Reviews »
The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz
Joan Skraggs is a heroine who siezes her destiny with both hands. At the beginning of the story, set in 1911, Joan’s mother has been dead for three years. Joan believes that her mother, a delicate woman, died of overwork on the farm. Joan has a sense that if she, too, remains on the farm, […]
Circe Madeline Miller
A tale both dark and inspiring, the novel Circe weaves a fresh take on an old greek legend. We begin with Circe’s goddess birth in the land of the sun god Helios. But Circe quickly becomes an outcast for her lack of beauty and godly powers and ends up banished to an island. The story […]
Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin
I first picked up this debut translated novel because it had been nominated for the 2017 Man Booker prize and was reviewed on one of Booklist’s podcasts. I was expecting a stunning and gripping short novel, but what I received instead was a two hour Fever Dream of my own. Reality is obliterated more than […]
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
Though he’s been writing and publishing for decades, Colson Whitehead drew major national attention after the success of his 2016 book The Underground Railroad. The book is an excellent must-read, but I definitely feel The Nickel Boys is an absolute masterpiece. This book chronicles the experience of Elwood and the other ‘nickel boys’ during their time in […]
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
I don’t often read novels in verse. They aren’t my thing, but Elizabeth Acevedo’s debut novel, “The Poet X,” is making think I have been missing out. Acevedo tells the story of Xiomara who feels ignored at home and school, but is also the target unwanted attention from both her classmates and mother. The boys […]
Louisiana’s Way Home by Kate DiCamillo
Have you read Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo? This is the devastatingly beautiful sequel. You can read it without having read the previous book, but not matter what, read it. It is vintage Kate DiCamillo — loopy, sweet, painful, sorrowful and lovely. One of the best books I read this year. I will recommend it […]
Dragon Springs Road by Janie Chang
1908 Shanghai As the last Chinese dynasty collapses, a young mixed race girl awaits the return of her mother, hiding in the Western Residence of the house on Dragon Springs Road. Using Chinese magical realism and gritty historical detail, author Janie Chang tells the coming of age story of young Jialing, from that time awaiting […]
Inda, by Sherwood Smith
First in a series, this fast-paced and exciting book introduces a complex world filled with strong, unique characters. The plot itself is fairly simple: a young noble boy is sent to the martial academy, where he makes friends with the despised younger brother of the King’s heir – and then things spiral out of control. […]
Fools and Mortals by Bernard Cornwell
Cornwell is the author of many historical books including the bestselling Saxon Tales which serve as the basis for the hit television series, The Last Kingdom. He’s very good with tales of the sword and the sea, but can we trust him with Shakespeare? Yes! This is a fast paced, well written, gorgeously researched book […]