Wild Dark Shore

Wild Dark Shore is by Charlotte McConaghy. A dark literary fiction novel. A father and his three children are stationed on a remote research island near Antarctica. They are keepers of the seed bank needed to restart the world after a disaster. The island is being decommissioned as the water is rising and will soon cover it. Then a woman washes up on their shore and shatters their lives by uncovering dark secrets that are destroying their family. This book is much darker than I expected it to be. I do understand the hype surrounding it. 

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

What Happened to Lori Lovely?

What Happened to Lori Lovely? is by Sarah McCoy. A charming realistic fiction look at life and the choices we make. In 1969, Hollywood star Lori Lovely gives up her career to join a Benedictine convent and becomes a nun. In 1990, her niece, desperately needing a topic for her Master's thesis, shows up and asks to interview Lori, now Mother Abbess of the convent, to find out why she left her career to "get thee to a nunnery." She finds out more about her family and herself than she expected. 

Ratings: 12th grade - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content). 

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret is by Judy Blume. The classic coming of age realistic fiction for young girls. Applauded by some and banned by others. Margaret is 12 and has moved from New York to New Jersey and is trying to fit in with her new friends and juggle the domestic issues with her grandparents - one of her parents is Jewish and the other is not. Margaret has no religion, but still talks to God, as she tries to navigate the beginnings of puberty. 

Ratings: 6th grade - 6 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content). 

Stone and Sky

Stone and Sky is by Ben Aaronovitch. The tenth installment in the fantasy Rivers of London series. Peter and his family head to Scotland for a holiday - good luck with that! When the local police ask for his help in a weird missing person case and murder, Peter finds himself dealing with selkies and other water dwellers and needing Bev's help. I'm not a fan of the chapters from Abigail's point of view - they make it seem like this is becoming a teen romantasy - not a fan of that. Fans may have mixed thoughts on this one. 

Ratings: 12th grade - 7 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content) - V (violence). 

Monster in the Moonlight

Monster in the Moonlight is by Annelise Ryan. The fourth book in the Monster Hunter realistic fiction mystery series. Morgan is off to Wisconsin to track down the Beast of Bray Road. A werewolf-like creature whose first verified kill is a local woman in a field. But is this really the beast or a human using the legend to cover their crimes? Fans of the series will enjoy this installment. 

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

Amongst Our Weapons

Amongst Our Weapons is by Ben Aaronovitch. The ninth book in the fantasy Rivers of London series. Peter must solve a murder in the London Silver Vaults, and he must do so before Bev goes into labor with their twins. But how can someone commit murder and get away with it completely unseen and have no one remember anything? 

Ratings: 11th grade - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content) - V (violence) 

The New-England Primer Collection [1690-1843] to which is added, The ABC Both in Latin & in English [1538]

The New-England Primer Collection [1690-1843] to which is added, The ABC Both in Latin & in English [1538] is collected by Benjamin Harrison. This amazing work of nonfiction is the original American textbook for school children. This is a must read for Christians and home-schoolers everywhere. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read. 

Ratings: 3rd grade - 10 out of 10.