Dede writes:
DREAMERS OF THE DAY by Mary Doria Russell (9781400064717) is a new novel by the author of THE SPARROW and A THREAD OF GRACE. She surprises me every time as a writer and this book is no exception. Agnes Shanklin, a forty-year old teacher from Ohio, is an unlikely heroine who travels to Egypt in 1921 at the time of the Cairo Peace Conference. Agnes has lost her family in the influenza epidemic that followed the Great War. Her journey to the Middle East is an escape from death, and indeed, she finds herself in the midst of very lively, high-powered and sophisticated company – Churchill, Gertrude Bell and T.E.Lawrence. She is accepted as a quiet observer and a particular friend of the enigmatic “Lawrence of Arabia”. She also has an affair with a charming German, who is a spy. A great read, with relevance to the tragedies in the Middle East today. ...More

NO! I DON’T WANT TO JOIN A BOOK CLUB: Diary of a 60th Year by Virginia Ironside (9780452289239) is really funny and forthright. Now that it is out in paperback, it is a treat for those of us who look back at 60 with fondness. Marie Sharp had a colorful past with lots of fun in the 1960’s London scene when she was a gorgeous young girl and now she just wants some peace. Lucky for her, peace is elusive, but love arrives front and center with an adorable grandchild and the return of an old beau. Sharp wit abounds – no pun intended! ...More

Marilyn writes:
In A Foreign Affair (9780061445897) by Caro Peacock, intelligent and resourceful young Liberty Lane has escaped from the barely hospitable home of one of her aunts to meet her father, when she receives word that he has been killed in a duel. She knows that can’t be true. Her investigation leads her into a web of mystery, espionage, and treason in high places in the beginning of Queen Victoria’s reign in England. This is an entertaining book, and I look forward to reading the further adventures of Miss Lane....More

Judy H. writes:
There are few books that can make you laugh uproariously and cry at the same time, but Christina McKenna’s debut novel, The Misremembered Man (9781592642199) is one such novel. Set in County Derry, Ireland, the Misremembered Man tells the tale of Jamie McCloone, and Lydia Devine. Jamie is a rural farmer who drinks too much and takes Valium to help with his depression. He is lonely and can not escape the memories of his cruel childhood spent in an institutional orphanage. Lydia is a city schoolteacher who suffers under the domineering and oppressive personality of her elderly mother. These two characters are total opposites, yet they answer each other’s personal ad. McKenna has crafted a poignant and endearing tale full of lovable and eccentric characters. The twist at the end of the book is perfect! ...More

Jeanne Birdsall, author of the THE PENDERWICKS, an award-winning and best-selling book for ages 8 to 12, has written the sequel entitled THE PENDERWICKS OF GARDAM STREET (9780375840906). The Penderwick family is back home after their summer adventure in the Berkshires. Everything goes as usual until Aunt Claire comes to visit with a letter written years ago by their mother telling daddy that it is time to begin dating. The girls decide to begin a Save Daddy Plan. Everyone gets involved including the neighbors on Gardam Street. This book is full of mischief and fun, with a happy, feel-good ending. ...More

Amy Krouse Rosenthal, the author of LITTLE PEA, has come out with another simple and sweet picture book about LITTLE HOOT (9780811860239), a baby owl who goes to owl school, plays with his forest friends and generally enjoys his life as a little owl except for one thing. At bedtime, while all his friends are tucked in for the night, Papa Owl says, "If you want to grow up to be a wise owl you must stay up late". "When I grow up, I'm going to let my kids go to bed as early as they want," exclaims Little Hoot. What a twist from what we usually hear children say at bedtime. This is a wonderful new bedtime story for the preschool set with colorful illustrations....More

Judy H. writes:
Kathleen Brenner Duble, author of The Sacrifice and Hearts of Iron, has written another intriguing historical fiction for the middle school aged reader entitled Quest (9781416933861). Quest is the story of Henry Hudson’s final voyage on Discovery and his fanatical search for a water route to the East. Duble tells the tragic tale of Hudson’s last journey through four characters’ different points of view. Two of the characters are on the ill-fated ship, John Hudson, the fun loving middle son of Hudson, and Seth Syms, a young sailor fleeing from a family quarrel. The remaining two points of view are from characters who are in London, Richard Hudson, the youngest of Hudson’s children, and Isabella Diggs, a love interest of John Hudson, who is spying on the Dutch investors for her father, one of the Discovery’s financial backers. Through Duble’s gripping novel, the reader learns of the little known fate of Henry Hudson and his son and the widespread competition of the European nations vying to discover a water route to the East.

Many thanks to our student reviewers- they help us identify great new books!...More

The Battle for Skandia (9780399244575) by John Flanagan is the fourth book in the popular Ranger’s Apprentice series. Will, the Ranger’s apprentice, and princess Evanlyn are still far from their homeland after escaping slavery in icebound Skandia. Their plan to return to Araluen changes when the princess is taken captive by a Temujai warrior. To save two kingdoms--Araluen and Skandia--an unlikely alliance must be forged and held together at least long enough to defeat a ruthless new enemy. Student reviewers Sarah, Sam, Jamie, Michael, and Colin agree that this is an “awesome” book, “four out of five stars”, “best in the series so far”, and will appeal to anyone aged 10 and up who likes a good fantasy adventure. ...More

Perry tells us that she loved A Curse as Dark as Gold (9780439895767) by Elizabeth C. Bunce. “It’s kind of chilling at times, but it’s also a gripping story. A retelling of the familiar Rumplestiltskin, the author changed the story just enough to make the end a surprise and to keep the story interesting, while retaining the basic idea of the story of Rumplestiltskin. The main character, Charlotte Miller, is a strong and determined heroine, a far cry from the unfortunate girl in the original story. I’ve never really liked Rumplestiltskin because it seems so awful that a girl would give up her baby for some gold, but this book finally gives a satisfying explanation as to how things got so desperate and what the girl was thinking. This is a great book for middle schoolers, especially girls.”...More

Michael writes that Steel Trapp: The Challenge (9781423106401) by Ridley Pearson is “a story about Steven “Steel” Trapp and his adventure at the National Science Challenge. He was blessed with a photographic memory which means he remembers everything he sees. This gets him into trouble, because he sees inside a suitcase a horrible picture of a woman in chains. He knows he has to rescue her. Along the way he meets everyone from the FBI to a terrorist cell. Will he succeed or be killed in the attempt? I really liked this book. Something was always happening, but you never knew what would happen next…I give this book four out of five stars.” This sounds like just the thing for fans of the Alex Rider series. ...More