UNDERTOW by Michael Buckley
I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and Libro.fm, online retailers that support independent booksellers. If you make a purchase by clicking through the links in this post, I will receive a commission. For more information, see my “About” page.
As she heads to school on the first day of its integration, Lyric Walker has strict instructions from her father: keep your head down. Don’t do anything that would make them suspect you are anything other than fully human. When the Alpha emerged from the sea three years sgo, Coney Island was thrown into turmoil. The government claims to want to help the Alpha assimilate with the humans, yet nearly all of the original Alpha who assimilated in secret 17 years ago have disappeared along with their families. Lyric’s mom might be the last one left. And being taken by the government might not even be as bad as the lynchings and beatings administered by so many hateful civilians. But even knowing what is at stake, Lyric can’t help but try to break up a fight between a human and Alpha student and finds herself punished by being assigned to tutor the Alpha prince. As violence at the school escalates, Lyric hopes she can keep herself safe and her secret hidden until her family is able to make their escape.
I had trouble putting this book down! With political tensions reminiscent of the last century’s school integration movement (and some timely commentary on building walls), family tensions and danger for the Walkers, friendship issues for Lyric, a love triangle, and some fantasy battles, there is no shortage of reasons to turn pages. Yet the story flows well and does not seem overburdened by its many complex attributes. I highly recommend this book to teen readers who enjoy dystopias and urban fantasy! I am excited to read the sequel.
FUNNY GIRL by Nick Hornby
I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and Libro.fm, online retailers that support independent booksellers. If you make a purchase by clicking through the links in this post, I will receive a commission. For more information, see my “About” page.
As she walks onto the stage as Blackpool’s beauty queen, Barbara suddenly gets a glimpse of her future; she will marry a local business owner, have kids, get fat, get old, and die. She will never do anything noteworthy. She will never be Lucille Ball. Unless, that is, she escapes now. In London, two disillusioned radio writers, a timid BBC producer, and a bitter radio actor prepare to film a crappy TV show pilot, unaware that a quick-witted and determined comedienne is about to change their lives forever.
Set in the 1960s, Funny Girl tells of the transformation not only of its principal characters but also of the British entertainment industry. Quirky and endearing characters keep the story engaging as it spans decades of their lives and changing situations. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy being immersed in the world of the (not too distant) past and even readers who enjoy realistic fiction about relationships. I also recommend the audiobook.
If you liked Funny Girl, you might like Landline by Rainbow Rowell.
AS YOU WISH: INCONCEIVABLE TALES FROM THE MAKING OF THE PRINCESS BRIDE by Cary Elwes
I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and Libro.fm, online retailers that support independent booksellers. If you make a purchase by clicking through the links in this post, I will receive a commission. For more information, see my “About” page.
As the title implies, this book takes readers behind-the-scenes of The Princess Bride. The main narrative is from Cary Elwes’ (Westley) point of view, but frequent asides from most of the actors, director, and producer add depth and detail. The book reads like a story and contains hilarious anecdotes that added to my appreciation of a film I thought I couldn’t possibly love more than I already did. I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Cary Elwes with the voices of most of the original cast reading their own recollections. But I also had the print book with me while I listened so that I could look at all of the photographs. I’m not sure it would be appealing to someone who hasn’t read The Princess Bride, but for fans it is a must read!
SAINT ANYTHING by Sarah Dessen
I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and Libro.fm, online retailers that support independent booksellers. If you make a purchase by clicking through the links in this post, I will receive a commission. For more information, see my “About” page.
Sydney has always lived in her older brother’s shadow. But when Peyton winds up in prison after driving drunk and crippling a young bicyclist, Sydney feels more ignored and isolated than ever. Her parents seem to be treating Peyton as the victim in the tragedy, and Sydney feels like she is shouldering all of the guilt for her entire family. But when she transfers to a new school, Sydney meets Layla and her brother Mac and through their friendship begins to discover who she really is, independent of her brother and her parents. As Sydney grows in self confidence, her relationship with her family begins to evolve as well.
This is probably the best book I’ve posted lately. It is well written, with strong, realistic characters, and an engaging premise. I would recommend it to teen readers who enjoy realistic fiction.
HEREVILLE: HOW MIRKA GOT HER SWORD by Barry Deutsch
I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and Libro.fm, online retailers that support independent booksellers. If you make a purchase by clicking through the links in this post, I will receive a commission. For more information, see my “About” page.
Mirka dreams of battling dragons. She loves to read stories of knights and monsters, even though such Gentile books are forbidden in Hereville. When a chance encounter with a talking pig earns her a favor from a witch, Mirka seizes the opportunity to embark on a quest for her very own sword. But her task becomes more challenging when she realizes the troubles her siblings now face from being in the family of a crazy pig girl.
This story combines humor, fairytales, family problems, and Jewish culture into an enjoyable graphic novel. Readers will learn dozens of Yiddish words as they plunge into Mirka’s unique fantastical yet realistic world. I would recommend this book to middle grade readers who enjoy graphic novels, spunky heroines, and both fantasy and realistic fiction.
ALL FALL DOWN by Ally Carter
I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and Libro.fm, online retailers that support independent booksellers. If you make a purchase by clicking through the links in this post, I will receive a commission. For more information, see my “About” page.
Everyone thinks Grace is crazy, but she’s not. She saw the scar-faced man shoot her mother. She knows the fire wasn’t an accident. But the lack of a bullet wound in the coroner’s report and the lack of evidence on security cameras led to years of shrinks and being shuffled from school to school. Now she’s been sent to Adria to live with her grandfather the ambassador who hasn’t seen her since her mother’s death. After so long away, Adria is both familiar and foreign, and reminders of her mother are everywhere. But when Grace stumbles into a secret meeting in the abandoned Iranian embassy, she recognizes the scar-faced man instantly. Dismissed by her grandfather as fatigued and confused, Grace must seek the help of new friends and friends from her childhood to navigate the hidden tunnels of Embassy Row and find her mother’s killer before he kills again.
This fast-paced, suspenseful mystery features a spirited and mischievous heroine and a cast of colorful supporting characters. The gradual revelation of clues and an unreliable narrator make the ending difficult to guess but allow the reader to remain constantly involved in puzzling out the mystery. A thrilling start to what promises to be a compelling series! This book will likely appeal to mystery/thriller loving teens of a variety of ages.
ODD THOMAS by Dean Koontz
I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and Libro.fm, online retailers that support independent booksellers. If you make a purchase by clicking through the links in this post, I will receive a commission. For more information, see my “About” page.
Odd can’t help it that the dead communicate with him. They sense that he can see them, and often they tell him the stories of their deaths–which, for those spirits restless enough to stick around, were usually untimely and unpleasant. Odd is not a cop, and he has no desire to be. He is nothing more than the best short order cook in Pico Mundo. But sometimes he can’t help getting involved with apprehending a murderer or preventing a future crime. His gift just won’t allow it. And when a suspicious man comes to the diner surrounded by the shadowy spirits that usually gawk at mass-murder, Odd knows it is up to him to prevent an unthinkable tragedy, despite the warnings that his involvement may lead him down a path of incredible suffering.
Wow, was this novel great! It starts with a quick case to get you hooked and then moves into the slow-moving but incredibly suspenseful main plot. Do not mistake “slow-moving” for a negative qualifier. Odd is an unreliable narrator. He admits at the beginning that he is leaving out major details for the sake of the story. When he deviates from the main plot into quirky asides about particular ghosts, characters, the town, or himself, he both deepens the incredible character development and ramps up the suspense. In this case, the slow-broil is brilliant and ultimately very satisfying when so many little details come together in the end. And I have never read an adult mystery/thriller series with this level of character development. This is a new favorite for me!
I highly recommend the audiobook!
LANDLINE by Rainbow Rowell
I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and Libro.fm, online retailers that support independent booksellers. If you make a purchase by clicking through the links in this post, I will receive a commission. For more information, see my “About” page.
Georgie and her writing partner, Seth, are getting the break they’ve been dreaming of since college: a big time producer is considering picking up their show. Not the unbelievably successful sitcom they’ve been writing for the past 10 years–complete with obnoxious actors and even more obnoxious laugh track–but the show they’d been planning since they first started writing together in the ULA comedy magazine almost two decades ago. It’s a once in a lifetime chance, but there’s a catch. They only have one week to draft for new episodes before their pitch, and Georgie and her family have plane tickets to visit Neal’s mother in Omaha for Christmas. Georgie hopes that Neal will be willing to stay home for the holiday, but when he takes the girls to Omaha without her, Georgie is forced to consider the possibility that her marriage is falling apart–especially when he doesn’t answer any of her phone calls.
While staying at her mother’s house, Georgie calls Neal’s mother’s home phone from the old vintage telephone in her childhood bedroom, the one she used to talk with Neal when they were dating in college. But she is astonished to discover that whenever she uses the landline, the Neal who picks up is 22 year old Neal, 1998 Neal, the Neal that she never called after their fight 15 years ago–the last time Neal went to Omaha without her. As she comes to grips with the impossible reality that she has a magic telephone that communicates with the past, Georgie relives her past with Neal as she struggles to figure out a way to save their future.
This is the second realistic fiction love story from Rainbow Rowell that I have absolutely loved. This is not usually my genre, but Rowell has a way of inventing characters that are beautifully flawed, endearing, interesting, and in this case, quite humorous. And the relationships between her characters are incredibly accessible and raw. My husband was on a business trip when I read this book, and it made me ache for missing him. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy realistic love stories and don’t mind a twinge of fantasy– i.e., magic phones.
TAKING FLIGHT: FROM WAR ORPHAN TO STAR BALLERINA by Michaela DePrince with Elaine DePrince
I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and Libro.fm, online retailers that support independent booksellers. If you make a purchase by clicking through the links in this post, I will receive a commission. For more information, see my “About” page.
As a child, Michaela DePrince witnessed terrible violence in war-torn Sierra Leone. She survived the death of both of her parents, and escaped as a refugee to Ghana, where she was adopted by an American family. What kept Michaela’s hope alive through her years in Sierra Leone was a torn magazine cover with a photograph of a ballerina on it. It was the most incredible thing she had ever seen, and she hoped that one day she could become a ballerina too. Her adoptive parents supported her dreams, and Michaela overcame racial discrimination to become one of the world’s few black classical ballerinas.
Young as she is, Michaela’s memoir only covers her first 17 years of life. But her story is inspiring and very well-written. I read it in one sitting. Although marketed as a young adult book, her story will be of interest to teens and adults. I highly recommend it!
THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST by Holly Black
I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and Libro.fm, online retailers that support independent booksellers. If you make a purchase by clicking through the links in this post, I will receive a commission. For more information, see my “About” page.
Growing up in a small town at the edge of the Faerie realm, Hazel and Ben learn what you should and should not do to be sure that the folk don’t play they’re dangerous mischiefs on you. You may visit the glass casket of the horned boy, but you must never try to break the glass lest you be cursed. Hazel and Ben fell in love with the horned boy, dreaming that he was their prince and that one day they would rescue him. In the meantime, they spent their days playing the knight and the Bard–using Ben’s magical music gift and Hazel’s skill with a sword to take revenge on the monsters that tormented tourists. But when Ben’s gift faltered, Hazel made a costly bargain with the folk. Five years later, when someone breaks the horned boy’s glass casket, Hazel struggles to get her memories back, to figure out whether the horned boy is a prince or a villain, and to find a way to stop the sinister monster that walks in his shadow.
This modern fairytale is a thrilling read. Hazel, Ben, and their changeling friend Jack are fantastically interesting characters and the mysterious plot keeps you on the edge of your seat. I would recommend this book to teen readers who enjoy fantasy and fairy tales.
If you liked The Darkest Part of the Forest, you might like Reckless by Cornelia Funke and The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff.
Susan the Librarian 