Peter Pan is by James Barrie. The classic children's fantasy tale. Peter Pan can't grow up. He goes to the home of the Darling's to listen to stories told to their children. When he loses his shadow and has it sewn back on by Wendy Darling, he takes Wendy, John, and Michael for an adventure in Never Never Land. There they meet the lost boys, the Indians, the mermaids, and of course, Captain James Hook. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read.
Ratings: 5th grade - 9 out of 10.
Devil in a Blue Dress is by Walter Mosley. The first book in the historical fiction Easy Rawlins mystery series. Set in Los Angeles in 1948, Easy is a black war veteran who has lost his job. He is trying to find another so he can keep his home, which means everything to him. He is approached by a white man and asked to locate a white woman who is known to hang out in the black part of town. Then people start dying and Easy is suspected by the police. Can he discover what is really going on without getting killed or thrown in jail for crimes he didn't commit? This is a dark and violent series.
Ratings: 12th grade - 6 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (very mature thematic content).
A Daughter of Fair Verona is by Christina Dodd. A charming historical fiction look at Romeo and Juliet's daughter; the first in the Daughter of Montague series. Romeo and Juliet didn't die, they lived and had a bunch of children. The oldest daughter is named Rosaline and she doesn't want to marry. However, her parents betroth her to a man whose last three wives have died under suspicious circumstances. When she is found in the garden at her betrothal party standing over the body of the husband-to-be, Rosaline must discover who really killed him and why. This novel was completely charming. It is the first in a series, so there will be more for fans who want to know more about Rosaline.
Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).
Cleopatra is by Saara El-Arifi. A historical fiction look at the life of the famous Egyptian queen. Told from the point of view of Cleopatra, the novel covers her childhood with her family, her ascension to the throne of Egypt, as well as her love affairs with both Caesar and Antony. The twist at the end was a surprise. I enjoyed this novel.
Ratings: 11th grade - 8 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content).
The Inugami Curse is by Seishi Yokomizo. The second book in the historical fiction Detective Kindaichi mysteries. Set in 1940s Japan, Detective Kindaichi is called in to solve a series of mysterious deaths related to the will of the head of the Inugami clan. This is the first Japanese mystery I have read and I admit I found it convoluted with a large cast of characters. I am probably missing a lot due to my lack of understanding of Japanese culture. I did enjoy it and would like to read more Japanese mysteries in translation and in this series in particular.
Ratings: 9th grade - 7 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content).
Beowulf is translated by J. R. R. Tolkien. The classic fantasy legend translated by the master himself. This edition also contains a complete commentary and other poems related to the myth. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read. A must read for all Tolkien fans and fans of Beowulf.
Ratings: Adult - 10 out of 10.
The Salamander Spell is by E. D. Baker. The fifth book in the fantasy Frog Princess series. This prequel follows the adventures of Grassina and her journey to becoming the Green Witch. Fans of the series will enjoy this book.
Ratings: 6th grade - 6 out of 10.
No Place for Magic is by E. D. Baker. The fourth installment in the Frog Princess fantasy series. Emma and Eadric are ready to get married, so they travel to his home to get his parents' approval. When they arrive, they discover his younger brother has been captured by trolls and they must rescue him before they can marry.
Ratings: 6th grade - 7 out of 10.
Hamnet is by Maggie O'Farrell. Historical fiction novel about the life of Shakespeare's son. The story never mentions the Bard's name. It tells the story of his family, his wife and her family, and his children. Since not much is known about Shakespeare or his family historically, O'Farrell takes liberties that do make the tale intriguing and page-turning. This is why you should avoid hype before reading a book! It was an enjoyable read, but for me, did not live up to the excessive publicity surrounding it.
Ratings: Adult - 5 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content).
The Tiger in the Smoke is by Margery Allingham. The fourteenth book in the Albert Campion historical fiction mystery series. As a knife wielding killer stalks London, Campion is called on to help hunt him down. Fans of Campion will enjoy this installment as well. Golden Age fans will love Allingham's work.
Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10.
Bunny is by Mona Awad. A strange piece of magical realism. Samantha is an outcast in her MFA cohort at a fancy school. She calls the in-group "the Bunnies." When she is mysteriously invited to one of their special get-togethers, she finds herself embroiled in their dark weird group dynamics. This book is completely bizarre. Based on the hype, I'm sure there are many who find this type of novel intriguing. I did not. This book was definitely not in my wheelhouse.
Ratings: Adult - 4 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).
This Story Might Save Your Life is by Tiffany Crum. A chilling realistic fiction novel. Two best friends start a podcast which becomes extremely popular. When Joy and her husband disappear, Benny discovers Joy has sent him a copy of her unseen memoir. He must find out what happened to Joy, while he is considered a suspect in their disappearance by the police. Benny finds that he really did not know Joy at all, despite their closeness, as he reads her memoir and discovers her darkest secrets.
Ratings: 11th grade - 7 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol 5 is by Beth Brower. A continuation of Brower's historical fiction Emma M. Lion series. The year is 1883 and Emma is living in her family home with her irritating cousin and her new boarder. The story includes all the other crazy denizens of St. Crispian's. Fans of the series will enjoy this installment.
Ratings: 7th grade - 7 out of 10.
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol 4 is by Beth Brower. A continuation of Brower's historical fiction Emma M. Lion series. The year is 1883 and Emma is living in her family home with her irritating cousin and her new boarder. The story includes all the other crazy denizens of St. Crispian's. Fans of the series will enjoy this installment.
Ratings: 7th grade - 7 out of 10.
Love and Other Monsters is by Emily Franklin. A lively historical fiction recounting of the summer spent by the Shelleys, Lord Byron and others on the shoers of Lake Geneva. The tale is told through the eyes of Mary Shelley's stepsister, Claire. Claire is all but absent from the history of this summer. Franklin's novel proposes a reason for this. This novel is dark and propulsive. I enjoyed it more than I had expected.
Ratings: Adult - 8 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content).
Son of Nobody is by Yann Martel. A retelling of The Iliad combined with the story of a translator and his family. Harlow Donne is a Canadian who goes to Oxford to translate Greek relics. The Psoad is the story of the Trojan War as seen through the eyes of Psoas of Midea. Donne translates the fragments as he writes letters to his daughter Helen, to whom he dedicates his translation. The story alternates between Donne's point of view and that of Psoas and the other figures from Homer's tale. An interesting story. It made me want to pick up Homer's work again.
Ratings: 11th grade - 8 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content) - P (profanity).
The Hounding is by Xenobe Purvis. A historical fiction novel that is on the strange side. The Mansfield sisters live with their father on an estate near the village of Little Nettlebed. A drought is causing the river to dry up and the crops to fail. When the villagers began to hear barking, they believe the Mansfield girls are turning into wild dogs using witchcraft. But is it really witchcraft or merely another type of evil? This is an interesting and thought provoking parable with a twist at the end that should have been obvious. I did not like this book as much as I wanted too after the reviews I read.
Ratings: 12th grade - 6 out of 10 = AC (mature thematic content).
Platform Decay is by Martha Wells. The eighth book in the science fiction Murderbot series. Murderbot volunteers for a rescue operation on a hostile space ring. But now it must spend extended amounts of time interacting with, and trying to save, young humans. ICK! Another wonderful installment in a great series. Fans of the series will love this story. Murderbot is the best!!!
Ratings: 9th grade - 10 out of 10.
Vigil is by George Saunders. A strange fantasy novel by one of my few favorite modern authors. Jill is sent to earth to guide a dying soul to the afterlife. But K. J. Boone is unlike any charge she has ever encountered. He doesn't want to be consoled as he has nothing to regret - or does he? "Visitors" began to appear seeking a reckoning, birds swam the dying man's room, two cronies from the past arrive with their own agenda. This is not an easy read, but it is charming in its own way, as it looks at dying, good and evil, and what faces us in the afterlife.
Ratings: 12th grade - 7 out of 10 - (Profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).
A Natural Man is by Gary Soto. A work of modern poetry by the famous Hispanic poet. A short collection of Soto's poetry. Easy to read and understand. Fans of Soto will enjoy this collection.
Ratings: 10th grade - 7 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content).
The Library of Amorlin is by Kayln Josephson. The first in the fantasy Age of Beasts series. Kasira is a con artist who has been arrested and is forced to pose as the new assistant librarian in the magical Library of Amorlin. She is to assume the post of librarian and turn the library's secrets over to the kingdom of Kalthos who wish to use its powers for evil. But when she arrives, she discovers the librarian is not at all what she believed him to be. Can she save the library and herself or will she have to choose? An interesting magical world filled with political intrigue as well.
Ratings: 10th grade - 8 out of 10 - V (violence) - AC (mature thematic content).
Cocktail Time is by P.G. Wodehouse. The third Uncle Fred installment in Wodehouse's charming historical fiction series. When Uncle Fred shoots the hat off of a stuffy relative with a Brazil nut, it inspires the relative to write a scandalous novel about the younger generation. As he contemplates political office, he enlists Uncle Fred's help to keep his authorship secret - and of course, hijinks ensue. I love Uncle Fred almost as much as the Blandings stories. Fans of Wodehouse will enjoy this series as well. I wish I had an Uncle Fred!
Ratings: 9th grade - 10 out of 10.
The Lost Story is by Meg Shaffer. A unique fantasy novel. Jeremey and Rafe vanished in a West Virginia state forest only to reappear six months later. Jeremy is now a finder of lost girls and Rafe is a reclusive artist. When Jeremy is approached by Emilie to find her sister who was lost in the same park as Jeremy and Rafe, the two men must reunite and return to the forest to solve the mystery of their own disappearance, as well as to find Emilie's sister.
Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content) - P (mild profanity) - V (violence).
Ordeal by Innocence is by Agatha Christie. A historical fiction mystery by the Queen of Mystery. Although Christie is the best, this is not one of her most wonderful mysteries. A mother of five siblings is killed and one of the sons is convicted and dies in prison, even though he says he has an alibi. Two years after his death, a doctor returns and asserts he was the young man's alibi. He goes to visit the family to assure them their brother did not kill their mother, but if he didn't who did?
Ratings: 9th grade - 6 out of 10.
Land of Hope is by Wilfred M. McClay. A magnificent scholarly work on the history of the United States. This book makes sure to cover the goodness of America without overlooking its warts. This book should be read by every American patriot and taught in every school. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read.
Ratings: 10th grade - 10 out of 10.
Lord Emsworth and Others is by P. G. Wodehouse. A historical fiction short story collection, the sixth book in the Blandings series, by the master of comedic fiction. These stories are about the residents of Blandings Castle and other tangential characters. Wodehouse fans will enjoy these stories, even if they are not as charming as the full length novels.
Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10.
Into Thin Air is by Jon Krakauer. A memoir of the author's Everest ascent. In 1996, Krakauer was part of a group of commercial climbers taking on Mount Everest. The climb was a disaster and several climbers and sherpas were killed. Krakauer describes his memories of the disaster and mistakes that might have caused it.
Ratings: 9th grade - 9 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (some mature thematic content).
The Law is by Jim Butcher. The fantasy novella in between books 17 & 18 in the Harry Dresden series. Harry attempts to assist a tutor who is being extorted by an ex-con. Seems like a simple easy case, until it isn't anymore. Fans of the series will enjoy this novella.
Ratings: 11th grade - 7 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).
Viper's Tangle is by Francois Mauriac. A classic historical fiction family drama. A bitter old patriarch tries to wrest his fortune from his conniving family. As the story is told the reader begins to discover the the narrator is less than reliable and all is not as it seems. Louis is battling against his family, his self, and his love of money setting up a series of spiritual and psychological battles. This novel is dark and depressing, but does include glimmers of hope and love. Lovers of French literature, of which I am not one no matter how hard I try, will enjoy this novel.
Ratings: Adult - 6 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content).
Murder in an Italian Castle is by Benedict Brown. The first in the Lord Edgington Abroad historical fiction mystery series. Lord Edgington and Chris go to Italy to visit a friend of Lord Edgington's at his Italian castle. Upon arrival, their host is thrown from a tower and is murdered in front of them. Now the two detectives must wade through a strange assortment of suspects to find the killer. Fans of this series will be tickled with this new offshoot series.
Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10.
Moriarty is by Anthony Horowitz. The second in the Sherlock Holmes series Horowitz began with The House of Silk. Moriarty is dead at the bottom of the Reichenbach Falls. Scotland Yard's Athelney Jones and a Pinkerton man from America team up to catch the American gangster whose taken over Moriarty's London rackets. The first installment in this series was much better than this one.
Ratings: 11th grade - 7 out of 10 - (Violence).
This is Happiness is by Niall Williams. A charming and wonderful historical fiction work set in Ireland. When Noel comes to the small Irish village of Faha to live with his grandparents he discovers a whole new world. Electricity is about to come to Faha and one of the men who will be arranging for the electric poles to be installed comes to live with Noel's grandparents. He and Christy become close and thus begins a series of adventures which help Noel reevaluate his life, his grandparents, their odd neighbors, Fala itself, and the meaning of happiness. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read.
Ratings: 11th grade - 9 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content).
The Paris Apartment is by Lucy Foley. Another realistic fiction thriller from an acknowledged master. Jess arrives in Paris to stay with her brother after finding herself in trouble in England. When she arrives at her brother's ritzy apartment, she finds he has disappeared. All of the other tenants seem reluctant to give her any information about her brother, yet she continues to hunt for him. She believes he might have been attacked and killed right before she arrived. As she begins to connect the dots between the other tenants, she finds herself in danger.
Ratings: 12th grade - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content) - V (violence).
The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick. A creative historical fiction novel centered around a group of suburban housewives who form a book club. Margaret Ryan has the "perfect life" or does she? She decides to form book club with some women in the neighborhood and the first book they decide to read is The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. As the women grow closer and their lives become more intertwined, their lives begin to change in exciting and freeing ways.
Ratings: 12th grade - 6 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematical content).
Walking with Sam is by Andrew McCarthy. A charming memoir by the famous teen actor. McCarthy and his 19-year-old son head to Spain to walk the famous Camino de Santiago. This is a wonderfully insightful look at father-son dynamics and also a great journal of the famous Camino 500 mile walk. In parts moving and in others funny. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read.
Ratings: 12th grade - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (some mature thematic content).
The Gales of November is by John U. Bacon. A marvelous nonfiction book! This book tells the story of the S. S. Edmund Fitzgerald and the 29 men who went down with her on the Great Lakes in 1975. The tale of the ship was immortalized in the song by Gordon Lightfoot. This is a moving look at Great Lakes shipping, but especially the men who served on the "Fitz" and their families. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read.
Ratings: 11th grade - 9 out of 10.
Homeschooled is by Stefan Merrill Block. A crazy memoir! Stefan was nine when his mother pulls him from school to homeschool him. This book is really not about homeschooling at all, but the relationship between Stefan and his mother, not to mention his father and brother. This was a sad and disturbing read.
Ratings: Adult - 6 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).
Someplace to be Flying is by Charles de Lint. A strange work of fantasy by a master of the genre. Lily is a journalist in search of "animal people." When she is attacked and saved by two "crow girls," she and the cab driver, Hank, who stopped to help are drawn into a world of ancient beings. Native Americans call them the First People and they are engaged in a war that could destroy the world. A really weird story, but worth the read.
Ratings: 11th grade - 7 put of 10 - P (profanity) - V (violence) - AC (mature thematic content).
Desiring God is by John Piper. A classic work of religious nonfiction. Piper's classic work on Christian hedonism - the joy of knowing and living in the joy of the Lord. A must read for all Christians.
Ratings: Adult - 9 out of 10.
Death in the Spires is by K. J. Charles. A charming work of historical mystery fiction. Jem's old university friend was brutally murdered. Ten years later his employer receives an anonymous letter accusing Jem of the murder. After he loses his job, he decides to solve the mystery of Toby's death. He begins to hunt down the rest of Toby's friends, but will stirring the old pot result in his own death? A thoroughly enjoyable read.
Ratings: 10th grade - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).
The Bridge of San Luis Rey is by Thornton Wilder. A classic work of historical fiction. When the bridge of San Luis Rey collapses one day, it takes a number of hapless people with it. A priest decides to search out the history of these individuals to see if he can find the reason God decided they were to die on the bridge. This is a wonderful little book. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read.
Ratings: 9th grade - 9 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content).
I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom is by Jason Pargin. A weird realistic fiction novel that will make you want to avoid the internet forever. In LA, a driver is offered $200,000 to drive a girl in green sunglasses and a mysterious black box across the country to Washington, D.C.; only he can't look in the box, he must leave all trackable devices behind, and he can't tell anyone. Rumors begin to spread on social media that the box contains a weapon of mass destruction that will go off in Washington on July 4th. The box is being tracked by an ex-FBI agent and a killer. This is the strangest book I have read in a long time - while some may find it entertaining, it gave me a headache and made me hate social media more than I already do - which I must admit is a masterful feat.
Ratings: 11th grade - 5 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).
The Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping is by Sangu Mandanna. Another cozy fantasy from this author. Sera Swan is a witch, she lives in an inn that can only be found by people who really need to find it. She was one of the most powerful young witches of her day, until she cast a spell that resurrected her dead aunt and lost almost all of her power. Now she tries to keep the inn going and looks for a way to get her power back. A charming fantasy that will leave you feeling good.
Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10 - P (mild profanity) - AC (some mature thematic content).
Knowing God is by J. I. Packer. The classic Christian work on what it means to truly "know" God. Packer's classic is a must read for all Christians and for anyone interested in understanding more about God and the Christian faith. This timeless work encourages us to explore the profound joy of personally knowing God through a relationship with His Son. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read.
Ratings: Adult - 10 out of 10.
He Who Whispers is by John Dickson Carr. The 16th book in the Golden Age historical fiction Gideon Fell series. Miles Hammond is invited by Gideon Fell to a meeting of the fabulous Murder Club. The guest lecturer at this meeting is a Frenchman who is going to tell them about a murder he believes was committed by a vampire. On arriving at the designated restaurant, Miles finds the rest of the Murder Club is not present: only the lecturer and a another female guest. The lecturer tells them the story and suddenly Miles finds himself involved in the mystery with Gideon Fell. Fans of Golden Age mysteries will enjoy this one.
Ratings: 9th grade - 9 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content).
The Book That Wouldn't Burn is by Mark Lawrence. The first book in the fantasy Library series. A young girl is rescued by a band of soldiers when enemies destroy her settlement and kidnap her along with several other children. Taken to the city, she is apprenticed to The Library - the main source of knowledge for this society. A young boy has been trapped in an unknown section of The Library his entire life. When these two meet, things come to light that will change everything they know. This is a strange book. I liked it, but honestly not enough to continue the series.
Ratings: 9th grade - 7 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content) - V (violence) - P (profanity).
The Republic is by Plato. The classic philosophical treatise that is a must read. It is challenging and requires time and thought, but what you glean from the struggle is well worth it. This translation is one of the best.
Ratings: 12th grade - 9 out of 10.
