International Intrigue and Too Much Money

Vanishing Games: A novel

by Roger Hobbs
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
July 2015

Book 2 of the Ghostman tale picks up several years after the first story -- and it manages to top the first in grit, suspense, and foreign intrigue.

What's different about this book
As in the first book, Jack White carries the reader into his world as ghostman or international crime agent who has a knack for vanishing - and making other people or problems vanish. The global setting and the look into the life of the absurdly rich make this novel a compelling read.  I think I'm personally hooked by the way Jack somehow always manages to make it out alive. Compelling plot and resolution.  I don't like to like tales of violence and grit, but somehow Hobbs manages to overcome my reluctance with his excellent storytelling.

What I'll do now that I've read it
What does any read do with an outstanding suspense thriller? Share it, of course! The appeal of this book takes me beyond my school libraries and into my adult book clubs and private libraries.  Somehow not many folks seem to be familiar with Hobbs' Jack White.  We'll have to change that.

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An unexpected tale

Everything You and I Could Have Been If We Weren't You and I
Todo lo que podríamos haber sido tú y yo si no fuéramos tú y yo
by Alberto Espinosa
Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial / Grijalbo
July 2015

Quisiera haberlo leído en español – me habría caído más normal.

What's different about this book
 This story took me back to the years of my graduate work in Spanish literature.  The stream-of-consciousness narration that fills the first third of the book was more typical of that literary body of work.  Reading this in English, however, made me think the narrator was speaking of himself when he wrote, "sometimes you beat around the bush in order to avoid going straight to the root."  So while this book is tagged as for teens and young adult, that age reader will need to persevere beyond the first third of the book in order to reach the more engaging --and compelling-- plot action.  But the singular difference in this book is the unexpected plot twist: No, I'm not referring to the "future where everyone has given up sleeping."  That's almost secondary to the slow-to-develop but deliciously intriguing major action.  I was ready to put the book down one-fourth of the way in, but I'm delighted I stuck with it.

What I'll do now that I've read it
I don't know how popular this book will be for my typical patron.  I think I could easily sell it to young adults who are also studying global issues and languages.  And the shorter length of the book will help my book talks to students.

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Young adult love, loss, and learning

A Million Miles Away

by Lara Avery
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
July 2015

A good romance can be made better by a meaningful context.  Avery's A Million Miles Away avoids the superficial by the quality and depth of her story and the significance of her protagonist's growth.

What's different about this book
The plot twist of a surviving twin stepping in for her sister seems fresh and interesting.  I didn't always like Kelsey and her choices, but the story soon settles in to be an engaging read.  The difference in what transpires is the extent to which Kelsey and her family have to live through the loss of losing her twin, and the extent to which Kelsey grows and learns through the ensuing developments.  I liked the seriousness of the book's challenges -- juxtaposed with the inclusion of art and dance and family and friends.  This becomes an increasingly compelling story as one moves through the book.

What I'll do now that I've read it
Before opening my blog to write this review, I went first to my go-to book vendor for my libraries.  I had to make sure this title is on our list for our young adult libraries.  Beyond buying the title, though, I will really enjoy sharing this with readers who want some real-life challenges and adventure mixed with a compelling romance.  A story where the protagonist recognizes her flaws and learns to deal with them -- and grow beyond them -- is both rare and a pleasure to pass on to other readers.

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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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Young adult: death, trauma, and healing

The Dead I Know
by Scot Gardner
HMH Books for Young Readers 
March 2015

Another young adult where parents are absent, but this book offers a whole new twist on why that's true, and how Aaron deals with it to survive.

What's different about this book 
Aaron has managed to withdraw into himself enough to survive through high school and to support his Mam.  When he takes a job with the local funeral director, he eventually finds more than a supportive employer:  He finds a family.  The kindness of strangers and of his employer make this a story that resonates as Aaron courageously faces and lives through the enormous trauma of his youth.  Heart-warming.

What I'll do now that I've read it 
This is one of those books that teens growth through reading.  They'll be able to feel and experience (vicariously) a number of life challenges that are almost insurmountable for adolescence.  I'm glad to know about this book -- that will be in all our libraries-- for the right moment to share with the right reader.

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Strong female characters with unexpected abilities

A School for Unusual Girls
by Kathleen Baldwin
Macmillan-Tor/Forge
May 2015

Set in 1814 England at the time of Napoleon's machinations, this book is very appealing because of its unexpected setting for adolescent females who do much more than fit into English society's expectations for women.

What's different about this book
The students at the unusual school have been quietly abandoned by their families because they don't fit into the traditional roles for young ladies in 1814.  Instead, the girls have much more to offer, and the Stranje School is just the place for them to develop their unusual talents and find a way to serve their country and international politics.  

It's fun to watch the plot develop and to see the characters reveal their talents.  I was sometimes impatient with the main character, Georgiana, as she is slow to catch on to what the reader clearly sees.  Georgie has to mature, and that is sometimes irritating to me as a reader.

What I'll do now that I've read the book
I'll enjoy introducing my readers, probably the female patrons, to historical fiction at the same time as strong females, some with decided STEM talents.  Not a usual combination for young adult literature.  This is an entertaining and engaging read.

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Action, Adventure, and Diversity

Scarlett Undercover
Jennifer Latham
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
May 2015

This young adult novel places a non-traditional teen not in school but in her office as a private investigator.  Readers will enjoy seeing Scarlett as a loyal friend, family member, and fair-play advocate. 

What's different about this book
This story feels different:  Scarlett moves in her own, adult-feeling world (no school, no usual competition with classmates) where family ties are strong but non-traditional; community support is realistic rather than stereotypical; and the grown-up challenges Scarlett faces, often on her own, are gritty, complex, and compelling.  The added element of supernatural aspects (genies and ancient warrior lines  and modern-day cults) add an unexpected level of intrigue.

The diversity of the book's characters should draw the attention of librarians who seek to enrich their collection's view of the world:  Scarlett is a Muslim, living in a family with Muslim practices yet very much representative of 21st-century life in America.  The occasional Muslim greeting and elements of the religion's heritage do a great deal to build the atmosphere for the edgy, at times threatening plot line.  The overall effect is suspenseful and engaging.

What I'll do now that I've read it 
Beyond book-talks and making sure my teen patrons hear about this book, I'm reaching out to fellow librarians and library directors to alert them to this rich book:  full of action, compelling mystery and suspense, and full of tantalizing unknown touches in the world it poses.  A great read.

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