Staff Reviews

Running with Sherman – book review

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Running with Sherman by Christopher McDougall Biography Nonfiction Adults/teens * * * * Stars (Great!) Christopher McDougall and his family rescue a donkey (Sherman) from a hoarding situation and work hard to bring him back to health. Sherman surprises them all with his determination to survive and overcome his previous circumstances and McDougall comes up with the wild idea of training and entering him in a team long-distance donkey race. Recruiting family, friends, and neighbors, … Read more

Fuzz – book review

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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

Music of Bees – book review

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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

Apprentice Witch – book review

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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

Unplugged – book review

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Unplugged by Gordon Korman Funny Mystery Realistic Fiction Tween * * * Stars (Pretty good) As the son of a tech billionaire, Jett Baranov is accustomed to getting whatever he wants and is well known for his stunts, which have gotten him into plenty of trouble. Tired of paying for/covering up his son’s pranks (which are becoming more and more dangerous), Jett’s dad sends him (and one of his employees – Matt – to babysit … Read more

Snapdragon – book review

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Snapdragon by Kat Leyh Graphic Novel Supernatural Teen/Tween * * * * Stars (Great!) When her dog Good Boy goes missing, Snapdragon meets the local “witch,” Jacks, who found him and patched him up. She returns later with some baby possums who Jacks agrees to take in IF Snap helps care for them. Snap learns that Jacks is also a taxidermist of sorts – cleans up animal skeletons and then puts them back together (articulation) … Read more

All Creatures Great and Small – book review

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All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot Autobiography Biography Classics Funny Nonfiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Follows James Herriot’s adventures as a newly qualified vet working under his slightly more experienced senior vet in the boonies of Yorkshire, where he meets a variety of memorable farmers and pet owners and falls in love with the people and the land. Follows his first couple of years working for the practice. Homey, hilarious and … Read more

House in the Cerulean Sea – book review

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The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune Adult/YA crossover Fantasy * * * Stars (Pretty good) Linus Baker, 40, has always been a good cog in the bureaucratic machine that is the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He has spent his career as a case worker and has not stood out in anyway apart from his thorough, no-nonsense reports. He is most surprised when Extremely Upper Management selects him to investigate the … Read more

I Hate Running and You Can Too – book review

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I Hate Running and You Can Too: How to Get Started, Keep Going, and Make Sense of an Irrational Passion by Brendan Leonard Nonfiction * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Despite being a ultrarunner, Brendan Leonard mostly hates running except when he loves it briefly. This is a short, encouraging, and realistic look at how you can start your own love-hate relationship with it. It might get you out the door and on your … Read more

List of Things That Will Not Change – book review

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The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead Juvenile Fiction Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Bea’s biological parents are divorced, but she’s accustomed to going between their two households and following a schedule that allows her to spend time with both of them. She keeps a list in her notebook of the “Things That Will Not Change,” and one of them is that her parents still love her and … Read more