The Interpretation of Fairy Tales

The Interpretation of Fairy Tales is by Marie-Louise von Franz. A fascinating nonfiction work on how fairy tales can be interpreted using Jung's theories. 

Ratings: Adult - 7 out of 10. 

A Nature Poem for Every Night of the Year

A Nature Poem for Every Night of the Year is edited by Jane McMorland Hunter. A charming book of well selected poetry for every day for the year. 

Ratings: 9th grade - 9 out of 10. 

The House with a Clock in the Wall

The House with a Clock in the Wall is by John Bellairs. The first book in the fantasy Lewis Barnavelt series. Lewis's parents have been killed in a car accident and he is sent to live with his Uncle Jonathan in an old mansion. Once he arrives, Lewis discovers that both his uncle and the woman who lives next door are both magicians, As Lewis tries to find a friend his age in his new town, he raises a dead magician on Halloween who threatens his new family. Fans of Harry Potter might enjoy this series. 

Ratings: 8th grade - 7 out of 10. 

The Bones of the Holy

The Bones of the Holy is by Jennifer Allison. The fifth book in the Gilda Joyce fantasy mystery series. Gilda's mom takes a weekend trip to Florida and comes back with a fiancée. Gilda and her mom fly down to St. Augustine, Florida for the whirlwind wedding, and Gilda discovers the house her mother's fiancée lives in is haunted by a woman in a white wedding dress. Is the ghost trying to tell Gilda something about Eugene before the wedding? Fans of the series will enjoy this installment. 

Ratings: 6th grade - 7 out of 10. 

A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year

A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year is edited by Jane McMorland Hunter. A beautiful and well edited selection of magnificent poetry. Perfect to read one poem each day. 

Ratings: 9th grade - 10 out of 10. 

Finding Baba Yaga

Finding Baba Yaga is by Jane Yolen. A charming fantasy novella based on the Baba Yaga of Russian fairy tale fame. A fiction in verse tale of a young girl with a controlling father and a weak mother. Natasha runs away and ultimately finds herself in the home of Baba Yaga, the legendary witch, which moves about on chicken feet. Natasha finds a home, a friend, and her own voice. 

Ratings: 7th grade - 8 out of 10. 

Murder Must Advertise

Murder Must Advertise is by Dorothy L. Sayers. The tenth book in the historical fiction Lord Peter Wimsey mystery series. Lord Peter takes a job undercover at an advertising agency to discover if the death of a copy writer was murder; only to find himself in the middle of a much more sinister drug running scheme. This installment did seem to have some passages that could have been edited out, but overall fans will not be disappointed. 

Ratings: 11th grade - 7 out of 10. 

Unnatural Death

Unnatural Death is by Dorothy L. Sayers. The third book in the historical fiction Lord Peter Wimsey mystery series. Lord Peter overhears a doctor at a restaurant making a random comment and decides a murder has been committed, perhaps the perfect murder, and he is going to solve it. Fans of the series will enjoy this installment. 

Ratings: 11th grade - 8 out of 10. 

Clouds of Witness

Clouds of Witness is by Dorothy L. Sayers. The second installment in the historical fiction Lord Peter Wimsey mystery series. While returning from a vacation in Corsica, Lord Peter discovers from the newspaper that his brother, the Duke of Denver, has been arrested for the murder of his sister's fiancé. Determined to clear his brother's name, Lord Peter rushes home, only to find neither his brother nor his sister will tell the truth about the incident. Fans of the series will enjoy this addition. 

Ratings: 11th grade - 7 out of 10. 

Whose Body?

Whose Body? is by Dorothy L. Sayers. The first novel in the historical fiction Lord Peter Wimsey mystery series. Set in England after WWI, Lord Peter Wimsey is the second son of the Duke of Denver, a post currently held by his older brother, as his father is dead. Peter enjoys collecting rare books, good food and drink, and solving "perplexing problems." When a dead body, wearing nothing but a pince-nez, is found in the home of an architect named Thipps, Lord Peter, with the help of his trusty servant Bunter, decide to discover the identity of the corpse, as well as who killed him. 

Ratings: 11th grade - 9 out of 10. 

Othello

Othello is by William Shakespeare. The classic drama by the master of human nature. Othello is a Moor who has been hired as a mercenary by the city-state of Venice to defend them against an invasion by the Turks. He elopes with the white daughter of a Venetian noble, yet the Doge sides with Othello because Venice needs him to defend them from the Turks. He and his wife Desdemona, her maid Emelia and Emelia's husband Iago head to Cyprus at the request of the Doge. Iago is also Othello's standard bearer and hates Othello. He decides to instigate a plan to destroy the Moor, and everyone near him. A classic tale of revenge, love, and jealousy. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read. 

Ratings: 12th grade - 10 out of 10. 

Sweetbitter

Sweetbitter is by Stephanie Danler. A brutal work of realistic fiction. This is the story of a young woman who leaves home and goes to New York City, where she gets a job working front of house in a famous downtown restaurant. As she gets to know her co-workers, she must also learn to navigate the high-speed world of restaurant service. This is a depressing tale of a young woman's search for her own identity in a big city filled with drugs, liquor, sex, and bitterness. Not a life I would wish on my worst enemy. This novel is depressing, sad, and unfortunately too demonstrative of the pointless, nihilistic, lives lived by so many young people today as they search for meaning and purpose. Well-written, but sad. 

Ratings: Adult - 5 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content). 

The Word is Murder

The Word is Murder is by Anthony Horowitz. The first book in the realistic fiction Detective Hawthorne mystery series. A fast paced, but very differently written detective novel. Horowitz plays himself, the real-life author, who is contacted by a fictional ex-policeman with whom he used to work on a television show he wrote for. Hawthorne is called in as a consultant on challenging cases, and he has decided he wants Horowitz to write the story of his current case. A middle aged woman walks into a funeral parlor and plans her own funeral, and is found strangled six hours later. Hawthorne is called in to work the case and Horowitz finds himself along for the ride. A completely unique take on detective novels. 

Ratings: 11th grade - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - V (violence). 

84, Charing Cross Road

84, Charing Cross Road is by Helene Hanff. A charming nonfiction classic novella that book lovers won't be able to resist. This small novella contains twenty years of correspondence from Helene Hanff in New York and the staff of a small used book store in England. Although they never met, these letters document a touching an beautiful friendship. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read.

Ratings: 9th grade - 10 out of 10. 

An American Sunrise

An American Sunrise is by Joy Harjo. A wonderful book of poetry from America's Poet Laureate. Harjo is a Native American poet who is able to write both powerful and easily understood poetry. A must read for poetry lovers. If you can, get the audiobook version, Harjo reads it herself. 

Ratings: 9th grade - 9 out of 10 - P (profanity). 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder is by Joanne Fluke. The first installment in the realistic fiction mystery Hannah Swensen series. Hannah owns a bakery in Lake Eden, Minnesota. When her dairy delivery is late, she steps out into the alley and sees the delivery truck. She wanders down to see what the problem is and finds the delivery driver shot to death with one of her cookies still in his hand. Hannah then decides she must find the murderer. This book is a charming cozy mystery complete with delicious cookie recipes. 

Ratings: 10th grade - 7 out of 10.  

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet is by Becky Chambers. The first book in the science fiction Wayfarer series. Rosemary Harper joins a motley crew of humans and aliens aboard a ship that tunnels wormholes through space. They believe they have landed the job of a lifetime, only to discover it may not be all they had hoped, and just getting to the job site may cost them their lives. 

Ratings: Adult - 7 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content) - V (violence). 

A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe

A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe is by Alex White. The first book in the science fiction Salvagers series. Nilah is a famous racer on the circuit on her way to a championship cup. In the middle of a race, she witnesses the murder of a fellow driver and finds herself involved in a scheme to rule the galaxy. She joins up with a motley crew of salvagers on the hunt for the greatest warship ever built. Is the ship a legend? Is it lost forever? Who wants to make sure it is never found? A fast paced space romp that all science fictions lovers will enjoy. 

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

The Glass Hotel

The Glass Hotel is by Emily St. John Mandel. A strange, yet compelling, realistic fiction novel. Vincent is a young bartender at a resort hotel, her brother is a janitor at the same hotel. One night she meets Jonathan Alkaitis, a rich financier, and her life changes forever. This book is built around a Madoff-like Ponzi scheme whose fall affects all of the characters in the book. This book is nothing like Station Eleven, so if you go in with that understanding you will appreciate it much more. 

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