Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

I would buy this book for the library.  It's about grief, anger, hurt, pain and redemption.  I would say it is this author's best written work so far.

Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

This is probably one of the best stories this author has written.  I would put it in my library.  A teen with a secret that makes her vulnerable and getting help from a well trained professional.  The author's notes at the end.  Read them first.  It's a good read and I do recommend this story.  Part of it reminds me of The Dead Poets Society.

Finding Gobi: The Amazing True Story by Dion Leonard

I love a good dog story and I love travel and I love journeys.  This is a great book for elementary and middle school libraries.  The reunion of dog and man after a hard journey makes you want to hug your dog/pet and let them know how much we appreciate our furry friends.

A Hamish Macbeth Mystery: Death of a Gossip by M. C. Beaton

A weekend party in the country of Scotland goes wrong.  Hamish MacBeth is on the case.  It's a good murder mystery.

A Hamish Macbeth Mystery: Death of a Gossip by M. C. Beaton

Read the very first book in this murder mystery.  This is the start of it all.  Enjoy.

Agatha Raisin: Agatha Raisin and Loves, Lies and Liquor by M. C. Beaton

I am hooked on this series and love the audio books.  Enjoy it's a good murder mystery.

Given Duet: Given to the Sea by Mindy McGinnis

It's an interesting story.  I won't get for the school library but it's great for the public library.

The Dark Artifices: Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

If you are a Cassandra Clare fan, you won't be disappointed.  It's a good read.  It's fine for young adult libraries who enjoy fantasy and fighting between good and evil and the unconventional. It's a cast of all sorts of characters.  Enjoy the adventure.

Once and For All by Sarah Dessen

It's a good read and I will get for  my high school library.  Humor and heart ache, as well as new possibilities are a major part of this story. When a school shooting deeply affects Louna, we learn her back story. It's a good read.

A House Without Windows by Nadia Hashimi

This is an eye opening story.  I have no idea what it is like for Afghan women.  It's a different life then the women of Europe and America.  While reading the story, I was feeling confined by the way women were limited.  This book is a well written and I would include it in my high school library for higher level reading.  It is stories like this one that bridges the world to understanding what people go through and even changes perceptions.  It's an important read.

Timeless Career Tips for the Modern Millennial by Cara Lane

This is a good gift for those going on to the work force.  It's a good listen to.

How to Get What You Want by Zig Ziglar

It's a good listen to.  Just to let you know it is infused with Christian lessons but they are also  good global lessons.

Court of Fives: Night Flower by Kate Elliott

This novella is a good starting point to start this series.  It's a good and quick read.  Enjoy.  Fine for any high school library.

Leadership & Success Series by Zig Ziglar

This is worth buying.  I use to listen to his audio books on cassette tape in my car.  It's a feel good, motivational book.  A good gift for those in leadership roles.  Getting new jobs or college.  A good car audiobook to listen too.   Enjoy, you'll thank me later.

Alienated: United by Melissa Landers

I really wanted this to be a good solid story.  Hmmmm I am glad the public library has this book so I don't need to buy it for my high school library.  I am not excited about this story. And also the two star-crossed lovers have plenty of sex in this story.  The story line just is okay.

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

This is on my purchase list for my high school library.  Set in India or like India it is a beautifully crafted fairy tale.  A bit of darkness and a bit of magical to create an etherial story.  It's a keeper.  Enjoy.

A Tourist Trap Mystery: Tea Cups and Carnage by Lynn Cahoon

I love a good mystery.  I wish this town was real.  It's a good read and school has started so I'll be soon back to reading teen Young Adult stories.  Enjoy

The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Rose Clark

I'll be ordering this for my high school library!  It's a good read.  Adventure, fun, a bit of romance, lots of danger and fighting and a sprinkle of magic.  Deserts, Oceans and strange new lands.  Plus a mystery and an impossible curse.  It's a good read.

Guided Mindfulness Meditation by Jon Kabat-Zinn

I found this a good audio book.  Author's gentle voice coaches you through meditation.  I listened to it more for me then for anything else.  I would buy this for my own personal home library.  It is a good listen.

The Gold Seer Trilogy: Like a River Glorious by Rae Carson

This is one of my new favorite series.  Combined with history and a taste of magic and you get one powerful story.  I'm buying for my library.  I heard the book on audio, thank you public library.  It's a good read/listen to.  Enjoy.

Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts by Susan Cain

I'm getting this for the library.  It's a good and important read.  Non-fiction.  You will learn lots and maybe discover yourself or those you know.  Please read.

All The Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

This is one intense read.  Oh My.  Not for high school libraries but it's good.  A psychological read.  It's a good one.  Teens can read just I wouldn't put in the high school.

An Agatha Raisin Mystery: A Spoonful of Poison by M. C. Beaton

It's a great series.  Apparently there is also a British TV show series.  Meanwhile it's a good read!

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

This is a very smart book.  An Anthony Horowitz book tends to be brilliant.  I don't know how he came up with this idea but it worked!  Are you smart enough to figure out who did it and who did it?  Enjoy this parallel murder mystery.

French Milk by Lucy Knisley

First I liked this visual book.  It's personal.  It's life in France for a slice of life.  It's not doing the touristy quick look but delving into the experience of France.  I should say, not for school libraries because, it'll be checked out all the time.  There are some images of (gasp) naked ladies.  Lucy does go to art museums.  Over all I liked this journal format and wish I could draw like Lucy.  Enjoy.

The Gold Seer Trilogy: Walk On Earth A Stranger by Rae Carson

I am an official Rae Carson fan.  This is my second series.  Had I known how good this book is, I would have read it much earlier.  I'm looking forward to book 2 and 3.  Yes, I would purchase for my high school library.  It has a teeny tiny amount of magic.  Barely any at all which I am so delighted.  It is engaging from the very beginning.  I had just chucked two books that I couldn't get past page 10. This story, you want to just keep reading and then when you get to the end, you have to say, I need the next book.  I like the struggle for survival, the behavior of the people and there are historical references.  I must declare that the native people in the story are treated poorly.  And that sadly too reflects what many people at the time were thinking and acting on.  The important characters in our story grow.  The villains in the story also grow.... more evil.   It's a solid story.  Enjoy.!!!!!

The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I really wanted this book to work out to be a good story.  Sigh.  It has some heart string tugs but the relationships are a bit over the top and unbelievable.  Also lots of "he is so hot"  "hot" is used a lot to describe the very handsome young man in the story.  This one isn't making it in to my high school library.  It just didn't work.

What It Is Like To Go To War by Karl Marlantes

Wow this book is honest.  Part biography, part history and part now.  Not always easy to read.  I did listen to the audio book.  The audio book is also good.  I believe this is an important read.

Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza

It's a good sci-fi  series.  Fine for high school.  I liked it and think others will enjoy.

The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine

The author had done some research about events of racial discrimination and what the world was after 1957.  The author notes are helpful to understand the story.  History is exposed in this fictional account of how people did behave in a troubled time.  May we all learn from history and do our best to make the world a better place.  Prejudice has no place on this earth.  It's an important read.

A Hamish Macbeth Mystery: Death of a Nurse by M. C. Beaton

It's a great series.  Not really for high school library but I do love a Highland murder mystery.  The audiobook is a good listen.

Five Nights at Freddy’s: The Twisted Ones by Scott Cawthon, Kira Breed-Wrisley

I listened to the audio version of this and both audio and book are both good.  Think Steven King meets Goose Bumps and you get one creepy horror story.  It's a good read!

Afterlands by Man Der Vang

This is a powerful book to read.  I think it helps if you have some background on the Hmong Culture and History.  I use to teach at Newcomer School with many refugees from Laos, who had escaped to Thailand and then later made their way to Fresno.  We can't even imagine what refugees who are fleeing horrific events in their homelands must go through.  I am currently reading some other books that relate to war and fleeing for your life.  The two books that in a way connect to this is  What It Is Like to Go To War by Karl Marlantes and TigerFish by Hoang Chi Truong.

The Girl at Midnight: The Savage Dawn by Melissa Grey

Fine for high school reading.  Fantasy in a contemporary setting.

Riders: Seeker by Veronica Rossi

It's fine for a high school library.  A little slow on the tempo.

The Land of Stories: Worlds Collide by Chris Colfer

Do you love fairytales and the classics?  Then enjoy this fractured fairytale series.  The audio book is spot on and a good listen to as well.  Enjoy.

Agatha Raisin Mystery: The Blood of an Englishman by M. C. Beaton

Looking for a good murder mystery?  Enjoy.  Even the audiobook is a good listen to.

Agatha Raisin Mystery: Pushing up Daisies by M. C. Beaton

Enjoy this series.  The audio books are also enjoyable.

A thousand Miles to Freedom: My Escape from North Korea by Eunsun Kim

This is a must read.  North Korea is so currently in the news.  Do we really know what is going on in this off limits country?  Read about Eunsun Kim's escape from North Korea.  It's a dangerous journey that many have taken and died, tortured and the fortunate able to make it to a safe country.  This is a must read!

Agatha Raisin Mystery: Something Borrowed, Something Dead by M. C. Beaton

I love British audio murder mysteries books.  Great for when driving around or doing chores around the house.  I'm hooked on this series.  It's funny, great characters and lots of good murders going on around.  Can you figure out who did it?  It's a good read.  Enjoy.