All Things New: Heaven, Earth, and the Restoration of Everything You Love

All Things New: Heaven, Earth, and the Restoration of Everything You Love

by John Eldredge
Thomas Nelson
September 2017

Once in a long while, you read a book, and you can hear the impact of it plop all the way to the bottom of your soul. You know the impact will resonate for years to come - and you hope it will guide your thinking for the rest of your life. This is such a book.

There is nothing that more powerfully shapes our life than knowing about the life to come. This book serves as a powerful, illustrated lesson in understanding what God meant when He said He was making all things new. And that lesson serves as the anchor, the lifeline of our hope that sees us through the pain and devastation of this life.

Eldredge's book is required reading for all humans. 

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Inspector Gamache and the best yet: Glass Houses

Glass Houses 

by Louise Penny
Minotaur Books
August 2017

Penny's absolute mastery of complex woven story lines lived out by achingly dear characters appears at its strongest in this, her latest release in the Inspector Gamache series. 

If you haven't read it yet, hurry to do so.  And if you haven't begun or advanced through the series, slow down to savor and enjoy each book.

In this release, Gamache is pushing the boundaries of his career, as well as his personal life and reputation. The stakes could not be higher. Yet the amazing resolution that Ms. Penny paints makes you hold your breath, hang on for the cliffhanger moments, and then rejoice at the (amost) completely wonderful ending. 

As a reader who often doesn't trouble to read the second in most series, I have already begun the count-down to when I can look for the next new release.

Peace to you, Ms. Henry, and deep thanks for the consistent pleasure your writing provides.

Hunting Hour by Mizushima - newest release in a great series

Hunting Hour
     book 3, Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Series
by Margaret Mizushima
Crooked Lane Books
Aug 2017

This entire series is increasingly a pleasure to read. From the beginning with Killing Trail, the story line of a rural Colorado sheriff beginning her work as a K9 officer is engaging and character-driven.

This third book shows Mattie Cobb growing in confidence and her awareness of relationships with the folks around her. The life of the small town of Timber Creek is realistically complicated, and the residents respect Mattie's work and are grateful for the strategic help she and her dog Robo provide.

Author Mizushima does an excellent job positing a compelling and opaque mystery in each book, as well as developing characters the reader cares about and relationships that matter, change, and deepen.

The series is a pleasure to read - and this third entry is the smoothest and most enjoyable.

A compelling graphic novel: Park Bench

Park Bench

by Christophe Chabouté
Gallery 13, Threshold, Pocket Books
September 2017

In the graphic novel format, Chabouté's warm, evocative story is a delight to the eyes and the mind.

With the warm, loving pathos of Silverstein's The Giving Tree, the slow, steady passage of days, seasons, and years in Park Bench shows the reader the multiple stories and people who have played out their lives in the presence of the park bench.

It is those stories, and the bench's witness to their value, that make the book compelling. The story reads calmly, peacefully, poignantly. The depth of communication through the simple drawings makes the impact all the more powerful. You'll want to enjoy --and share-- this one.

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Invictus: a YA sci-fi powerful read for all!

Invictus
by Ryan Graudin
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Strong writing, extraordinary plotting, and masterful resolution of the story line describe Graudin's latest young adult thriller that is too good to restrict to just teen readers.

What's different about this book 
Science fiction may not be the genre for every reader - but intelligent and compelling characters are.  A mystery and suspense setting for life and death events is. And the need to keep turning the page, to find out what happens next is just what most readers want.

One of the trickiest issues with YA books is keeping the material suitable for such a wide range of reading preferences. Language, sensitive topics, graphic or not graphic discussions:  All these are tip-toe matters for librarians who share reads with teens.  Graudin amazingly avoids the "inappropriate" content without losing a smidge of relevance, interest, or power.  Perfectly appropriate does NOT equate to boring or  weak with this work.  

Graudin's latest novel blew me away.  I don't do sci-fi, and I seldom do time travel. But this story of family, growing to wisdom, and valuing friends and courage was an exceptional read. This book will engage you, tantalize you, and refuse to let you forget it.  Grab this one. It's a keeper.

What I'll do now that I've read it
While I may not do sci-fi, my library patrons DO! And this will be an compelling title to talk about, share, and promote.  Awards and praise will be forthcoming for this book, due out in September 2017.

Soli Deo Gloria 

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A Conspiracy in Belgravia - Second Charlotte Holmes book

A Conspiracy in Belgravia

by Sherry Thomas

Reading can be compared to a treasure hunt: Always on the look-out for a gem that will reward you for your patience.  You’ll want to know that this second book in the Charlotte Holmes series is just that: a jewel sparkling and irresistible – and worth the search.

What’s different about this book

There seems to be an abundance of books on the Sherlock Holmes theme recently, many well-done and enjoyable reads. But this concept of a female who creates and lives out the Sherlock Holmes mystique is unique:  It bests the original and many times over.  The first book in the series was excellent; this second book is strongly better and more appealing.

The reader who usually suspends judgment on a book and its quality until some chapters in can rest easy: They are in the hands of a master weaver who powerfully crafts characters, their interactions, and plots that bring a genuine sense of suspense and mystery.  I have been delighted to find that I can read a passage in this series, miss the undercurrents of meaning, and yet trust the author to strategically fill in the invisible story line that I missed the first time through. I love being surprised that the story between the lines resolves to be so beautifully just what I would have wanted if I had known the options.

What I’ll do now that I’ve read it

There is no reader I can think of to whom I don’t wish to recommend this book, indeed, this series.  All my library patrons (above elementary level) should hope to read this series, and I’m not only adding it to library collections – I’m buying family birthday and Christmas gifts.  Amazingly rewarding reading for fiction, historical, and mystery suspense fans. And who doesn’t like at least ONE of those genres?

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How to tame temper tantrums: Picture book from Smart Love Press

Jilly's Terrible Temper Tantrums​ and How She Outgrew Them​
by Martha Heineman Pieper, Ph.D.​
Smart Love Press, LLC​
May 2017

The message of Dr. Pieper's recent release is clear:  Parents dealing with tantrums should help children understand that seeking help and a hug is far superior to the misery of a temper tantrum.

What is different about this book 
The didactic picture book may be an effective way to help parents, and to help children, understand an alternative way to deal with emotional outbursts.

The calm and gentle support that Jilly's parents provide in this story is surely a good thing.  I wonder, however, at what point we begin to teach children that being happy is not always the highest goal.

What I'll do now that I've read this book 
The illustrations by Gershman support the tale and somewhat extend the story.  But overall this picture book lacks the magic that great literature provides.

This title will serve as a tool for parents, one I'll keep in my toolkit for recommending read-alouds that support and inform parenting skills. 

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The Paris Spy: A Maggie Hope Mystery

The Paris Spy: A Maggie Hope Mystery

by Susan Elia MacNeal
Random House Publishing Group
Aug 8, 2017

This seventh entry in the Maggie Hope series is a strong one.  We see the heroine maturing in both her professional life and her personal one.  With what has at times been an irritating protagonist, this book's story line brings a welcome glimpse of a intelligence office who is both increasingly confident and self-aware.

What's different about this book 
At the end of the sixth book in the series, The Queen's Accomplice, the author leaves the story in mid-air, literally, as Maggie Hope flies off to France for both personal and professional purposes. In contrast to some of the earlier Maggie stories, this latest title shows Maggie increasingly grappling with the moral and ethical issues of the war she and her friends and country find themselves in -- yet Mattie seems less needy, less reactive, and more introspective.  Again, the book ends with a cliff-hanger ending, and once again, the reader is left wondering how Maggie will make it out of the latest trap. A trap she is in, ironically, because of her mature and self-aware choices.

What I'll do now that I've read it 
The Maggie Hope series has built a strong readership with my library patrons, and this latest will fill a nice gap in the tapestry of England and Europe in the throes of WWII.  I look forward to providing this title to my own patrons -- I notice there is a considerable hold list already for the book not to be released for another 6 weeks or so!

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A strong read: A Strange Scottish Shore

A Strange Scottish Shore
by Juliana Gray
Berkley Publishing Group

The second book in a series, A Strange Scottish Shore takes the reader in a new direction -- different, but very enjoyable.

What's different about this book 
The first book in Gray's Emmeline Truelove series, titled A Most Extraordinary Pursuit, was a pleasant and entertaining read that posited the threads of events crossing across time: a murder suspense tale involving, at one point, a Greek god transported to the future, as well as other not-quite explained phenomena let the reader know "something is up."  A great read.

This second book, however, takes the original premise and builds a completely new world in an unexpected direction that nonetheless builds on the clues recognizable from the first book.  If they hadn't quite caught on in the first book, readers should be aware that time travel is a huge part of the story of Emmeline.

The new direction of A Strange Scottish Shore gives us more of what we want: more of the heroine Emmeline (or just Truelove as she is called) and the male figures with whom she works and adventures. A strong, satisfying romance develops in this second book.  

I was particularly impressed with Gray's mastery of a cliff-hanger ending sentence.  One sentence.  And the reader immediately remembers the threads skillfully planted earlier in the book that makes for a subtle but thrilling pause ... until the third book!  Aargh.

What I'll do now that I've read it 
This second book will cause librarians (and readers) to go back and consider the first title for purchase, if they haven't already done so.  Book one was very good.  Book two compels the addition to the library collection of the full series.  (The novella prequel may still have been the best of all so far.)

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Matchup: A gourmet spread of thriller stories

MatchUp

edited by Lee Child
Simon & Schuster
Pub Jun 2017  


In case you missed it, as I did, the International Thriller Writers (ITW) published a clever and entertaining anthology of specially-written short stories in 2014, Faceoff.  The fresh approach derived from iconic characters of mystery / suspense / thriller series (think Harry Bosch, Jack Reacher, and Lincoln Rhyme) paired up to solve a new and mutual challenge.

Matchup is the second such anthology, and this time the pairings involve "the battle of the sexes" (think Diana Gabaldon and Steve Berry, Kathy Reichs and Lee Child).

Both collections are fun, clever, and evocative for readers of these renowned authors.

But both require a new approach to reading:  an anthology literacy, if you will, that changes how readers approach the book.

What's different about this book?
Short-story reading has always been something of a "choose your own" process where the reader can decide which, if any (or all) of the stories gets read.  These titles complicate things a little:  Choices have to be made according to which of the iconic characters you want to follow, and the best entertainment results when both authors, both iconic figures, are well-known to the reader.  The result in such cases is a delightful adventure of much-loved characters with the catalyst of an equally loved character offering a third-person perspective of that character.

If that sounds confusing, it's not.  It's a great ride!

One unexpected benefit is meeting NEW icons in the thriller setting - and deciding to perhaps pursue that author's series as well as the ones held dear.

What I'll do now that I've read it
It's a no-brainer: For every library patron that loves a particular thriller series, there is double or triple the potential that the patron will enjoy the pairings, and even expand the reading focus.

ITW, never an organization to do things by the book, has hit upon a genius plan to fund the group's work (it doesn't charge member dues) and to reward the authors' readers as well.  Both Faceoff and Matchup belong in the collection of libraries where mystery / suspense / thriller books are popular.  Or where they might become popular.

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Mighty Jack and the Goblin King - A graphic novel for every reader

Mighty Jack and the Goblin King
by Ben Hatke
First Second Books
September 2017

Think about all the great characteristics of the first book in this Mighty Jack series: compelling story, exceptionally clear plot line conveyed and enhanced by the beautifully colored illustrations, the bravery and courage of the protagonists.  Then think BETTER. Mighty Jack and the Goblin King trumps all of the first great qualities, and the reader's enjoyment is even greater.

What's different about this book

Jack, his sister Maddie, and their friend Lilly are continuing the wild adventure that arose from those magic garden beans that the strange man gave him.  Don't think "weird creatures and wild tale." Think "adventure" and "courage" and wow!

One particular quality I love about this new release is its wide appeal:  elementary, middle, high school readers, adults too! The story moves beyond age and pulls the reader into the adventure.

As a language acquisition expert, I love how readers build cognitive skills through reading.  And I appreciate Hatke's use of excellent vocabulary to move his tale, all while supporting the acquisition of those words with context and beautiful illustrations.  Know any elementary students who understand and use nexus?  They will after reading this book.

I was particularly enthralled by the illustrations: rich, often full-page, gorgeously compelling and effective plot presentation.

But perhaps the best difference of all was the clear story.  Not all graphic novels are clear and accessible, but Jack is.  All levels of visual literacy will enjoy Jack's two stories. 

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

With its release in September 2017, I will have time over the summer to build vendor lists that ensure this title is in all our school libraries.  It will bring reading pleasure, mental growth, and an anticipation of a (hopefully) third book.  Grab this one!

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Edgy YA: Compelling novels that offer diverse perspectives AND accessibility

Rez Runaway by Melanie Florence

Dead to Me by Cristy Watson

Dark Side by John Choi

Riot School by Robert Rayner

James Lorimer & Company

Multicultural Interest , Teens & YA

Lorimer & Company is producing some engaging "hi-lo" (high interest, lower reading complexity) titles that you will consider prime reading material for your strongest school library patrons. 

That the titles entertain and engage all readers, rather than just the reluctant ones, makes these choices all the more valuable.

These four titles in the "Sidestreets" line are being marketed by Lorimer for their wide diverse appeal and "hot button" topics.  The protagonists are nicely representative of so many young adult readers who don't normally find themselves in the books they read.

That the reading levels of these books are unobtrusively lower than most YA titles is the icing on the cake:  The writing is compelling enough that I soon forgot I was reading hi-lo titles  within the first few pages. 

I am delighted to report that the excellent story telling, yet broad topics and individual strengths, in these books are something I have immediately purchased for my YA patrons.  I'll be eager to share with adults who support those YA patrons as well.

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The Silent Corner: Suspense and Intrigue at their best

The Silent Corner : A Novel of Suspense

by Dean Koontz
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine
Bantam
June 2017

Good news for Koontz fans: There is a new series coming this summer! The Silent Corner offers a promising start to a story that defines suspense.

What's different about this book
The "silent corner," that place where truly untrackable individuals nonethless remain able to use the Internet undetected.

Protagonist Jane Hawk survives in that silent corner. I was hooked by the quick-to-start quest of Jane, a recent widow struggling to uncover why her husband, one of a growing pattern of atypical suicides, took his life. 

Jane begins to unravel a plot, the complexity of which reveals the global, ubiquitous nature of an enemy that can and does control individuals by passing their conscious thinking through science and technology.  Yet Jane's story provides engaging ingenuity and resourcefulness, as well as an encouraging cadre of friends who trust her despite her inexplicable actions off the grid.

This novel displays Koontz' exceptional crafting of a cohesive tale: lots of courage to applaud, lots of twists to uncover, and lots of thrills for the reader. This is so solid a work that it gives the impression of a monolithic, corporate effort that will lead us through a series of equally well-designed sequels.  Well-thought-out and thrilling to read. It's almost too threatening a world to want to live in.

What I'll do now that I've read this
The double charm of a new Koontz novel, the fast pace, and the promise of a new series heroine with serious bad guys will be an irresistible offering to my patrons, both young adult and adult readers.  There's a large population segment that will be on the waiting list for this book.

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If I'm Found: Book 2 in an engaging suspense series

If I'm Found
Book 2 (out of 3) in the If I Run series by Terri Blackstock
Zondervan Fiction
Christian , Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 21 Mar 2017

"Christian Fiction" is too often a synonym for "not well-written." This series runs counter to that truism, and I am adding the series to my libraries confident that readers will be satisfied.

What's different about this book
There is genuine suspense, and excellent characterization. As a reader, I found the protagonists to be sympathetic and compelling.

The story line that wobbled a bit in the first book grows stronger in the second, and the momentum builds as the characters engage with each other, those around them, and in the settings where they are found.

Issues of PTSD, broken families, and true crime are handled skillfully and add to the engagement of the reader with the story line.  I dislike having to wait for a third release to learn the resolution of high-tension conflicts, but the author has sold me on the need for a third book to fully develop the story.  I'll hang in for one more in the series.

What I'll do now that I've read it
I struggle to find compelling Christian fiction for my library patrons.  This series, and in particular, this second book, offer much to enjoy: suspense, conflict, romance, and realistic spiritual doubt as a part of the character development.  I'm happy to have this series as an additional resource to offer.

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Are You Sleeping - Family Drama with a Twist of Murder

Are You Sleeping: A Novel

by Kathleen Barber
Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books
01 Aug 2017

The summary blurbs about this novel don't do it justice.  The story is more than one woman's challenge to return to her family despite lying to her boyfriend.  Turns out there is a significant mystery yet to be solved, and deception from many family members about what happened complicates the story line.

What's different about this book

The author develops (albeit slowly) a genuine mystery about just what happened ten years ago.  Rather than primarily a family drama, this book was enjoyable for the suspense and well-complicated plot line that kept the reader guessing. 

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

This is a great read for a wide range of readers.  I'll be able to share and book talk it with my young adult library patrons as well as my adult mystery aficionados.  Clean yet compelling - this book is worth sticking with to learn all the hidden truths.

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