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Oct 112019
Oct 102019
As we move farther into “cold weather” territory, it is important to stock up on the things that will get us through until Spring: hot chocolate, blankets, fuzzy socks, and BOOKS! Here are a few recommendations to help with those stacks.
| A chilling look at the disintegration of a family following a horribly brutal act against the Mother. Erdrich incorporates Native American folklore in the middle of the book to pull the “before” and “after” together and this worked up to a point. The characters, plot, and writing are very good and pull the reader in to this sad story. |
| Two high-profile teens learn to work together as they battle the Alaskan wilderness and Russian assassins. Great adventure, humor, friendship, and teamwork. This was a smart survival read. |
A beautifully written novel packed with imagination, wit, friendship, and hope. I plan to recommend this to everyone. It is the perfect size for a classroom read-aloud.
It is hard to find out you aren’t the only one with a certain talent. When a new girl moves in, Ella finds out her “kickball bombs” aren’t unstoppable any more. As she learns to deal with her feelings, she also learns how to be a good teammate and friend.
Oct 042019
It is cold. It is rainy. This morning someone had the audacity to mention snow…… It is time to get serious about reading. Because really. Nature is to be avoided when it is cold outside.
| No one does mystery with a heavy dose of beautiful writing like Louise Penny. This wasn’t one of her strongest as I actually guessed the ending about 3/4 of the way through; however, I was still there for the melancholy atmosphere and the family ties. This is the fifteenth in the series and it is still going strong! |
| As a historical novel, this will stand proudly by most of the adult versions of today. It was refreshing to see an intelligent young woman struggling against the strictures of her time without a completely dark, bleak atmosphere. Also, the relationship between the couple was more of a true romance built first on respect and friendship instead of just biology. |
| An adventure with strong, young protagonists who learn families don’t have to be perfect to be ok but things do need to be real. Excellent story. |
A dragon, a bookshop, and true friendship. What else could you possibly need? Beautiful illustrations? Check. Great story? Check. It is sure to please.
The survivors are from different regions and different backgrounds. Ages varied at the time of the violent acts. Some of them watched family and friends die. Others heard the shots and lived through the harrowing moments without ever actually laying eyes on the shooter. Each of them dealt with the aftermath in their own way. Some learned to forgive. Others not. Some became activists in gun control and/or school safety. This is definitely not an easy read but it does feel like a necessary one. My only quibble with this book are the editing mishaps scattered throughout which distract the reader from the essays.
Oct 012019
The cool weather is moving in! Is it really time to put away those summer reads in favor of some spooky, gothic tales?
| This is a fun-loving, sweet, touching ode to romance and romance novels. There’s always room on the reading roster for romance. |
| I have mixed feelings about this book although some of those feelings extend to most of the young adult genre. I loved the complex characters and the exemplary writing. The cliffhanger left me ambivalent and the jury is also still out on the bait-and-switch. |
| 3.5 stars. Set in the immediate post-Vietnam era, an orphaned young girl struggling to deal with her grief is sent to live with her Grandfather in Bigfoot country. Grief, abandonment, bullying, and PTSD are all a major part of this story that still manages to be sweet, gentle, and humorous. |
Hey! If it must get cooler than hats should be shared equally in the animal kingdom. Besides, cats look regal in EVERYTHING. A fun book containing pictures of lots of cats, hats, and the realization that the greatest things should be shared by everyone.
Poetry is hot right now and this one contains some gems! Many of the most atmospheric of the poems are set in the desert.
Oh, alright! If it must get cooler, I will join the hordes of readers selecting gothic reads. One story, two monsters. A story of arrogance, stupidity, self-involvement and betrayal. That covers the scientist portion of the story. Loneliness and brutality are ascribed to both monsters.
Oct 012019
On September 24, CNCAP Leap Into Learning Preschool visited the library for a Share the Love event. Twelve adults read to 25 kids. Each kid listened to 6-7 books apiece to assist them in reaching their 1000 Books Before Kindergarten goals!
Sep 102019
It’s that time again! Help our “Leap Into Learning” Preschoolers reach their 1000 Books Before Kindergarten goals! We are looking for some Senior Citizens to read to preschoolers on September 24th 10 AM and 2 PM at the library. You can sign up for one or both times! Call 308-745-1589 to sign up.
Aug 012019
Hindley and Bates make for a winning partnership in “Do Like a Duck Does”! This is one mama you don’t want to mess with…..
Another mama you don’t mess with is mine. When she told me to read this book, she didn’t have to twist my arm too hard as I have read and loved other books by Kate DiCamillo including her Mercy Watson series and Raymie Nightingale. It lived up to its billing! Great characters, good plot and writing and a wonderful dog. Who could ask for more?
I had to read this book before school started again as it has been recommended to me by so many reluctant readers. Simple and direct writing make this adventure story accessible and the character has grit, determination, and common sense to spare. I did get a little tired of “the secret” which the author never developed but kept dropping into the middle of whatever life and death situation was occurring.
Marisa de los Santos is usually a sure bet but this book fell a little flat. The characters didn’t feel believable and the story faltered a bit…
Because no Summer is complete without a gigantic goal, this is my buddy read…..have mercy about covers it.
Jul 242019
Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell historical series is all good fun! If you are looking for something frothy to read this Summer, look no further. It has mystery, romance, and sparkling wit. This is the fourth book in the series. It is set on an island where superstitions abound about Mermaids and smugglers.
While Raybourn’s novel winks at the reader as she describes the islanders’ beliefs in Merfolk, this novel by Shea Ernshaw gives the “mermaids” a sinister turn. Many, many years ago, three sisters were hung as witches in this little village by the sea. Each year since that time, the three sisters come back, take over the bodies of three teenage girls, and lure young village boys to their deaths. The writing is good but the story was predictable and suffered a bit at the end.
There were no mermaids in this middle-grade novel. There were escaped prisoners. An imaginative use of letters, texts, and comic strips to illustrate the state of a small town before, during, and after a prison escape helped hold my attention. However, it felt as if the author decided to get a specific message across and built her story around that message instead of vice versa. In this case, racism is prevalent and bad became a cudgel to drive home the point when it might have been better to “show” instead of “tell” all of the time.
Tara Lazar, Author, and Ross MacDonald, Illustrator, struck comic gold with this little book. What a fun way to present numbers! Private I looks into the disappearance of 9 after rumors abound that 7 ate 9. I will recommend this to several of our teachers.
Ayaz Virji is a young doctor who moved his family to rural Minnesota to provide care to the community. However, after the election of 2016, he felt betrayed and concerned for the safety of his family. Encouraged by a local Lutheran Minister to speak publically about what it is to be Muslim, Virji made several appearances to talk with concerned citizens; however, this often left him more discouraged. This was an enlightening audiobook.
Jul 162019
Jul 152019
If you enjoyed Enger’s writing in “Peace Like a River”, you will enjoy “Virgil Wander”. The characters and the writing are the point. The plot is vague and ebbs and flows without a complete resolution. Enger likes to add a touch of magical realism to his almost fairy-tale like stories.
| High octane action and imagination to spare as the Author pulls from current day issues to set the stage for her apocalyptic mayhem. Great fun. |
I am always leery of “funny” books because I rarely find them to be as hilarious as everyone else. However, this one lived up to the billing. When a group of unteachable kids meet up with a burned out, ready for retirement teacher, sparks fly. Sweet and just wonderful.
The illustrations are charming and the story is just fabulous. Pick it up…no matter your age.