A sweet story of second chances

Firefly Summer
by Kathleen Y'Barbo
2015

When I want to read a good romance, I need something different, something compelling.  There are so many serious world situations -- I look for a story that speaks to those serious situations and to my life in such a world. Firefly Summer fit right in that role.

What's different about this book
There are real lives, real connections, and serious second chances in this story.  It spoke to my own need to look to others, feel empathy rather than impatience, and above all, to consider forgiveness as the appropriate response to difficult situations.

What I'll do now that I've read it
This book is a healthy yet engaging story to share with friends and reading acquaintances who are seeking a lighter but still rewarding read.  Firefly Summer lends itself to just those times.

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A middle-grade thriller: Trollhunters

Trollhunters

by Guillermo del Toro, Daniel Kraus
Disney Book Group
July 2015

Knowing who had written this book gave me two thoughts:  I figured it would be good, coming from creative mind that know how to tell great stories and full-range horror; and I wondered how well the book, coming from those authors, could mesh with its intended audience of middle-grade readers. The was in fact a great read, and every bit of it was beautifully crafted for the intended audience.

What's different about this book
I wonder how many of us remember the complete escape into horror we experienced when reading R. L. Stine's  Goosebumps or Fear Street series.  That same delicious atmosphere immediately pulls in the reader in Trollhunters. From the first paragraph, it's obvious that family, friends, school:  Every part of Jim's Sturges' life will get pulled into the unsuspected world that Jim discovers.  Strikingly different, however, is the plot complexity (and sophistication) and the depth of character development that del Toro and Kraus bring.  This is well-written and polished adventure, with just enough horror added to make this a middle grade jewel.  The authors were obviously once tween readers themselves -- the humor, the ethos, and the adventure are perfectly matched to this audience.

What I'll do now that I've read it
This selection will be an easy sell to reluctant readers.  The opening paragraph, once read aloud to a group of potential readers, will mean that my libraries need multiple copies available for check-out.  And I'm delighted to have this piece of literature to share with family and friends with reluctant summer readers.  This is the perfect book for the summer lag in reading -- go get it!

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A surprisingly compelling read: Alive by Scott Sigler

Alive
by Scott Sigler
Random House Publishing Group
July 2015

The phrase "page turner" is overused, but lucky is the reader who experiences that intense focus in a book.

What's different about this book 
 When one reads a story and finds that she doesn't want to put the book down, there is something vital and almost mystical going on.  Sigler's Alive created that experience for me: at the sentence- or page-level in the reading process, each piece of the story held my focus.  What really struck me about this skillfully crafted novel was the vibrancy of each thought that so compelled me to keep reading.  The writing was smooth enough that I immediately let go of the analytical lens on the book -- and I just enjoyed the ride.  

What I'll do now that I've read it
It's not often that I want to immediately put a book into some reader's hand, but I do with this one.  The appeal of the action, the development of characters, and the thrill of survival will appeal to all readers: Alive is not a guy or gal read, but rather a READER read.  I think all ages will enjoy it, from young enough to be able to understand it, and up to adults who enjoy a compelling read.  Great stuff, and a title that I will disseminate through all my school libraries as well as friends and families.

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Humor, mystery, and some romance

Double Mint, a Davis Way Crime Caper #4
Gretchen Archer
Henery Press
July 2015

Comparisons have been made of this series to Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series.  The two authors do include the same sense of wry humor (lots of it) and some appealing romantic connections.  But there are striking differences as well, which argue for Archer's series as being the better choice.

What's different about this book 
Beginning with the first book in the series, I was struck by the originality of the heroine and plot.  I again encountered the laugh-out-loud experience that comes so rarely in today's fiction, and I wondered whether the engaging story line would continue throughout the following books.  Interestingly:  the story in each book just gets better.  The character development is strong across titles, the plot is different in each book yet equally intriguing, and the overarching story line is compelling.  Solid work for what I suspect is not an easy style to sustain.

What I'll do now that I've read it
I recommend this series to readers who enjoy some smart dialog, an intriguing protagonist, and a humorous take on life.  The interesting part for me, in recommending this book, is that I've shared it with four friends before I got around to writing an official review.  Don't waste time reading about the book -- go get it!

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