MADreads
A review of
Fly Me
by
Daniel
Riley
This is my book of the summer. Last year I was talking up Emma Cline's The Girls and Charles Manson-style cults in California. Here I am one year later focused on another book about a young woman in California that has a similar vibe, rich language, intense plot and outstanding cover.
Suzy Whitman is a recent Vassar graduate and has the smarts and talent to take the world by storm. But she's directionless,
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Reviewed by Molly - Central on
July 26, 2017
A review of
How to Find Love in a Bookshop
by
Veronica
Henry
I'm guessing that it's no secret to most of you readers that librarians are drawn to books about books. Tell us a book is set in a library or book store, we're there. Tell us a book is about all the books someone else has read, we're there. We're pretty easy that way. In the case of How to Find Love in a Bookshop, the draw was well worth it. This is a warm, delightful book with interesting characters and just enough drama to keep me turning the pages.
Emilia Nightingale is grieving the
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Reviewed by Jane J on
July 25, 2017
A review of
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
by
David
Grann
In some ways, it’s hard to believe that the events David Grann recounts in Killers of the Flower Moon could qualify as nonfiction. There are outlaws, a self-defined ‘king’, incredible wealth, betrayal of the deepest sort and characters straight out of Central Casting. Yet, knowing this nation’s history of its treatment of Native Americans, the murders that took place in 1920s Osage County, Oklahoma, and their aftermath are all too believable. Grann’s account of the cold-blooded killing
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Reviewed by Katie H. on
July 24, 2017
A review of
Before we were Free
by
Julia
Alvarez
From real life experiences and tragedies comes a story written by Julia Alvarez that shares the struggles for freedom in the Dominican Republic around the 1960’s. Incorporated with pieces of her own life, she writes a book about a fictional character, Anita. Just like her, Anita de la Torre was once living happily and peacefully along with her family in Latin America, but then her world gets thrown upside down when secrets start to spill and an assassination of the dictator comes into play.
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Reviewed by Teen Reviewer on
July 21, 2017
A review of
Goldie Vance Volume 1
by
Hope
Larson
Lots of mysteries crop up when you live in a hotel that has its own detective agency!
I love everything about Goldie Vance, teen detective and amateur race car driver. The setting is cool, the cast of characters is interesting and diverse and there are lots of science and history tie-ins.
Goldie lives with her dad in a fancy Florida resort in what appears to be the early 1960s. Her dad manages the place and her best friend works at the front desk. Goldie works as a valet at the resort, which is
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Reviewed by Molly - Central on
July 19, 2017
New Titles for August
Dear sweet readers, with the waning of summer comes the waning of big summer titles. But fear not, as there are still a few big names coming to library shelves to tide you into the Labor Day weekend. If you’re not into waiting for that big blockbuster to arrive, check out some of the debut authors taking their bow this month. Here’s an abbreviated run-down of August’s new and notables:
Mystery readers have an embarrassment of riches this August, as two of the genre’s biggest names release new
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Reviewed by Katie H. on
July 18, 2017
A review of
A Squiggly Story
by
Andrew
Larsen
Everyone has stories to write, even if your writing...squiggles a little. All you need to start is a single letter. What will happen next?Preschool kids will love the comic book style of A Squiggly Story, grown-ups will be reminded how easy and fun writing a story together can be!
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Reviewed by Abby on
July 14, 2017
100 Favorite Comics And Graphic Novels from NPR Readers
NPR has done a few Reader Polls in the past (Romance, SF/Fantasy to name a couple) and this year they decided to poll their readers for best graphic novels. They're not claiming that these are the 'best' (whatever that might mean) or 'most influential', according to
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Reviewed by Jane J on
July 12, 2017
A review of
Ilario
by
Mary
Gentle
A number of years ago I read Mary Gentle's Book of Ash series - her take on a Joan of Arc type of story with a little magical realism thrown in - and loved every bit of it (sadly it is not owned by the library). Gritty and well-researched, Gentle's alternative history seemed
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Reviewed by Jane J on
July 11, 2017
A review of
American Born Chinese
by
Gene Luen
Yang
This is an amazing graphic novel. It offers the perspective of many different people and characters from different places. It also busts a lot of stereotypes from different categories. It shows what can be felt when a new person comes that is easy to assume things about. I think that this is a great book to read in your free time as it is funny as well as educational. It does not, however, show how it is educational, you just read it and understand it and enjoy it. I would definitely recommend
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Reviewed by Teen Reviewer on
July 10, 2017
