Gertie’s Leap to Greatness by Kate Beasley

It's okay but I really didn't like it. 

The Jigsaw Jungle by Kristin Levine

This story is like a treasure hunt.  Inspired by events  in the author's life, this story takes you in the journey.  I don't want to give the ending away.  I think it would be a good idea to read the book before you purchase.  Or listen to the excellent audio book.  The dad in the story finally has the opportunity to be honest with himself. 

How To Make Friends With The Dark by Kathleen Glasgow

Oh my goodness!  This is an important read.  You are on a journey in this book.  The author has important notes at the end to talk about her experiences.  I'm adding this to my library.

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

Get this book for your school library now.  It is brilliant and deserves all awards.  Gary D. Schmidt is an author you want on your shelves and you should be reading.  What I love about this story is that it stays with you for a very long time.

Midnight War of Mateo Martinez by Robin Yardi

I felt that this book didn't make sense.  How come the skunks speak English.  Not addressed.  The story just didn't make sense.  I wanted to like the book but it got to convoluted. 

Summerlost by Ally Condie

It's a good read and fine for elementary and middle school libraries.  With children grieving loss of family members, this would be a good book.

The Daevabad Triology Kingdom of Copper by S. A. Chakraborty

I really enjoy this series.  I'm getting for my high school library.  It's a great read.

Grandpa’s Great Escape by David Walliams

This book is hilarious!  The audio is great!  You will be laughing out loud often.  Think Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets criminal mastermind and World War II airplanes.  I'll be reading more of David Walliams' works.  It's a great read.  You'll thank me later.

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman

Oh my goodness.  It's excellent.  A real page turner.  Not for a high school library.  But it's a great read.  Also audio book very good.  Enjoy.

Andy Carpenter Bark of Night by David Rosenfelt

I love this series.  The audio book is a great listen too.  Funny and smart.  Enjoy this good mystery. 

Elephant Company by Vicki Constantine Croke

I love elephants.  And history.  And amazing people.  This is one good book to read or listen too.  A friend told me about it and they were right.  It's a good read.  It would make a good gift also.  It's fine for any high school library.

Orphan Train Girl by Christina Baker Kline

There is a lot happening in this book.  A young girl who is set in current time frame.  She's half Native American.  Her father died in a car crash and her mother just loses it and now she's in foster care.  She meets an elderly women and helps her and ends up hearing her story as an orphan train girl.  The story is fine for children's libraries.  I had a problem with the book that it was too pat and predictable.  I've read other books on the orphan train children, both fiction and non-fiction, this wasn't my favorite. 

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones

I loved this book.  Sophie writes to her dead grandmother to let her know what is going on.  Sophie misses her grandmother and Los Angeles, where she grew up.  Farm life is a new experience for the family.  I had chickens when I grew up and I loved every page of this.  There's  a great twist in the story.  You'll have to read it to find out what happens.  Perfect for any school library

The Heir Chronicles The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

A teacher recommended this to me years ago and I'm glad I read it.  I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.  You'll like the characters unless of course they are the bad guys.  It's a great read and fine for any middle school or high school library.  Enjoy.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

You had me at pack horse librarians.  Oh my goodness.  This book does not leave you.  The audio book also very good.  It's a page turner of the life of this young woman.  I had to look up to see if I had heard it correctly,  that there was a group of people who had blue skin.  There was.  The author does a good job with her research.  Historic and informative.  It's a good read.

Code Word Courage by Kirby Larson

You had me at rescuing a dog and that's at the very beginning.  Then the story of the young man who becomes a soldier.  The young sister who faces bullying behavior and her friend who also faces racism and bullying as well.  To bring in the Navajo culture brings insight to an amazing culture.  Well done Kirby Larson.

Inkling by Kenneth Oppel

A family who's mother becomes very ill and dies, a young sister with special needs and a father who isn't holding together and the son who is very young and is trying to hold everyone together needs something special.  Inkling.  And there is a young girl who is trying to discover the secret of Inkling.  And lots of problems.  It's a great read.  Perfect for any young people's libraries.

A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold

I would say that Bat is in the Autism Spectrum.  It's not stated but he reminds me of many students that I have worked with.  It's a sweet book and fine for any young library.  It is book 1 and was published in 2017  I would say it is for grades: 3-6  It's a great addition to any young people's library.  Enjoy.

Sweep By Jonathan Auxier

You'll need a hanky for this one.  It is a beautiful story about a girl and her monster.  Perfect for any children's library.  You'll want to add this one on to the shelves.  It's an excellent read.

Meg Langslow Mystery The Penguin Who Knew Too Much by Donna Andrews

Who doesn't like a good murder mystery.  Filled with adventure, mystery and humor it's a good read.  Great for vacation time.  Enjoy.

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Imagine having to flee the land that you grew up so you can live.  What is it like to move to a new country?  To learn new ways.  In America, it is sad that some people, even leaders of politics are saying Go back from where you came from.  This book is an opportunity for all of us to understand and appreciate what it must be like to wish you could go back but realize that it could be a death sentence.  It's a good book and fine for any school library.

The Silent Patient by ALex Michaelides

One of my coworkers recommended this book.  Excellent audio book as well as book.  It's a thriller.  A good read.  Did the wife really kill her husband or did some one else?  Find out when you get to the very end of the story.  Oh boy! 

The Stranger by Albert Camus

I chose this book to read because first it's very thin and second it's a classic that has been sitting in my library shelves.  I hadn't read it before.  It's literature.  It's easy to judge the content of the story with today's events and how we see things.  A man is murdered and the protagonist of our story is not a warm fuzzy fellow but a man who seems to have no emotions and just a real disconnect as to his actions.  He seems to have no remorse of what he had done. 

This book is a classic and I think it would be interesting to participate in a discussion about this book.

Rangers Apprentice The Royal Ranger Duel at Araluen by John Flanagan

This is a great series for any student who loves adventure.  Robin Hood, Vikings and sword fights are boiled into a great story.  Fine for any school library.  Enjoy.

Doug Brock Blackout by David Rosenfelt

David Rosenfelt can tell a good story.  He knows how to keep the story moving and interesting.  You don't know till the very end who is really guilty.  Good Job Rosenfelt!

Scottish Bookshop the Book Shop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan

It's a great story.  It's about community, a little boy who doesn't speak and miracles.  Family dysfunction and mental health play into this as well.  It's an enchanting story about two families that must work together to help their children who are hurting big time.  Add this to your reading list.

A vintage Kitchen Mystery Breaking the Mould by Victoria Hamilton

I love a good murder mystery.  It's a good one.  Enjoy!

Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan

Lou is a girl who is figuring out who she likes.  I think this would be fine for any high school library.  You end up liking the characters and hoping things work out for the kids.  It's a good read.  Enjoy.

Nocturna by Maya Motayne

I really enjoyed this book.  I am getting this for my high school library.  Its perfect for my students.  It's a good read.  Enjoy.

StepSister by Jennifer Donnelly

It's a good book and I'm going to get for my school library.  A great read.  I like how the step sisters grow and find themselves and live their true self.  It's a great read and perfect for high school libraries.

Becoming Dr. Seuss by Brian Jay Jones

It's a good honest book about the author illustrator Theodor Geisel/Dr. Seuss.  It has his whole history with a few warts as well.  It's a good read.

The Invited by Jennifer McMahon

 Oh my goodness, I do love a good mystery and a good ghost story.  Jennifer McMahon is my new favorite adult scary book author.  It's a page turner.  Also the audio book well done as well.  Enjoy!

Meet Yasmin by Saadia Faruqi

Add this to your elementary school library.  It's an  easy read with big letters and lots of great graphics.  Celebrate a little girl who knows herself and has great confidence.  And a bonus, you can read  a little bit about the Pakistani culture.  Enjoy!

How I Raised Myself From Failure to Success in Selling by Frank Bettger

It's a good book, a little dated but over all filled with advice. 

A Tourist Trap Novella Mother’s Day Mayhem by Lynn Cahoon

If you like a good mystery then enjoy this series. 

Theodore Boone The Accomplice by John Grisham

It's a good read.  Great for young children's library.  Smart and working together to help two friends.  Add this to your children's library.  Perfect for middle school.

The Sisters Grimm The Problem Child by Michael Buckley

If you enjoyed Harry Potter other fantasy stories this will be a great series to enjoy.  It's a good read.  Fine for any young people's library.

As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds

Two brothers are staying with their grandparents far away from Brooklyn.  Jason Reynolds does a good job telling the story as the boys learn about their family history.  And what does it mean to become a teenager.  Lots of colorful characters.  Enjoy.  Fine for any school library.

Beautiful Blue World by Suzanne LaFleur

This book creates a world that parallels that life of WWII but the countries are made up.  It's a good book and fine for any elementary school library. 

The Girl in the Locked Room by Mary Downing Hahn

I liked this story a lot.  Mary Downing Hahn successfully wrote this story with two perspectives.  She made the plot work.  I liked how she brought up contemporary authors into the story.  Good job.  I would add this to my high school library for students who maybe low level readers and want a good ghost story.  Enjoy.

Rosetown by Cynthia Rylant

It's a sweet story, more of a day in the life of a little girl who has no real worries.  Nostalgic and innocent.  Flora is sheltered from the major issues of the day.  She just plays with her friends and read books at the used bookshop.  This is definitely the days before screenagers and their cellphones and tablets.  It's fine for any young people's library.  No major drama or problems.  Not much of a plot at all. 

One for Sorrow by Mary Downing Hahn

I'm not always a fan of Mary Downing Hahn but she nailed it with this one.  Good Job!  She really builds up each character and the dynamics of the girls.  Making them hard to like and then feeling sorry for them.  This is a good book to add to any school library.  I would also even add it to my high school library for readers who may be at a lower level of reading.  Good job again to this book.  Really liked it a lot!

Women Are Some Kind of Magic The Witch Doesn’t Burn in This One by Amanda Lovelace

This is a book that is a collection of poems about the mistreatment of women.  Difficult topics that must be discussed is rape, especially by known assailants (family members)  the unfair trials that women are put through.  This book would be a good book to add to Women's Study courses in college.  I don't think I would put it in the high school level but I would think it would be a good book for young women to read with conversations taken place as the book is read.  I do recommend this book for both literature and merit of what is going on in the world as women speak out about wrongs both in the past and present because the wrongs never really go away and should be addressed.

The Traitor’s Circle The Traitor’s Kingdom by Erin Beaty

I like this series and the strength of Sage.  She knows what she wants and is open to learning and growing.  Set in a medieval world, women find their real power and how they can change the world either for good or for harm.  This is fine for any high school library.  Enjoy.

Paper Wishes by Lois Sepahban

World War II was a time of huge biases against American citizens who were connected to countries we were at war with.  This story is a touching story about a young little girl who with her family is forced to live away from her home and be in a form of prison because Japan went to war and bombed Hawaii.  Woven into the story is the loss of a dog and a girl who goes mute from the pain of it all.  I wonder after listening to current events if history repeats itself now.  I think this book would be a welcome addition to any children's library and perhaps a good gift for any government employee who makes choices involving the locking up of families.   

Book Uncle and Me by Uma Krishnaswami

This is a good book to add to an elementary library.  Enter the world of a child in India and get a glimpse of what one school girl does to help a retired teacher run a library.  How what do has a chain reaction and how important it is to be brave and speak your mind.