Nightbird by Alice Hoffman

Nightbird
by Alice Hoffman
Wendy Lamb Books
March 2015

Accurately described as for middle grade readers, this story of Twig and how her family heals and coalesces makes for a solid story of finding oneself.

What's different about this book 
The story is set in realistic New England town, but there's a touch of magic in the mix.  Agnes Early was a witch from that town, and somehow she and her true love got separated -- and Twig's family was cursed.  Somehow through all the story telling, the author manages to weave Twig's story and life into an intriguing tapestry.  The latter part of the book sometimes feels put together hodge-podge style, as if certain elements needed to resolve the story weren't thought of until well into the writing.  But the final effect is a satisfying, if not too-perfect, ending for all.

What I'll do now that I've read it 
This will be a good book for my middle-grade readers.  There's magic that will appeal to some, aviary science to hook others, and a mystery to solve for everyone.  A family that comes together makes it a happy read as well.

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The Matheny Manifesto

The Matheny Manifesto : A young manager's old-school views on success in sports and life
by Mike Matheny, Jerry B. Jenkins
Crown Archetype
February 2015

Manifesto is a book for baseball aficionados, for business and leadership students, for parenting and coaching learners, and for those who just love a good story.  It's all the more cogent for me as a fairly recent resident of St. Louis.

What's different about this book 
I loved the personal stories that Matheny shared about his life and his career and his baseball experiences.  But I especially loved the clear thread of God's providence in Matheny's story.  This is less a book about Matheny and more about how God interjects himself in the lives of available individuals to establish a clear path of impact and grace.  I'm very grateful that personal anecdotes continued through the book -- there was no portion where the narrative turned didactic.  Instead the personal experiences were concretely tied to the happenings, many of which have made national news and videos.  It's great to hear the "behind the scenes" events.

I also want to acknowledge Jenkins' contribution to the writing process:  He managed to take an enthralling story, surely told conversationally, and make it into as well-written a book as possible.  The writing is acceptable, and the reader still hear's Matheny's voice.  Good job.

What I'll do now that I've read the book 
We are adding multiple copies of this book to all our collections: for adults, for young adults, for baseball fans, for administrative professionals, for Christians.  This book has wide appeal for all kinds of readers, and I love that Matheny's personal Christian witness -loud, clear, and strong without overpowering- will present a strong testimony into the lives of all those kinds of readers.  Great stuff.

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An intriguing but not-pleasant read

Remaking the John: The Invention and Reinvention of the Toilet
by Francesca Davis Dipiazza
21st Century Books
August 2014

What a great and intriguing examination of the history of the ---  (substitute here any of the common and also amazing names this invention goes by).  For something we see every day, the toilet is a complex story of need, invention, re-invention, and implementation.

What's different about this book 
Dipiazza does an excellent job explaining something that we don't think about:  We just depend on it.  So much of this information seriously causes the reader to think about how life used to look, how it reached the level of technology we have today -- and how primitive our current actualization of a toilet still is.  The concluding discussion of where the 21st century needs to go in developing the toilet in an eco-friendly way is also interesting.

Just don't try to read it (as I did) during your lunch time.  The narration is very real.

What I'll do now that I've read it 
This book is now in my young adult library collections, and the cover display has received some reader interest.  I think it will catch some reluctant readers who might be immune to some of the slicker fiction covers.

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All Fall Down: Maybe the best is yet to come?

All Fall Down, Embassy Row #1
Ally Carter
Scholastic Press
January 2015

From the book's back cover, Grace Blakely is absolutely certain of three things:
 1. She is not crazy.
2. Her mother was murdered.
3. Someday she is going to find the killer and make him pay.

Only after reading the book does one appreciate the intricacies of those points.

What's different about this book
I've enjoyed most of Carter's young adult works.  They are generally light, with humor and repartee witty dialog.  This book had those qualities as well, in addition to a hint of tragedy and mystique.  I tired quickly of Grace's overly-dramatic characterization: I had trouble understanding what made her think / fear she might be crazy? The story line was good enough to keep reading, but not solid enough to win me to the series -- until the plot began to resolve and it got interesting.  Unfortunately that point was in the last few pages.  So for me, the story was slow to engage me, but I was hooked by the end of the book.  This book may be the first in a series that, all too rarely, proves to have sequels that are stronger and more compelling than the first.  I'm counting on Carter being able to finesse that and produce a rousing and engaging mystery suspense series.

What I'll do now that I've read it
Carter is a favorite author for my young adult female readers who like a little spying and suspense with their adventure and romance.  So I'll be talking this book to both those who know Carter, and those who might want to get into a more political setting.  Should be an easy book talk.  Good stuff.

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Half Bad: Young adult magic and a strong story line

Half Bad
by Sally Green
Viking Juvenile
March 2014

This young adult book of magic and coming of age and finding out just who you are offers a powerful combination of action, compelling characters, and the chance for good guys to win.

What's different about this novel
I don't remember contemporary settings, in realistic settings, where the primary story is about witches and magic and dealing with such things as radio interference from cell phones.  The story is quite engaging, drawing the reader in quickly as the action continues steadily and increasingly.  The magic is old, the witch lineages are ancient, but the world is today's, complete with normal technology:  an interesting dichotomy.

What I'll do now that I've read the book
I tire of books that don't end -- just so there can be a sequel, but this story has enough meat on its structural bones to carry forward a strong trilogy.  I will make sure this book and the books that follow (if as good) are available to my school patrons who love challenges and young adults becoming who they are -- with magic a serious part of that story.  Good stuff.

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Some graphic fun - and a strong story

Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula
by Andi Watson
First Second Publishing
February 2015

One of the first graphic novels I have truly enjoyed, although I purchase and book talk many to my school library patrons.  

What's different about this book? 
I think it is the engaging storyline that hooked me, but as well, the graphics were straight-forward and intelligible for me as a getting-used-to-graphic-novel literacy reader.  The touch of romance and the good-guys-win ending made it all fun.

What I'll do now that I've read it
This book I can share with friends and patrons with authentic enthusiasm.  It's a fun read, a visually compelling cover, and a quick read.  My young adult readers will love it.

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The Dolls by Kiki Sullivan

The Dolls 
by Kiki Sullivan
Balzer + Bray
September 2014

This was one of the most entertaining young adult fiction I've read in a while.  Ghosts and queens and voodoo and a peculiarly protected town in rural Louisiana.  Great read.

What's different about this book
Eveny is a normal teen, except that on her seventeenth birthday she moves back home to Carrefour to find she is one of a trio of queens who exercise powers in ways that are typically self-centered teendom.  Eveny stands for what's right and social justice, though she has to learn to use her powers maturely.  There's a very nice romance to the story, and suspenseful moments when death is only seconds away.  A nice touch of spookiness in that suspense as well.

What I'll do now that I've read it
This book begs to be book-talked to my teen library patrons, both to guys and gals.  And the adult readers are going to enjoy this too.  A strong, masterful tale that moves steadily, doesn't bog down while handling drama and teen relationships and magic.  i'm disappointed the book appears available only in paperback, because my patrons are going to read this to shreds.  Great stuff, even if it does leave an opening for stories to follow.  

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Spademan and the limn -- even more fun the second time around

Near Enemy: A Spademan Novel
Adam Sternbergh
Crown Publishing
Pub Jan 2015

A year ago I had the pleasure to preview and review Shovel Ready, the first book in this (hopefully extended) series.  I don't remember enjoying that first one as much as this: Near Enemy was my assigned weekend reading, and I was surprised to be entertained so thoroughly.

What's different about this book
My first review mentioned what's different about Sternberg's approach to narrating Spademan's story. There are still two voices, the terse, concise, and short-phrased Spademan: no quotation marks for the dialog, few of the conventions that English teachers like, but great technique for helping the reader "hear" the voice of Spademan and experience the story through his perspective.  And the second "straight" narrator is still present, the voice that sets the scene.  
     What's new here? In my opinion the author's writing is even more cohesive and mature than before.  Also, I was not as aware of the dark and gritty aspects: I don't know if that's because I knew in advance the setting, or if the author is more focused on the action in this book.  But the story line is taut; the characters are compelling; and the suspense is great entertainment, resulting in lots of reader engagement.  There were repeated twists and sub-plots that together resulted in an unusually entertaining read.  I loved the whole book and wish I could pick up Book 3 now.  (Coming soon, Mr. Sternbergh?)

What I'll do now that I've read it
More book talking to my adult patrons -- this one with my personal guarantee of a great read.  And I'm looking into extending the series into my high school libraries -- Near Enemy is eminently suitable, and I'll review Shovel Ready with that in mind. 

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A madcap, compelling highwayman's adventure

The Accidental Highwayman: Being the Tale of Kit Bristol, His Horse Midnight, a Mysterious Princess, and Sundry Magical Persons Besides
by Ben Tripp
Tor Teen
October 2014

This book was the highlight of my Christmas break reading:  engaging story line, compelling characters and plot, and a fun, fun adventure that reminded me of the tone and setting of The Princess Bride.  Enjoyable all the way around.

What's different about this book
Told from the point of view of a sixteen-year-old adventurer, Kit is a likeable, humble, and unassuming hero.  He never intends great things, but his basic sense of duty and ethics move him forward into adventures that serve others: Cleverly developed and scripted to allow us to care about Kit and those he cares about.  Crazy, madcap at times, and completely enjoyable.

What I'll do now that I've read it
This book will be one of the first I share and talk about to my school readers and my adults patrons as well.  I don't know where I read it, but I expect a sequel, if not several.  Something called The Accidental Giant? I'm on the look out for it - as will be my libraries' readers! Great stuff.

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A strange book indeed

The Strange Library
Haruki Murakami
Knopf
December 2014

I was drawn to read this book by a variety of reviews and the national attention it garnered in the past month or so.  The discussion of the expected audience (juvenile or adult) and the mixed media (text and color illustrations) made it appear out of the ordinary.  And so it is.

What's different about this book
Everything.  The text is accessible enough, and the unusual tone justified by an unusual author adds to the ethos of the story.  A fairly short read, it doesn't present challenges of the usual kind. The illustrations echo the story line in its strange feel.  The story is about a very strange library, and the story itself is strange.  After I finished it, I realized I should have expected that sort of story, given that it is best categorized as magical realism.  I would need a book group to help me do justice to understanding the work.

What I'll do now that I've read it
I consider this a difficult book to share through reader's advisory or individual consultation with other readers.  Reading this book is an "experience," but not one I'm sure many will seek.  We have added the title to our libraries, but I'm somewhat stumped as to whom I should talk to about it.  We'll set it aside for now and see if the right reader comes along.  As Ranganathan assured us, "every book its reader."

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