Why Read Moby Dick? is by Nathaniel Philbrick. A short nonfiction study on the importance of Melville's classic written by a master of nonfiction writing. If you are planning to read Moby Dick or just wondering why you should - this is the book for you!
Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10.
The Black Cauldron is by Lloyd Alexander. The second book in the fantasy Chronicles of Prydain series. Taran goes on a quest with the leaders of Prydain to recover the Black Cauldron from the evil Arawan. When he and his friends become separated from the rest of the host when their original plan fails, it's up to Taran and his friends to retrieve the cauldron and save Prydain. A great series for youngsters. This is a great follow-up to the first book. A true children's classic.
Ratings: 5th grade - 8 out of 10.
False Values is by Ben Aaronovitch. The eighth book in the Rivers of London fantasy series. Peter goes undercover at a Silicon Valley tycoon's new London startup. He discovers a secret as much technology as it is magical, and every bit as dangerous. Can Peter save the day and get back to his pregnant wife? Fans of this series will thoroughly enjoy this book.
Ratings: 11th grade - 8 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content) - V (violence) - P (profanity).
The Whispering House is by Elizabeth Brooks. An interesting realistic fiction thriller. A young woman is drawn to the house near where he sister committed suicide several years earlier. Once there she becomes involved with the artistic, and creepy, son of the owner - who may or may not have been involved with her sister's death. I liked this book, but I didn't find it as intriguing as I had hoped.
Ratings: 12th grade - 6 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content) - P (profanity).
Black Money is by Ross Macdonald. The 13th in the historical fiction Lew Archer mystery series. Archer is hired to discover the background of a suave "Frenchman" who runs off with the his client's girlfriend. It turns out the Frenchman is involved in a seven-year-old suicide and a massive gambling organization. Archer is on the case, so you know it will get complicated. Noir at it's finest.
Ratings: 11th grade - 8 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content).
Beast of the North Woods is by Annelise Ryan. The third installment in the Monster Hunter realistic fiction mystery series. Morgan travels to Wisconsin to investigate a man supposedly murdered by a hodag. But as usual, she finds herself in deeper than she intended and things are never what they seem. Fans of the series will enjoy this installment.
Ratings: 10th grade - 8 out of 10 - V (violence) - AC (mature thematic content).
David's Crown: Sounding the Psalms is by Malcolm Guite. A wonderful book of poetry that follows the Book of Psalms. There is a poem for each of the 150 psalms. This is a great companion read if you are going through Psalms. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read.
Ratings: 9th grade - 10 out of 10.
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder is by David Grann. Another great book by this wonderful writer of nonfiction. In 1740, The Wager left England as part of a fleet destined for South America to capture a Spanish treasure ship. In 1742, thirty emaciated men made it back to England with a tale of shipwreck on a small island off the coast of Chile and the mutiny and murder that happened there. Grann is just so good at writing nonfiction that reads like a novel. His fans will enjoy this one as well.
Ratings: 11th grade - 8 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content).
Wolvers is by Taylor Brown. A harrowing realistic fiction novel about the problems with resettling wolves. Trace's family has lost their farm because his father shot a tagged wolf on their property. His father committed suicide and Trace and his mother are barely surviving. When he is approached by a mysterious group to hunt down another tagged wolf, he agrees. But after a horrifying "accident," his outlook changes, now he is in a race against another hunter to save the wolf he was hired to kill. Having chapters from the wolf's point of view was interesting. This book was intense.
Ratings: 12th grade - 7 out of 10 - V (violence) - AC (mature thematic content) - P (profanity).
Too Many Cooks is by Rex Stout. The fifth book in the Nero Wolfe historical fiction mystery series. Nero Wolfe is invited to speak at a conference of world famous chefs, only before he can make his speech one of them is killed. Now he must discover who the murderer is so he can give his speech and go home. Fans of the series will enjoy this installment. Reminder: This is a book of a specific time and place and not all language or content would be acceptable in 2026.
Ratings: 10th grade - 8 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content).
Five is by Ilona Bannister. A realistic fiction novel set in modern London. Five people are on a London Underground platform. One of them is about to die, which one? The story looks at the five people individually and goes through their back story leading up to the "final" moment and its aftermath. This is well written, it's just not for me.
Ratings: Adult - 6 out of 10 - V (violence) - AC (mature thematic content) - P (profanity).
Dear Mr. Knightley is by Katherine Reay. A charming romantic comedy take off on Daddy Long Legs. A young orphan is given a scholarship to a prestigious journalism school by a mysterious benefactor. The only thing she needs to do is write him regularly and let him know her progress. While at school, she meets has favorite writer and becomes involved with a group of eccentric people. Since Sam is a huge fan of Bronte, Austen, and other classic writers, this is a fun read for book lovers.
Ratings: 11th grade - 7 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (some mature thematic content).
The Crisis of Narration is by Byung-Chul Han. A wonderful nonfiction philosophical look at the importance of narration. Humans needs to avoid screen time and talk to each other. This is a must read for home school parents and teachers. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read.
Ratings: 9th grade - 10 out of 10.
Our Man in Havana is by Graham Greene. The classic historical fiction satire on spy novels. An ex-pat vacuum cleaner salesman in Havana is forced into becoming a spy for MI6. He begins to file fake reports just to get the money and then finds out his life is in danger because everyone, including the other side, is taking him seriously. Not my favorite novel, but it was worth the read.
Ratings: 11th grade - 6 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).
Auntie Poldi and the Lost Madonna is by Mario Giordano. The fourth installment in the realistic fiction Auntie Poldi mystery series. Auntie Poldi is shocked by a visit from a priest and a Vatican policemen who suspect her of being involved in the death of a nun and the theft of a Black Madonna statue from the Vatican. Can Poldi find out who took the statue and killed the nun without losing all the friends she has made in her new home?
Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content) - P (profanity).
Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel is by Elizabeth Everett. A charming start to the fantasy Wayside Hotel series. A magical hotel which needs a "reboot" strands its magical travelers on Earth - the least magic world ever. Pax, the hotel manager, must keep the travelers in line as he seeks the answer to the hotel's needs. Can a single mom and her four-year-old son really be that answer?
Ratings: 11th grade - 7 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).
David Copperfield is by Charles Dickens. The classic historical fiction epic by the master. This is the semi-autobiographical account of a young boy's journey to manhood and the people who helped him grow into a man of substance. A masterpiece of fiction. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read.
Ratings: 11th grade - 10 out of 10.
Lies Sleeping is by Ben Aaronovitch. The seventh book in the fantasy Rivers of London series. The Faceless Man has been uncovered and is on the run. However, he is trying to pull off his last bit of magic that will destroy London. To stop him Peter may have to ally with both Lesley and Mr. Punch.
Ratings: 11th grade - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content) - V (violence).
Mr. Pottermack's Oversight is by R. Austin Freeman. A Golden Age classic mystery by one of the masters of the craft. Mr. Pottermack is a murderer. We know this from the start, but this charming mystery starts out with the crime and criminal being known and then explains how the detective finds the culprit. This is one of my favorite of Freeman's novels. Fans of Golden Age mysteries should enjoy this one. Does Dr. Thorndyke do the right thing at the end?
Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10
Say Nothing: The True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland is by Patrick Radden Keefe. A fascinating nonfiction look at the Troubles. Jean McConville was taken from her home by masked men in front of her ten children and was never seen again. In 2003, her bones were discovered on a beach. Keefe sets out to tell the story of McConville, her children, and the leaders of IRA and other groups that caused Ireland to be such a deadly place during this turbulent period. This book is well written, well researched, and really really sad.
Ratings: Adult - 7 out of 10 - V (violence) - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).
