fun to read. 

Ratings: 10th grade - 8 out of 10. 

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering & Organizing

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering & Organizing is by Marie Kondo. A charming little nonfiction book on how to re-vamp your household and dispose of the things you don't need and re-organize the things you do. Can't agree with disposing of books, but the rest was fascinating and thought provoking. It did revolutionize the way I fold my clothes and organize my closet and drawer space. Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10.

The Search for Truth

The Search for Truth is by Kaza Kingsley. The third installment in the Eric Rex fantasy series. Eric must continue his quests to become the rightful king of Alpyium. This time he must repair the Substance which holds Alpyium and the mortal world together. To do this he must defeat a Manticore and secure the five Awen, but can he do so without risking his own life and that of his friends as well. 

Ratings: 6th grade - 7 out of 10. 

Etiquette and Espionage

Etiquette and Espionage is by Gail Carriger. The first book in the Finishing School YA fantasy series. Set in the same world as the Parasol Protectorate, this is the story of Sophronia who is sent by her family to be a student at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality because she can't behave like a lady. Only Sophronia discovers the school is not exactly what it seems to be and finds herself and her new friends involved in plot to steal a new mechanical prototype. Steampunk meets Victorian England with werewolves and vampires. Fans of the adult series will enjoy this one as well. 

Ratings: 7th grade - 8 out of 10. 

Beautiful Chaos

Beautiful Chaos is by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. The third book in the Beautiful Creatures fantasy series. Ethan and Lena have returned from the Great Barrier, but the effects of the order being broken are being felt all over Gatlin by mortals and supernaturals alike. Ethan must decide what he is willing to sacrifice to save Lena, his friends, and his town from the end of the world. Fans of the series will enjoy this installment. 

Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content). 

The Affair of the Mysterious Letter

The Affair of the Mysterious Letter is by Alexis Hall. One of the strangest fantasy novels I have ever read. This is a bizarre re-working of the Sherlock Holmes tales. The sorceress Shaharazad Haas takes a new roommate named Captain John Wyndham, fresh back from the wars. When an old "friend" of Shaharazad's arrives and informs the sorceress that she is being blackmailed, the game is afoot. A very strange mix of gender-bending fantasy and Sherlockian lore. 

Ratings: 11th grade - 7 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content).  

The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters & the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick

The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters & the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick is by Mallory O'Meara. A fascinating nonfiction biography which tells the story of Milicent Patrick the woman who designed the costume for The Creature from the Black Lagoon. O'Meara leads us through her search for information on this amazing woman and her own experiences working in Hollywood. Patrick was an engrossing persona and it is a shame more is not known about her. O'Meara deserves credit for bringing her to the attention of readers everywhere. 

Ratings: Adult - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content). 

Akata Witch

Akata Witch is by Nnedi Okorafor. The first in the Akata Witch fantasy series. Sunny was born in America to Nigerian parents; she is also an albino. When the family moves back to Nigeria, Sunny meets new friends and begins to discover things about herself she never knew. She is one of the Leopard People and has amazing magical abilities. She and her new friends must track down and defeat another Leopard person who is mutilating and killing children in an attempt to bring an ancient evil back into the world. An amazing series!

Ratings: 10th grade - 9 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content). 

Watcher in the Woods

Watcher in the Woods is by Robert Liparulo. The second fantasy installment in the Dreamhouse Kings series. Xander and David desperately want to find their mother, who has been kidnapped by a mysterious man and taken through one of numerous portals in their new home that lead to other times and places. Xander does not feel his dad is doing enough to find his mother, but David feels his father just wants them to search for her safely. While tensions increase within the family, a mysterious man attempts to drive the Kings from their home which will prevent them from continuing to their search. 

Ratings:6th grade - 7 out of 10. 

I Hunt Killers

I Hunt Killers is by Barry Lyga. The first in the realistic fiction thriller Jasper Dent series. Jasper Dent is the son of the nation's most prolific serial killer. His father raised him to follow in his footsteps, but Jazz doesn't want to be like his father. He believes his father killed his mother and he lives with his paternal grandmother, who is senile on her best days. When bodies start showing up in town, killed in ways that mirror his father's murders, Jazz decides he needs to catch the killer to convince people, including himself, that he didn't do it. This book is both gory and psychologically scary, but it is really good. So if this is your jam, you will LOVE this novel. I can't wait for the second in the series. 

Ratings: 11th grade - 9 out of 10 - P (profanity) - V(violence) - AC (mature thematic content).