Friday, January 31, 2014

Best Reads of 2013 (24th in a Series)

As a devoted "Janeite" (rabid Jane Austen fan, as they have been called since the 1800s, or my personal preference, a “Janeiac”--rhymes with maniac), I take notice of the constant barrage of spinoffs, sequels, prequels, film adaptations and ripoffs that have appeared in the 200 years since the Real Jane penned her six masterpiece novels. Some of these are fitting tributes; some are downright disgraceful. Imagine my delight in discovering a new attempt that not only has great writing that convincingly captures the language, setting and tone of a true Austen novel, but with a plotline containing a new and original twist. Longbourn, by Jo Baker, is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice told from the point of view of the servants. I recall how in my frequent re-readings of the original, I have felt compassion toward Elizabeth Bennett and her sisters for having the misfortune of being born into the gentry without the family income needed to maintain the lifestyle demanded by society. I confess it never occurred to me before that the life of the domestics serving a family struggling to “Keep Up Appearances” on a limited income must have been grim indeed. If you like Jane, or simply enjoy historical fiction, it is an interesting read.


My favorite children’s book of the past year is The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. As a child I was fascinated by the names of the colors in my highly prized box of 64 Crayola crayons. I was convinced that they each had their own bright or dark personalities. This turns out to be true in this funny and unique tale of a group of crayons who go on strike—each with their own compelling reason, explained in letters written—in crayon, of course—to the owner of the box. This is an excellent book for kids from 5 to 95.

Virginia McCurry
Information Specialist

 

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Best Reads of 2013 (23rd in a Series)

These titles were the most outstanding of the Juvenile and Teen fiction that I read this year.

Wonder
by R.J. Palacio

The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green

Maggot Moon
by Sally Gardner

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
by E.L. Konigsburg

Thirteen Reasons Why
by Jay Asher





Holly Raus
Information Specialist - Youth Services

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Book Sleuths Book Club


Glimpsing a human face on a child-sized bundle tossed overboard into icy Lake Champlain, Troy Chance dives in without any idea what she plans to do next --it’s a split second decision that changes her life forever in Sara J. Henry's Learning to Swim.   Troy becomes instantly protective of the child --and suspicious of the parents who aren't even looking for him -- and launches a clandestine investigation to find out why.

Learning to Swim is the January selection of the Book Sleuths Book Club.  It will be the first time the club will meet at the Post Road Library and we invite all interested mystery fans-- veteran book club participants and newcomers—to join us for the discussion on January 28th.

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

Friday, January 24, 2014

Spotlight on Teen Reads

As chair of the nominating committee for the Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers in 2013, I had the responsibility (and joy!) of reading nearly 100 teen books. Some of my favorites are in this blog post.

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

 Two tortured prisoners escaping, on the same mission they’ve failed many times before. An idealistic young congressman, shot. A lonely girl and a lonely boy, both devoted in their ways to the same flawed genius. The doctor, who can’t be convinced that the end doesn’t justify the means. A vortex of action in which time itself can’t be trusted.I was blown away by All Our Yesterdays, with its new and sinister twist on time travel. Its double-trio of complex characters kept me guessing until the last page. First-time author Cristin Terrill has written a page-turner for fans of mystery, action, and time travel, with a little romance.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

When red-haired, rebellious Eleanor gets on the school bus to head for Park’s high school for the first time, nobody suspects they’ll be together in a few weeks—least of all Eleanor and Park themselves. But a shared love of comics and the habit of challenging each other’s musical tastes slowly blossoms into a spunky and dangerous romance. If you like punchy dialogue and smart, courageous characters who go against the grain to stand by their
values,you may enjoy Eleanor and Park, by Rainbow Rowell, as much as I did.


Boxers by Gene Luen Yang

       
                and

Saints by Gene Luen Yang

Boxers and Saints, two closely related graphic novels of the Boxer Rebellion in China, are a mixture of superheroism, adventure, and historical fiction. Each of the companion volumes focuses on a young person caught up in one side of this struggle among peasants, religious converts, Chinese nationalists, revolutionaries, and mercenaries.  The author, Gene Luen Yang, won the 2007 Michael L. Printz Award for young adult fiction and the 2007 Eisner Award for graphics for American Born Chinese. Like that earlier book, Boxers and Saints blend fantasy and folklore with depictions of actual events.

Out of Nowhere by Maria Padian

Tom Bouchard has just about everything he needs—respect as soccer team captain, a hot girlfriend, and a family with French-Canadian roots well established in his small Maine town. He welcomes the mad skills of Saeed and other refugee players who arrive seemingly out of nowhere, challenging Chamberlain High’s social and academic order but shining on the soccer field. The team might even challenge their well-funded rival, Maquoit High, this season. But a stint of community service brings Tom into closer contact with the newly-arrived Somalis and with a pretty, idealistic college student, upending his comfortable world. Sports, contemporary issues, romance—Out of Nowhere, by Maria Padian, has it all.

Vanessa Cowie
Information Specialist-Youth Services

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Best Reads of 2013 (19th in a Series)

Who Asked You? by Terry McMillan






The Whole Enchilada by Diane Mott Davidson






W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton






Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich






12th of Never by James Patterson






Marta Peppin
Information Specialist

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Best Reads of 2013 (18th in a Series)

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

I confess I haven’t finished this long novel yet, but I can’t stop thinking about it. Theo, Tartt’s newest protagonist, is just as flawed as her characters from The Secret History.  Like that novel, this is not a happy book. Theo makes bad decisions, lies, is victimized, and survives all of it.  As a reader, you will find yourself engrossed by his difficult life and wondering how all the pieces of the mystery of The Goldfinch, a rare painting, will come together.  It’s keeping me up late at night.  Put it on hold now!

Kim Ottesen
Information Specialist
Youth Services

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Monday, January 6, 2014

Best Reads of 2013 (15th in a Series)

The Litter of the Law by Rita Mae Brown






Second Watch by Judith A. Jance






The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian






Unseen by Karin Slaughter






Tell Me by Lisa Jackson




Deeply Odd by Dean Koontz






All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg






White Fire by Douglas J. Preston & Lincoln Child






The Bones of Paris by Laurie R. King






Diane Roberts
Information Specialist