Laura's Library

The Witch's Trinity

2010-03-29T17:47:00.001-07:00

It is 1507 in Tierkinddorf, a medieval village in the woods of Germany. On the brink of a famine, peasants are convinced a witch has cast a spell on the village affecting their crops and animals.

When Gude Muller's son, Jost, leaves with a hunting party, her vile daughter-in-law, Irmeltrud, locks her out of the hutte grateful for one less mouth to feed. Confused and hungry, Gude wanders the snow covered forest and begins to see mysterious apparitions and hear garbled voices resembling the devil in the forms of animals. Shadows and voices appear tormenting Gude and forcing her to question her own reality.

Along comes an itinerant friar claiming he can extract confessions from the afflicted and save the village. And everyone is a suspect. Using the witchcraft manual, Malleus Maleficurm - The Witch's Hammer, the friar relentlessly interrogates villager after villager determined to identify the guilty and burn them at stake.

Erika Mailman takes a dark historical period and adds an element of mystery and supernatural. She paints a stark picture of life in a medieval village and peppers the tale with German language adding folklore. As the plot evolves and the characters develop, an intensity of paranoia grows with villagers using any deceptive means to escape the stake.

Prepub alert

2010-03-22T14:38:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of popular fiction novels scheduled for release
in the next few months. Enjoy!

Brown, Dale. Executive Intent, May 2010
Deaver, Jeffery. The Burning, June 2010
Evanovich, Janet. Sizzlling Sixteen: A Stephanie Plum Novel, June 2010
Isaacs, Susan. As Husbands Go, July 2010
Johansen, Iris & Roy. Shadow Zone, July 2010
Kellerman, Faye. Hangman. August 2010
Lowell, Elizabeth. Death Echo, June 2010
Margolin, Phillip. Supreme Justice, June 2010
Martini, Steve. The Rule of Nine: A Pail Madriani Novel, June 2010
McCall Smith, Alexander. Corduroy Mansions, July 2010
McEwan, Ian. Solar, March 2010
Patterson, James & Maxine Paetro. Private, June 2010

Outlander

2010-03-21T21:05:00.000-07:00

Outlander

by Gil Adamson

With nothing more than the clothes on her back, the Widow, absconds westward into the mountains of Canada hiding from two ruthless men relentlessly tracking her.

It is 1903 and Mary Boulton is widowed by her own hands. Haunted by her own madness and and delusional visions, Mary forges a primitive existence living on wild vegetation, while running from her twin brothers-in-laws, who are determined to vindicate their brother's death.

Lost, hungry and exhausted, Mary encounters an unconventional cast of characters in her journey offering her shelter, sanctuary and eventually sanity. Details of her harrowing past, a disappointing marriage and death of infant, slowly emerge as the character delves deeper into the rugged wilderness and the recesses of her mind.

First time novelist, Gil Adamson, is an author to appreciate. Her lean prose, curious characters, descriptive settings create a well-balanced novel readers of literary fiction will enjoy. Adamson's work has been compared to literary award winner Charles Frazier, author of Cold Mountain.

Book Buzz

2010-03-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

Even though The Passage is scheduled for a June release, the 700 page post-apocalyptic novel about a six-year old girl determined to save the world from a virus turning victims into blood thirsty monsters is receiving lots of media attention. The trilogy is being compared to Stephen King's The Stand in plot and length,

While jogging with his then nine-year old daughter, novelist and English professor at Rice University, Justin Cronin hatched a suspenseful page thriller destined to hit the best seller list. Besides selling the manuscript to Ballantine for $3 million, Fox 2000 also snagged the movie rights.

Expect a sweeping market campaign including a website for consumers here, book trailers, maps and downloadable giveaways.

What do you read?

2010-03-05T20:46:00.000-08:00

Recently, I was lucky enough to take a reader's advisory workshop sponsored by my employer featuring Nancy Pearl. In case you are not familiar with Nancy, she is the queen of reader's advisory, an author, NPR commentator and the former Executive Director of the Washington Center for the Book. And she even has an action figure designed after her. Not bad for a librarian!

Nancy says readers select reading material based on four elements: plot, character, setting and literary with plot being the most popular and literary the least. Of course, many books overlap criteria. And the best novels balance more than one element.

Examples of plot driven books include legal thrillers, suspense and adventure novels by authors like Tom Clancy, John Grisham and Dan Brown. These books are often referred to as page-turners and appear on best seller lists. If you open a novel and see a lot of white space, it is probably a plot driven book.

In character driven novels, authors develop and follow a main protagonist, such Lily Bart in the House of Mirth. Other examples include Huckleberry Finn and Cather in the Rye. Authors use characters to tell a story using their emotions and experiences. Many books on Oprah's list are character driven novels.

Books based on setting include a specific time period or location. Many readers enjoy historical fiction, which falls in this category. Novels such as the Other Boleyn Girl (Tudor Dynasty) by Philippa Gregory and the Prince of Tides (South Carolina) by Pat Conroy are both examples of books with prominent settings.

And last but not least is literary fiction. Literary fiction requires some thinking and is not for everyone. Authors capture readers with the use of language, description, imagery and prose. Literary fiction is the hardest category to define, crosses all genres and often includes more than one element such as plot, character development and setting.

Many classics and award-winning books fall under literacy fiction. Of course, what one reader considers literary another reader may deem trash. Some examples of literary fiction include The Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck, Snow Falling on Cedars by Guterson and Breakfast at Tiffany's by Capote.

It is important to remember, there is a book for every reader, a reader for every book but not all books are for all readers!

2010-02-10T14:38:00.000-08:00

After all the media hype promoting Shanghai Girls, I have say I was quite disappointed. While the author, Lisa See, definitely did her research on the historical fiction novel, the plot and subplots were unbelievable and predictable. The ending has no resolution and leaves readers hanging. A sequel has been rumored. In my opinion, the Lee had better start a new novel.

It is 1937 and Shanghai is the Paris of Asia, especially for Chinese sisters, Pearl and May. The sisters are well-educated and sophisticated, but their affluent life quickly crumbles, when there fathers sells them to Chinese-Americans as wives to cover his gambling debts.

The roller coaster novel explores the pains of Chinese immigrants and Angel Island, prejudice of Chinese in America and the role of Chinese wives. If the author had spent more time showing readers through character and plot development, rather than telling them, the shallow book would have been better. Instead the novel is a series of horrible events leading up to nothing, except survival by two superficial characters.

Do yourself a favor and leave this book on the shelf. If you really want to understand Chinese culture and traditions, treat yourself to a novel by Amy Tan.

Support your Local Library

2010-02-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

Lone Survivor

2010-02-01T18:27:00.000-08:00

In the summer of 2005, Mark Luttrell and three Navy SEALS were given the task of locating allies of Osama bin Laden in the rugged terrain of the Afghanistan mountains. When two shepherds appeared, the SEALS debated as to whether or not to kill them. Feeling merciful and obeying the rules of engagement, they let the Afghans go. Within an hour, the SEALS were surrounded by at least 100 Taliban warriors pointing AK-47s down their throats. After a violent firefight, Luttrell survived only to see his buddies perish.

This is the true account of Luttrell's harrowing five-day nightmare to escape the relentless Taliban. Dehydrated and severely wounded, Luttrell crawled up and down precipices until a village elder took mercy on him. With the help of an entire village, Luttrell was rescued by the United States military and awarded the Navy Cross for combat heroism by President George W. Bush.

In the Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10, Luttrell and contributor Patrick Robinson tell the story of four gallant Navy SEALS and their valiant fight to protect our country. If you want an action packed story and a true insight into becoming a Navy SEAL, read the Lone Survivor.

The House of Mirth

2010-01-19T18:49:00.000-08:00

In the classic The House of Mirth, Edith Wharton explores the aristocratic society of the Gilded Age, about 1876-1901. Following the Industrial Revolution, the richer were getting richer and poor getting poorer. In this satire, Wharton tells the story of Miss Lily Bart and her desperate attempt to secure a wealthy husband and a position in society, while passing up true love and happiness.

Twenty-nine year old Lily has beauty and intelligence, but no means for her extravagant lifestyle. She lives with her wealthy aunt, Miss Peniston, on Fifth Avenue. A constant on the social circuit, Lily spends her days buying custom clothing and her nights gambling at bridge, which eventually leads to her demise. Slowly ostracized from society, Lily struggles to regain her faltering position, only to find herself in a boarding house without the support of her moneyed friends.

While Wharton's novel is a romantic love story, it also explores the greed and ruthlessness of New York Society. Her prose captures the political subtleties, social manners and the lavish lifestyle of the era.

"...the only way not to think about about money it to have a great deal of it."

Wharton's characterization paints perfect pictures of the selfish and shallow personalities inhabiting the Gilded Age. By the end of the novel, readers almost feel sorry for Miss Bart and her failure to survive in a world dominated by the wealthy and the wealthier.

What's a Classic?

2010-01-18T14:14:00.000-08:00

If you gather a room of literary experts, they won't agree on the definition of a classic book. So what makes a book a classic and why? Below are few thoughts to ponder defining classics.

1. Classics crosses cultural barriers, make connections with readers and have universal appeal.
2. Classics endure the test of time and remain popular of years.

3. Classics have recurring themes such as love, hate, death, life and faith.

4. Classics are relevant to society and address social issues.

5. Classics are respected because of their impact on society.

For a hotly debated list of the top 100 books visit http://www.newsweek.com/id/204478

New Year's Resolution

2009-12-31T23:13:00.000-08:00

Have you made a New Year's resolution yet? Here is resolution you can keep without dieting or exercising. Try reading a book a month. It doesn't have to be War and Peace, just any book in any format you like.

While commuting to work, try an audiobook. Some libraries are even providing Playaways, which are digital audiobooks on a small player the size of a cell phone. Earplugs are not included.

Sometimes I just want to sit, read and relax to escape from the stress of daily life. Since I can't travel all over the globe, I love to read travel guides. Right now I am reading 1,000 Places to See Before You Die in the USA and Canada by Patricia Schultz. The book has lots of informative and fun information for the traveler at heart including web addresses, locations and phone numbers of sites. Where else can you read about the Annual Crane Migration in Nebraska or the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, Canada?

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

Laura

Polar Express

2009-12-17T19:49:00.000-08:00

Enjoy the family favorite Polar Express!

Happy Holidays!

Laura

Photofunia!

2009-12-15T21:56:00.000-08:00

Everyone can be a star at http://www.photofunia.com/. Just pick a category, upload a photo and post to your blog!

Laura

Plain Truth

2009-12-07T18:19:00.000-08:00

Since I work for a public library, I have a heads up on popular authors. Novels by Jodi Picoult are always in demand, so I thought I would give one a try.

In the Plain Truth, Picoult pens the story of an 18 year-old unwed Amish girl, Katie Fisher, who is charged with the murder of her newborn infant. Katie claims she was never pregnant or even had a baby, yet an infant is found dead in a calving stall next to her and also shares her DNA.

Enter high profile Philadelphia attorney, Ellie Hathaway, who wants nothing more than a break from the courtroom and her stressful career. Yet she is Katie's only hope of acquittal. As part of Katie's bail requirement, Ellie must accompany her 24/7, which forces Ellie to move into the Fisher's home on a Amish dairy farm in Lancaster County. Ellie finds herself torn between two vastly different cultures and sets of values.

Picoult does an excellent job of immersing readers in the Amish or "plain" lifestyle. Instead of telling readers upfront about the Amish, they are slowly introduced to the mysterious culture through character and plot development. At the same time, Picoult keeps the novel moving with various subplots and a moving courtroom drama.

Give Plain Truth a shot and you won't be disappointed.

Laura

Book to Movie

2009-11-16T19:39:00.001-08:00

American author Cormac McCarthy has struck gold with the film adaption of his Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Road, scheduled for release Wednesday, November 25. The post-apocalyptic thriller follows the journey of a father and son walking across a burned out America searching for the unknown. Cast includes Viggo Mortenson, Charlize Theron, Robert DuVal and newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee. Think Oscar buzz...

McCarthy also penned the award winning No Country for Old Men, which won the 2008 Best Picture Award.

Laura

Christmas Reads!

2009-11-06T13:40:00.000-08:00

Christmas is just around the corner and publishers are releasing holidays books. Here are a few titles to enjoy over the holiday season.

1. The Gift by Cecelia Ahern

2. Home for Christmas by Andrew Greeley

3. Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb

4. The Christmas Clock by Kat Martin

5. A Christmas Promise by Anne Perry

Happy Holidays!

Under This Unbroken Sky

2009-11-04T19:37:00.000-08:00

"There is a black-and-white photograph of a a family: a man, woman, and five children. Scrawled on the back, in tight archaic script, are the words Willow Creek, Alberta, 1933. This will be their only photograph together.

Within three years, this farm will be foreclosed. Two years later, one will die. Two others, of whom there is no photograph, will be murdered.

But this day, in the moment right after the shutter clicks shut, this family takes a deep breath and smiles. "

In the spring of 1938, after two years in prison for stealing his own grain, Ukrainian immigrant, Teodor Mykolayenko is a free man. While in prison, his no-frills wife, Maria, takes of care of their five children and Teodor's delusional sister, Anna, on a barren homestead in the northern Canadian prairies.

Surviving Stalin's regime and near starvation, Teodor is determined to build a profitable farm and provide for his family and sister, but the odds are against him from the very beginning. Clearing the land and raising wheat in the middle of the harsh Canadian tundra is difficult enough, but when Anna's loser of a husband, Stephan, returns, Teodor's problems escalate.

This debut novel is not about the characters, but about the land and starkness of existence in the middle of nowhere. The author, Shandi Mitchell, shows the reader through language the difficulties of one man and his family as they try to build a home and provide for themselves against natural elements and family feuds.

If you enjoy literary books and beauty of language, you will devour Under This Unbroken Sky. I give this novel a 10!

Top 10 Teen Books!

2009-11-02T18:13:00.000-08:00

Nearly 11,000 teens across the nation voted for their favorite book of 2009 in YALSA's annual poll. One of my favorite authors, John Green, won first prize with Paper Towns.

Since I just checked out the book from my local library, I can't give you a review. But if it is as good as his award winning Looking for Alaska, you won't be disappointed. Other winners include:2. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

3. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

4. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

5. Identical by Ellen Hopkins

6. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

7. Wake by Lisa McMann

8. Untamed by P.C. & Kristin Cast

9. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

10. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Oh, did I mention Paper Towns will be hitting the silver screen with John Malkovich directing!

Laura

Dream House by Valerie Laken

2009-10-24T17:53:00.000-07:00

Tired of living in a dumpy apartment, Kate and Stuart Kinzler buy a fixer-upper house in Ann Arbor, Michigan as an investment and an opportunity to rebuild their crumbling marriage. Little do they know, the house was the scene of a bloody murder 18-years earlier. When Kate discovers the history of the property, she decides to gut every room putting a deeper wedge in her marriage and driving her husband away.

After serving 18-years in the big house, Walker Price returns to Ann Arbor and his old neighborhood. With a little too much time on his hands, he hangs around his childhood home eventually befriending Kate as a handyman, while searching for his past.

Years ago, Jay Harrison worked for a company cleaning up after disasters and crimes. One rainy night 18-years ago, Jay pulled an all nighter patching bullet holes and mopping blood puddles in an old broken down house in Ann Arbor. Memories of the murder still haunt him.

Methodically, the author builds tension as Walker and Jay help Kate remodel her dream house. Slowly each character reveals their own secrets and relationship to the house leading to an unpredictable ending.

While the plot is moving and the ending climatic, Laken never fully develops any compelling relationships between the characters leaving readers a bit frustrated. She does address some societal issues on a broad scale such as neighborhood gentrification, race relations and family values.

Laura
http://valerielaken.com/

Challenge Yourself!

2009-09-27T21:38:00.000-07:00

Banned Book Week

September 26 - October 3, 2009

http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/

American Rust: A Novel

2009-09-13T20:15:00.000-07:00

If you are a Cormac McCarthy fan, you will probably enjoy this debut novel by Philipp Meyer. Just like McCarthy, Meyer takes readers down long dark roads leading to ultimate despair.

Meet Billy Poe and Isaac English, high school buddies with failed dreams, giving up on any future in Buell, Pennsylvania, a dried up steel town. One fateful night, they take off leaving a trail of violence behind them. What starts as a fight with some transients in an old steel warehouse turns into murder of the worst kind. One bad decision, leads to another and another leaving both characters questioning their choices in life.

Isaac is tired of caring for the "old man," resentful of his mother's suicide and angry with his sister, Lee, for chasing her academic dreams. And Billy isn't any better off. Laid off from his menial job and living with his mother, Grace, in a run down trailer, he watches her throw her life away on an abusive husband and useless boyfriends.

American Rust is a story of loyalty and love in disintegrating America. Morals and values are explored and exploited. What is right may be right, but it can also be wrong. Billy and Isaac are similar to Steinbeck characters and Meyer's honest style of writing is comparable to Faulkner.

Laura

Prepub Alert

2009-09-09T22:32:00.000-07:00

Below is a prepublication list of popular fiction. Publishers are releasing these novels just in time for the holidays, although you can pre-order them now through http://www.amazon.com/.

U for Undertow by Sue Grafton
The Disappeared by M.R. Hall
Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K. Hamilton
Breathless by Dean Koontz
La's Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith
Too Many Murders by Colleen McCullough
New York: The Novel by Edward Rutherford
Hollywood Moon by Joseph Wambaugh

Too Much Money by Dominick Dunne

Enjoy!

Laura

Do you have a library card?

2009-09-04T22:54:00.000-07:00

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month!

Dominick Dunne 1925-2009

2009-09-03T18:33:00.000-07:00

Best known for his partying in Hollywood with the rich and famous, penning sensational articles in Vanity Fair and the reporting of celebrity trials including O.J. Simpson, Dunne died last August after completing, Too Much Money.

In his follow-up to People Like Us, published in July 1989, the 83 year-old author recreates New York high society characters Lil Altemus and Ruby and Elias Renthal as they try to solve the murder of a millionaire magazine publisher. Hmm...expect lots of dirt and gossip on unscrupulous high rollers, society snobs and wannabes climbing the social ladder!

Look for the release of Too Much Money December 2009.

Laura

The New Sexy

2009-09-03T18:29:00.001-07:00

A Reliable Wife

2009-08-17T18:38:00.000-07:00

I can't say this was a good book or a bad book; it just was not for me. Even though Goolrick's debut novel, A Reliable Wife received rave reviews, I found it slow, repetitive and unconvincing. The author's lyrical prose drags on and on with a few high points here and there. The crescendo ending does make sense, but still leaves readers thinking "so what."

In Wisconsin 1907, a devious and lovely Catherine Land answers Ralph Truitt's newspaper ad for a reliable wife, thus the title. Truitt, a wealthy industrialist, practically owns the barren and frigid town. But he can't buy Catherine's love or crack her shell. The conniving temptress has her own agenda, which does not include Truitt.

From the very start, Catherine is not the person she claims to be. Before she meets Truitt at the train station, she throws her elegant velvet gown out the train window arriving in a simple black dress. She steps off his private train car into a blizzard to find a 58 year-old stern and solemn widower plagued with guilt, secrets and pent-up desire. Even the photo Catherine mails to Truitt is of another woman.

"This begins in a lie," he tells Catherine sternly as
he picks up her bags. "I want you to know that I know that...Whatever else,
you're a liar."

What starts as a cat and mouse game of lies, games and vengence turns into a tale of guilt, greed and desperation. Catherine and Truitt are both harboring emotionally charged secrets eating away at their very sanity. Eventually, the pathetic couple reconciles to each other's needs and differences.

The novel won the April 2009 American Book Association Indie Award and Columbia pictures bought the film rights last spring.

http://robertgoolrick.com/

Laura

Read-alikes

2009-08-08T22:59:00.000-07:00

Have you exhausted your favorite author and want something new to read? Part of my job as a librarian is to help people find good books. You may be wondering where I get suggestions. Here are a few tips on finding new authors and novels.

Read-alikes are books similar to established authors such as John Grisham, Janet Evanovich and Dean Koontz. Lets use John Grisham as an example.

1. Go to Google and type in "if you like john grisham." Voila, you will receive many websites suggesting books similar to Grisham. Look for websites written by public libraries in the web address. This technique works best with popular authors.

2. Click on the this link http://www.readalike.org/. On the left hand side of the page, is a list of books sorted by genre. Lets try Historical. Up pops a page with reviewed authors and online resources. Click on Phillipa Gregory. You will receive an author bio, book review and read-alikes. Online resources also offer lots of ideas.

3. Many public libraries also provide reading lists for patrons.

Now curl up with a good book!

Laura

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

2009-07-18T21:51:00.000-07:00

Wow, the timing was right for reading this hefty 660-page novel, The Other Boleyn Girl. I just returned from taking my 16 year-old daughter to Paris and Amsterdam. One of our excursions included a visit to the Palace of Versailles, home of Marie Antoinette, which is similar to English palaces and life in the Tudor court, the background for this historical novel.

***Warning: This novel has a few sexual passages. As a profession, librarians judge books by their entire content, not a few pages, so I am giving this exciting novel a thumbs up.

The Other Boleyn Girl is a fascinating lesson in English history, specifically the Tudor dynasty, and why our country has the seapration of church and state.

Gregory's book to movie follows the rivalries between the two Boleyn sisters, Mary and Anne, as they rise to court and vie for the attention King Henry VIII at any cost. Manipulation and back stabbing don't even come close to the dangerous games these maidens play to advance the Boleyn family fortune and name.

At the tender age of 14, sweet innocent Mary captures the King's attention and is ordered by her family to become his mistress, since she already married, and bears him two bastard children. Meanwhile, Anne, her vicious and ruthless sister is not about to go unnoticed and linger in her sister's shadow. She wants to be the next Queen of England and nothing will get in her way including her own flesh and blood.

Gregory shows readers with intimate detail life at court including adultery, incest and homosexuality. She pays close attention to historical accuracy and brings an otherwise dull period of history to life through plot and character development.

From history, readers already know the ending of the story. Mary retires from court, moves to the country and marries a commoner, while Henry orders Anne beheaded. As the old saying goes, "What goes around, comes around." Off with her head...So long Anne!

The Other Boleyn Girl is definitely on my top 10 list. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about English history and enjoy a good story.

http://www.philippagregory.com/

What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

2009-06-05T15:25:00.000-07:00

In this noir coming of age thriller, 15 year-old Evie Spooner quickly grows up, falls in love and realizes her parents, Bev and Joe, are not perfect parents.

In 1947, Joe Spooner unexpectedly returns from WWW ll bringing home more than just war stories. He takes Bev and Evie on an impulsive vacation to a swanky, glittery Palm Beach resort. Pretending to be a man of wealth and influence, Joe strikes of a questionable friendship with the mysterious Graysons. Add to the mix, smooth talking Peter, a handsome old war buddy looking for paybacks from Joe. Coincidentally, Peter is staying at the same hotel as Joe?

On a fast track going nowhere, Evie falls for Peter big time, but he is more interested in Evie's mother, a Lana Turner wanna be looking for a good time. Using Evie as a decoy, Peter and Bev are just a little too friendly, while Joe is buying into shady business deals.

When Joe, Bev and Peter go boating, a tropical storm hits and only two return.

Evie must choose between love and betrayal. In an electric courtroom drama, Evie makes her stand.

http://www.judyblundell.com/

Laura

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

2009-05-22T16:11:00.000-07:00

If an entire nation could seek freedom, why not a girl?

If you think walking the dog or folding the laundry is bad, try trading places with Isabel, a 13-year old slave in Manhattan during the American Revolution. Every morning before dawn, Isabel has already hauled water, stoked the fire and emptied chamber pots.

In 1775, Isabel and her younger sister, Ruth, are sold to the Locktons, an evil, wealthy couple with loyalists ties. While fetching water in the bitter cold, Isabel makes friends with Curzon, a slave with rebel connections. In return for freedom, Curzon encourages Isabel to spy on the Locktons.

When the wicked Madam abruptly sells Ruth, Isabel makes a decision jeopardizing and changing her life forever.

Anderson pens an exciting story balancing history with plot. Watch for the sequel, Forge.

http://www.writerlady.com/
Grades 7-10

Laura

Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy

2009-05-08T11:20:00.000-07:00

Everyone is looking for JJ, Jennifer Jones, but where and who is she? Six years ago three 10 year-old girls walked into the woods and only two returned. What happened? Only Alice Tully knows the horrendous answer. Will Alice's past always haunt her?

In this award winning young adult novel, the author explores the murder of one child by another, the guilt and redemption and the return to society. Dark, chilling and suspenseful, Cassidy provides readers with an unforgetable novel.

http://www.annecassidy.com/

national children's book week

2009-05-07T15:13:00.001-07:00

Celebrate national children's book week

may 11 - 17, 2009

http://www.pageahead.org/

Mudbound by Hillary Jordan

2009-04-30T15:31:00.000-07:00

It is 1946, when Memphis bred and educated Laura McAllan reluctantly moves to a cotton farm with her husband, Henry, two daughters and mean-spirited father in-law, Pappy, on the Mississippi delta. Everyday is a struggle with no electricity, running water or indoor plumbing. But the real turmoil starts when Jamie, her brother in-law and Ronsel Jackson, a sharecropper's son, return home from fighting the Nazis with demons of their own.

Jordan captures each character's voice with poetic prose, while exposing the racial hatred of the deep South. An unforgettable ending will leave readers thinking about social injustice.

In her debut novel, Jordan won the 2006 Bellwether Prize, which is given to novels addressing social issues. Mudbound also won a 2009 Alex Award, which is given to books written for adults with teen appeal.

Audience - Adult and mature teens
http://hillaryjordan.com/

Laura

Chick Lit for Teens

2009-04-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have your mug planted on the tabloids, to be trailed by the never ending paparazzi and to be mobbed by gawking autograph hunters? Read Audrey, Wait and find out.

In one afternoon, 16-year old Audrey goes from being an average teen to an instant celebrity. When Audrey dumps her hunky, handsome boyfriend, who just happens to be the lead singer for the popular Do-Gooders, he pens a sensational song about their relationship, which becomes #1 on the Billboards.

Find out how Audrey handles the instant fame and reclaims her life.

Audience - Young Adult
http://www.audreywait.com/

Book to Movie

2009-04-27T23:37:00.001-07:00

For all you Alice Sebold fans, her best-selling novel The Lovely Bones will debut in theatres December 2009. In this eloquent and mesmerizing story, 14 year-old Susie is raped and murdered. Like a fly in a wall, Susie watches over her family and her killer from heaven.

Mark Wahlberg, Susan Sarandon, Rachel Weisz and Saoirse Ronan star in the much anticipated film. Bring a hankie and just in time for an Oscar nomination.

L

Hello

2009-04-27T23:10:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to Laura's Library. Working for a public library, I get lots of questions. "Have you read? Do you have a book by...? Can you help me find a book about..."

On my blog, you will find book reviews for all ages and other interesting information privy to librarians. Think author interviews, new releases and award-winning book lists.

Now, turn off your television, your cell phone and your music. Find a cozy spot and pick up a good book. Doesn't that feel good?

L