A Gentleman in Moscow

A Gentleman in Moscow is by Amor Towles. A magnificent work of historical fiction set in Russia after the Communist takeover. In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is found to be an aristocrat and sentenced by a Bolshevik tribunal to spend the rest of his life under house arrest in Mocow's famous Hotel Metropol. He now lives in a small attic room and watches the decades of change go by, never able to leave the hotel. This is a wonderful look at the Communist takeover of Russia through the eyes of a former noble. Count Rostov handles his reduced fortunes with grace, never losing his breeding and sense of humor. This is a Reader's Corner Must Read Book! Enjoy!

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

The Girl With All the Gifts

The Girl With All the Gifts is by M.R. Carey. The first in the science fiction dystopian Hungry Plague series. A plague has reduced most of humanity to zombie-like cannibals called "hungries." Melanie is a young girl in a special school, she spends her days locked in a chair and taking classes. Her favorite teacher is Miss Justineau. She begins to discover that she is not being protected, she is being studied. When the compound she's in is razed, Melanie, Miss Justineau, a scientist, and two soldiers try to find their way to another safe base near London. On the way, Melanie learns the truth about herself, her future, and the future of the human race.

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

City of Endless Night

City of Endless Night is by Douglas Present and Lincoln Child. The seventeenth installment in the realistic fiction mystery Pendergast series. Pendergast and D'Agosta try to find the identity of a killer who is beheading the rich and famous. Fans of the series will love this book as well. 

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

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World is by William H. McRaven. A short book based on McRaven's commencement speech at the University of Texas at Austin. A must read for everyone, but especially students of all ages. The speech itself is well worth listening to on youtube.

Ratings: 7th grade - 10 out of 10. 

Missing Pieces

Missing Pieces is by Carly Anne West. The first realistic fiction installment in the Hello Neighbor series - based on the children's video game. Nick is 12; his father is a newspaper publisher and his mother is a university professor. They move to a new town when Nick's father gets a new job at the local paper. Nick meets the strange family across the street, the Peterson's. Their son Aaron seems to be just the friend Nick needs right now, but Aaron's mother and sister are a little strange and his father is down right scary. "The Burbs" for kids. A cute children's book for young readers. 

Ratings: 6th grade - 6 out of 10. 

Lab Girl

Lab Girl is by Hope Jahren. An autobiographical memoir of geobiologist Hope Jahren. The tale follows Jahren from her childhood to the present as she completes university and tries to make a name from herself as a female scientist. The autobiographical parts are interspersed with fascinating information on plants. She and Bill, her eccentric lab partner, travel the world to do research and move to various universities chasing grant money and tenure. Jahren also discusses her mental health issues and her obvious love for her husband and son. An excellent read for anyone interested in science, especially girls. 

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

The Girls

The Girls is by Emma Cline. A historical/realistic fiction knock off of the Manson family story. Set in California in 1969, and then flipping forward in time, this is the story of Evie. In 1969, she sees several girls in the park and watches them dumpster dive for food. She is especially attracted to Suzanne, who seems so free and mesmerizing. She is drawn into their world. They live on a "ranch" and are enthralled by Russel, a clear Manson-esque character. Evie, already, disenchanted by her home life, becomes more drawn in to the group. Then comes the night when members of the group are sent out to kill for Russell. The book seems to focus more on what would make a "normal" girl from an upper middle class background join a group like Manson's and stay. 

Ratings: Adult - 6 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content) - S (non-graphic sexual content).