The library has compiled a large variety of Book Reviews from staff and through programs such as Read It & Rate It. These reviews are available to you to help you make an educated decision on titles you’d like to read.
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Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach Nonfiction Adults/older teens * * * * Stars (Great!) What happens as human and animal habitats overlap more and more? What do we do about bears that break into dumpsters and houses and vehicles? Birds that swarm farms, crops, and airfields? And other creatures that make pests of themselves? Communities have tried all kinds of solutions ranging from extermination to relocation and all kinds of interesting options … Read more
A Witch Alone Apprentice Witch #2 by James Nicol Fantasy Juvenile Fiction Mystery Tween Young Adult Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Arianwyn’s experience with the forgotten glyphs brings her to the attention of the High Elder, who wants her to go on a quest to retrieve a special book that is supposed to contain more of them. Although Arianwyn will have companions, they aren’t allowed to reveal the true purpose of their mission. … Read more
Space Boy (series) by Stephen McCranie Graphic Novel Mystery Realistic Fiction Science Fiction Teen Tween * * * * * Stars (Amazing) When Amy’s father loses his job at the mine, the family is forced to leave the mining colony and return to Earth – a journey that will require them to be cryogenically frozen (so they will not age) and will take 30 years. By the time they arrive, Amy’s best friend Jemma will … Read more
The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin Realistic Fiction Adult/older teen * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Alice Holtzman, now in her forties, always wanted to do something special with her life, but after losing her much beloved husband and facing up to the facts that her job is a placeholder for the things she really wants, she’s starting to question her choices. Now she’s planning to expand her beekeeping hobby into a business, … Read more
The Companion by Katie Alender Mystery Suspense Thriller Teen * * * Stars (Pretty good) After a terrible car accident leaves Margot an orphan, she is taken in by a wealthy family who knew her father. Thinking she has found a new home, Margot discovers that her role is different than she expected. The Suttons’ hospitality is conditional. They expect Margot to be a companion to their teenage daughter, Agatha, who has a mysterious illness … Read more
How Stella Learned to Talk: The Groundbreaking Story of the World’s First Talking Dog by Christina Hunger Autobiography Biography Nonfiction Adult (but teens may enjoy!) * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) When Christina and her boyfriend decided to adopt a puppy, they started to notice the many ways that Stella (the dog) tried to communicate with them. Christina, a recently qualified speech pathologist, had received all kinds of specialized training in helping nonverbal children … Read more
Better Together by Christine Riccio Funny LGBTQ+ Realistic Fiction Romance YA (older teen) * * * Stars (Pretty good) Two sisters, separated in early childhood, are reunited in their young adulthood at a retreat where they form a plan to get revenge on their parents, whose poor decisions have torn their family apart. Jamie, the older sister, is an aspiring stand-up comedian, who was just evicted from her apartment after bombing her first long set. … Read more
The Apprentice Witch Apprentice Witch #1 by James Nicol Fantasy Tween * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Something goes horribly wrong during Arianwyn’s assessment and it’s only through her powerful and respected grandmother’s influence that she’s given a position as an apprentice witch in the town of Lull, bordering the Great Wood (where all manner of dark and dangerous magical beings lurk). Despite her test results, Arianwyn does admirably well in her new position. … Read more
Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley Realistic Fiction Romance (sort of) Teen * * * * Stars (Great!) Rachel and Henry were best friends for years and just when Rachel decided to declare her love for him, pretty, perky Amy came along and swept him off his feet, but was wrong for him in so many other ways. Rachel moved away and successfully put Henry out of her mind and started dating someone else, … Read more
We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson LGBTQ+ Magical Realism Realistic Fiction Science Fiction Teen * * * * Stars (Great!) Henry Denton has been abducted by aliens countless times. They perform all kinds of experiments on him, then return him to Earth – naked and inconveniently far from home. He made the mistake of talking about it once, which earned him eternal bullying and the moniker “Space Boy.” Now the aliens have given … Read more