Ghost Talkers: WW1 spies, romance, and the supernatural

Ghost Talkers
Mary Robinette Kowal
Macmillan-Tor/Forge
August 2016

This is a compelling book - but not in the clichéd sense of the word.  Some books are "bigger" in their impact on the reader than the outside package would suggest. This is one of those.

This will be a sure addition to my libraries - at all levels, adolescent and up.  I appreciate the draw-me-in plot, beginning with the first sentence.  The characters are well-developed, the mystery and suspense hold cohesively, and the ending is satisfying despite inevitable loss of war. 

Well-done - and one I'm already book-talking to friends, weeks before the book's release!

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Mighty Jack: Accessible and Compelling

Mighty Jack
by Ben Hatke
First Second Books
September 2016

For some readers, graphic novels are not accessible.  Visual books require a different type of literacy, and for those not compelled to read them, graphic novels hold little appeal.  Mighty Jack may turn that story around.

What's different about this book
The illustrations and the layout in this book make it an easy-to-follow story.  The plot line makes this a read-in-one-sitting book.  I've always supported my readers that wanted graphic novels, but I didn't always understand the draw. 
In Mighty Jack, the illustrations are so clear, the dialog and contextual clues so sparse but effective, that I really enjoyed the reading!  The first thing I did when finishing was to search for the second in the series. 
Yes; an accessible graphic novel, amazing illustrations, and a series read! A large number of my patrons aren't going to believe the treasure in Mighty Jack!
A comment on the illustrations: the size of the various blocks vary.  Rather than a carefully and rigidly set size of frames, author Hatke and publisher First Second allowed the layout to vary from page to page:

And occasionally, the reader turns to a full-spread illustration, each of which appear as visual gasps dramatically moving the story forward:

What I'll do now that I've read it
First, I'll find the next book in the series. But after that, I'll be adding copies to each of my libraries and booktalking this graphic novel to every student and group that I can reach. Sharing not with just my graphic novel readers, but to all my readers - including those who haven't felt the attraction to graphic novels.  I think they just may not have found an accessible one before, one with such a compelling storyline and illustrations.  This was a great read. In any format.

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Unfolding: A compelling novel

Unfolding
by Jonathan Friesen
Zonderkidz-Books, Blink
December 2017

With this book, I was hooked in pretty quickly.  I wanted to read this when I had to be doing other things.  This is a GREAT read, both for young adults and adults who enjoy a great story.

What's different about this book
There is a compelling mix of small-town real life and some mystical, magical influences.  Not enough other-worldly to put readers off.  Just enough to pull the attention further into the story.
I appreciated the engaging discussion of transcendent issues - the story isn't afraid to address God and Christ and life and death. But there is no overt, off-putting agenda:  just a natural, we-all-think-about-these-things touch.
The story travels far afield from its starting point, and sometimes in that distance the cohesiveness of plot and purpose waiver.  But the completely-satisfying resolution and ending make it all work. Not a perfect writing, but a pretty good one.

What I'll do now that I've read it

You want to read this. My library patrons will want to read it. I am eager to start sharing it in my  libraries.  I am sorry to see such a far-away publication date.  This book is too good to wait that long.

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Tailored for Trouble

Tailored for Trouble: A Romantic Comedy
by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine
August 2016

For a fun plot and an interesting maturation of characters, check this novel.  It offers some intriguing moments.

What's different about this book

This is the best book that I won't be able to share professionally.  The plot is engaging, the character development is fun to experience, and it's overall just a great read.

But conscious editorial choices of coarse wording and phrases, unnecessary to the plot development, put this delightful read into a category that I can share personally but can't promote professionally through any of my spheres of influence.  That's a shame.

What I'll do now that I've read it

The book is a hoot - fun to read.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to preview the book.   I was looking for something for my career-woman reading circles, but I just can't take it any farther than my girlfriends.  I wish the book had been slanted differently.

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