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MADreads Reviews

Book reviews by library staff and guest contributors

Higher and higher

Posted by Jennifer on Jul 22, 2025 - 7:32am
A review of Touch the Sky by
Stephanie V.W.
Lucianovic

Sometimes I read a book and it just makes me smile.  Touch the Sky by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic is one of those books!

Vern loves the swings at the playground, he sits on the swing, lies stomach first on the swing, and spins and spins and spins, but he does not soar on a swing.  Why not?  Because he can't pump.  The other kids tease him, but he just can't get his legs to do it.  One day Gretchen comes by.  She asks Vern if he wants to learn.   

Vern doesn't actually know Gretchen.  He says he only knows her because of her mom.

Let the games begin

Posted by Jane J on Jul 14, 2025 - 5:29pm
A review of These Summer Storms by
Sarah
MacLean

I've loved Sarah MacLean's historical romances, so I was eager, and a little nervous, to read her change-of-pace contemporary novel, These Summer Storms.

Book discussions - August 2025

Posted by Jane J on Jul 10, 2025 - 4:14pm

Every month Madison Public Library hosts a variety of book discussions and each of them warmly welcomes newcomers.

Worth saving?

Posted by Jane J on Jul 9, 2025 - 9:08am
Stuart
Turton

Stuart Turton once again blends genres in his latest novel with amazing results. The blend here is a near-future, post-apocalyptic setting with a murder mystery.

Surprises inside

Posted by Abby R on Jul 7, 2025 - 7:15pm
A review of Bye Land, Bye Sea by
Rene
Spencer

Did you know that books can be so much more than just stories to read? I love when a book also encourages me to play, too!

Too Good to Miss - July 2025

Posted by MADreads on Jul 3, 2025 - 3:52pm

Every month there are new titles purchased for the Too Good to Miss collections at our libraries. If you're not familiar with TGTM (as we call it here in 

Spark of imagination

Posted by Tracy on Jun 27, 2025 - 7:21pm
Joseph
Coelho

The tiniest of words can create the BIGGEST of feelings – or at least that’s true in Ten-Word Tiny Tales of Love by Joseph Coelho.

Sweet Anticipation for July 2025

Posted by Katie H on Jun 26, 2025 - 6:52pm

Summer reading is in full swing, and the publishing calendar is seemingly on cruise control. Not surprisingly, thrillers are abundant on the bestseller 

Miyeok guk for everyone

Posted by Molly W on Jun 20, 2025 - 9:01am
A review of Birthday Soup by
Grace Seo
Chang
Jaime
Kim (Illustrator)

Maya is excited and nervous to share her Korean family's tradition of birthday soup, or miyeok guk, with her friends at her birthday party.

Little siblings can get away with anything

Posted by Holly SP on Jun 13, 2025 - 4:36pm
A review of Chooch Helped by
Andrea
Rogers

Chooch is the baby. Well, he's not really a baby anymore, but anytime Chooch makes a mess, everyone says, "He's just usdi. Let him help." To Sissy, it feels like Chooch can get away with anything. He helps Elisi paint a mural, Etsi sew moccasins, and Edutsi make grape dumplings. Anyone who has ever let a toddler "help" with something can imagine how this goes, and when he helps Sissy make a clay pot she finally loses patience.