The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

One of the most gorgeous covers!

The cover!  This is a gorgeous book and has one of the prettiest set of endpapers I've ever seen.  I'm trying to find a way to display it face out because it deserves better than to be hidden on a shelf.

The Hazel Wood lived up to all the hype.  A book of mysterious and dark fairytales that creates and destroys a family fortunes and causes a decades long family rift will also lead Alice Crewes on a deadly adventure to discover who she truly is.  

Alice Crewes and her mother Ella spend close to two decades moving from one friend's guest room to the next.  Crisscrossing the country and leaving behind a wake of bad luck, Alice and her mother never return to the Hazle Wood, her Grandmother's mythical mansion bought at the peak of her career.  After disappearing for an unknown period of time during the 1960's, Alice's grandmother Althea publishes a collection of dark fairy tales that becomes a successful best seller. The book creates a cult following, especially after it was turned in to a film.  However, in the present day, there are very few copies of the book and Alice has never read the book herself and her mother does all she can to keep it that way.

When Alice and her mother receive a letter about Althea's death, they both believe that their lives will change for the better.  Ella marries the wealthy Harold in order to provide Alice with a comfortable life. Along with her snotty new stepsister, Alice is now living in a luxurious apartment and attending an expensive private school.  But Alice is still on the outside and is wary of all friendships and questions why another student, Ellery Finch, would try to be friends.

After returning home from school, Alice finds the apartment empty and smelling suspicious.  Having no one else to turn to, she goes to Ellery for help. After returning to the apartment with Ellery, she is confronted by her gun wielding stepfather and a very irritated step sister-but no mother.  Convinced her mother has been kidnapped, Alice sets out to save her.

Alice and Ellery find themselves facing the Hinterland-a mythical gang of fairytale characters who want Alice.  Alice is now faced with an enemy that she knows nothing about but that her family is intricately tied to.

Throughout her adventure, A lice has to rely on Ellery for his knowledge of the fairytales and his seemingly bottomless wallet.  There are a few points where you have to suspend belief to allow the teenagers to do what they do, but it’s also a book about evil fairy tales coming to life.  So. You know.

Alice and Ellery have a very interesting relationship.  It’s very hard to determine if one is using the other-and this changes directions over and over again.  Of all the random books, Ellery is obsessed with Tales from the Hinterland.  That reminded me of Lev Grossman’s The Magicians.  A favorite childhood book that leads to a world that isn’t quite what they hoped it would be.  

I wish I had better lighting and knew something about photography so you could see how beautiful these end papers are! 

Overall, I loved this book.  It is fast paced and full of complex characters and feels very much like it could be the start of a series.  

The Hazel Wood: A Novel

By Melissa Albert

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The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke

The Girl with the Red Balloon available now from Katherine Locke

Yes, it also requires many flags.

Fantasy novels are supposed to make you rethink your surroundings.  Magical doorways, fairy circles, talking animals, and superpowers can all be found in our everyday lives masked by the ordinary.  Will you travel through time by walking up the back staircase? Can eating the perfect apple freshly picked from the tree lead to magical sleep?

Will holding a red balloon transport you through time? If you happen to be visiting the Berlin Wall in Germany while on a school trip, beware the red balloons.  

Growing up, Ellie Baum listened to her Grandfather tell the story of how he was rescued from a Nazi death camp by a magical red balloon.  Ellie always played the story off as fantasy and while visiting Germany herself on a class trip, she sees a beautiful red balloon and knows she needs a photo of herself with it.  But once she touches the balloon, she finds herself far away from the Berlin Wall Memorial, and at the Wall itself. Now in 1988 Berlin, Ellie meets Kai and Mitzi, two balloon runners who use the magical balloons to help people escape to West Berlin.  But how did Ellie get here? Where is the original balloon passenger? Who is tampering with the balloons and why?

This book was completely absorbing and incredibly well written.  I loved how quickly the story moved-the action was constantly moving.  The relationships between the characters was very relatable. How do you handle wanting to pursue a relationship or, even a friendship, when you're constantly trying to find your way home?  Through Ellie's discussions with her new friends and the flashbacks to her grandfather, there was a lot of Jewish history that was new to me. At one point, her grandfather Benno is telling the story of the Exodus to his future rescuer, Aurora.  After hearing the story of the Exodus, she complains that Jewish stories are sad and why aren't there any happy stories? Benno tells her, "I've told you two stories that end in freedom," I protested.  "How much happier could you ask for? I just loved that quote.

I really enjoyed this book and cannot recommend it highly enough.  I'm not a highlighter or underliner, but this book had more sticky flags in it than any other book I've read in a long time.  

The Girl with the Red Balloon (The Balloonmakers)

By Katherine Locke

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The Diviners by Libba Bray

Library copy of The Diviners by Libba Bray.  I know.  The tape.  I wanted to fix it but it's just not done.  Librarian Code. 

I found my Podcast soulmates!  Joscelyn and Pam host the Books & Brews Podcast which is the combination of my two favorite things, books and beers. It is such a fun listen-these gals love their books!  And, they're Canadian.  Bonus.  Except I can't find some of the beers that they discuss.  Maybe someday I'll have to take another trip up north.  This podcast has made morning chores far more enjoyable and has caused my TBR to topple.  You can find out more about these ladies and listen to their podcast on this book here:

What pairs well with a book about flappers, dance clubs, possessed children, teenagers with powerful magical gifts, and a murderer from beyond the grave? BEER! We dive into Libba Bray's The Diviners, with tasty brews from a magical Strange Fellows and Parkside Brewery collab. We had a LOT to say about this book (in case you can't tell). Hang onto your headbands... this one is pos-i-tute-ly awesome!

Seriously, check them out.  They're a blast!

The Diviners was an extremely fun and fast read considering it clocks in at a whopping 578 pages.  We follow Evangeline "Evie" O'Neill, the wealthy socialite daughter of the Secretary of the Zenith Women's Temperance Society and the town's most successful car dealer.  After getting caught spreading some unwelcome truth about the town's Golden Boy, our partry-loving Evie is shipped off to New York City to live with her bachelor Uncle Will.  Why her parents send her from Ohio to NYC, during Prohibition no less, to get Evie out of trouble is beyond me-but it makes for some really entertaining reading.  Her family is still dealing with death of Evie's older brother James who was serving in the war years before.  Within minutes of departing her train, Evie encounters Sam Lloyd, a young scam artist who steals $20 from Evie and becomes personally acquainted with her knee. 

Smart girl.

Along with his assistant Jericho Jones, Uncle Will is the owner of the Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult.  Full of mysterious objects ranging from spirit photographs to poppet dolls, the only thing the museum lacks is paying visitors.  

Once in the city, Evie meets up with her childhood best friend Mable and goes on to spend her time partying, shopping, and touring the city.  Along the way she meets up with an array of new friends:  an up-and-coming star Theta and her piano playing "brother" Henry, Memphis the number runner, and Sam comes back into picture.  This time though, he's working for Uncle Will.  All of these friends have one thing in common-every one of them has a special gift that they keep hidden.  We learn that they are all "Diviners," people with unique supernatural gifts that are as different as the people who have them.  

When Uncle Will is approached by Detective Malloy to help investigate an unsual murder, Evie charms her way on to the scene.  After accidentally using her gift, Evie comes in possession of clues that will become vital to the investigation.  Evie and her friends become an important part in taking down a sadistic cult and a crazed spirit, all while dodging police raids and pesky newspaper reporters.  But no more spoilers, promise.

There was so much that went on in this book.  I really enjoyed all the characters, and I'm curious to see how much more we learn about the actual history of the Diviners and the stories of all the side characters in the upcoming books.  The setting of Prohibition Era NYC was a lot of fun.  All of the glitzy outfits and the speakeasies and dancing girls.  It seemed like everyone was living in an apartment or hotel of some kind so there were several times that a well placed fire escape came in handy.  This book reminded me of Lev Grossman's The Magicians- a group of young adults who never met before have to come together to defeat a dark magical element all while partying their little hearts out. 

Excellent start to a series and highly recommend!   

The Diviners

By Libba Bray

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Ambitions

Most of the 2018 Rebecca Caudill Master List.

Last week, I finally put in the order for the 2018 Rebecca Caudill books I didn't already have on the shelf. Every one of these books looks amazing and now my TBR has been increased, again.  

Rebecca Caudill was an award winning children's author.  Born in Kentucky in 1899, she became a well-educated teacher and writer, earning a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia and a Master's degree from Vanderbilt University.  Her first published children's book went on to become a Junior Library Guild selection.  

Each year schools, teachers, students, school librarians and media specialists and public librarians nominate books to be evaluated by the Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award Evaluator's Committee.  Those nominations are then whittled down to the 20 book Master List that is released each year.  There are many rules about what books can be nominated, such as publication dates, the person nominating the books has to have read it, and all books must appeal to children in grades 4-8.  

While re-shelving last year's books to make way for the new, I noticed several repeat authors.  I have more reading to do before I commit to how I feel about that.  Diversity in authors is always welcome-in fact, it's necessary for a well curated collection.  

It's my goal to read through the entire 2018 Master List this year.  You'll see my favorites in Chick Picks as they get read.  

Favorite Reads

When I found out I was pregnant with my son, it was mid-summer and that odd  gardening time where there isn't much to do but wait and let things grow.  I was still a teacher then and had plenty of time to myself.  I also needed to take things easy for a few weeks.

So I read. A lot.

I think I plowed through every Amanda Quick, Jayne Ann Krentz, and Jayne Castle book the Library owned at the time.  All three names belong to the same author and they cover her different writing styles.  

Amanda Quick is the named used for her historical novels.  I love these-they are everything that a historical romance should be.  Gorgeous dress descriptions, society rules, rakes and ruined women.  Her latest, The Girl Who Knew Too Much, was set in 1930's California and was an absolute delight to read. 

Just a few Library copies of Amanda Quick's best novels. 

Jayne Ann Krentz writes contemporary romance, mysteries, and thrillers.  Many of her books take place on the northwest coast, especially in Washington state.  Her books always contain a smart and independent female lead.

Absolutely, Positively love All Night Long

Jayne Castle books are my favorite.  These are sci-fi/fantasy reads that are set in the future.  The Harmony series is one of my favorites.  Humans find an energy veil/rift that they cross through to another world.  A world full of glowing stones, magical amber, and psychic abilities.  And dustbunnies.  Lots of dustbunnies.  

I think she has a type

Many of her books are written as series, giving you time to watch the characters really grow and develop.  Her series that include all three pen names are my favorites.  It's fun as a reader to find clues written in the historical novel that leads to solving the puzzle in the futuristic novels.  

Who is your favorite author?

The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter

I know, I'm rough on paperbacks. 

Book #1 in the Long Earth series.

The Long Earth opens with three of our most important characters.  Private Percy, a British soldier who finds himself in a field far away from the war.  Joshua Valiente, a newborn just birthed in a field.  I, who lives long ago on a shadow of our North America.  We learn very quickly of the Long Earth-our Earth has become/has always been multidimensional.  With the help of a device called a Step Box, which was invented by the mysterious Willis Linsay, people are able to “step” east or west to a different dimension of Earth. The step box only works for the individual who completes its’ construction and because this book has Terry Pratchett as an author, it’s powered by a potato.  Yep.  Potato.   I love it.

We follow Joshua on his journey with an AI named Lobsang, across more steps than anyone has ever taken before.  There are trolls, variations of every animal imaginable, untouched landscapes, and lands devastated by disaster.   Along the way, Joshua meets Sally Linsay, the daughter of the step box inventor, but it’s where Joshua meets her that is significant.  And the little fact that Sally has been stepping long before anyone else.  And that Private Percy?  He was a soldier from the first world war, presumed dead in battle, and then mysteriously shows up decades later still in his uniform and mumbling about Russians.  Another natural stepper?  How many are there?

Across the many Long Earths, people set out to find their fortunes on untouched worlds while others are left behind because they are physically unable to step.  We learn that government will always be government.  Starting a new life four earths over? That’s still owned by your home country and yeah, you’re paying taxes on it.  Can humans make a new life amongst trolls and unidentifiable species?  What happens to the people left behind?  Will humans destroy a new earth just like they’ve done to our original, Datum Earth? How far should humans go? How far can they go?  Who is I?  How was I created?  Is I influencing all of the Long Earths?

Mysteries.  

This book was so good.  I really liked how the Long Earth was explained within the first few pages so that you can just go along with the story and not have to try and wrap your head around dimensional travel.  It’s more about the characters and human behavior than physics.  It’s a slightly older book, from 2012, but it’s new to me and now I have to wait for book #2 to come so I can keep going.  

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Library copy of Nimona

Finding well written, Kid appropriate graphic novels can be tough.  I typically borrow 5-6 from the library's loan system, read them first, then pass them along to the Kid.  I read them for two reasons.  One, to make sure I don't do a repeat of the Deadpool incident. Two, I'm in charge of ordering books for the Youth Department at my Library.  It's research.  

This book was pulled from my bag and read before I even noticed it was missing.  The Kid was giggling the whole time he declared it awesome, medieval/futuristic, cool, and hilarious. 

The Kid was right.  This book is amazing.

We follow Nimona, a young woman who is on a mission to become the sidekick to Ballister Blackheart, a scientist/knight guy.  The world is never really explained in the book.  In fact, it felt like the world just kept changing so that the story could move forward.  Not complaining-it was very fun to follow.  Everyone wears medieval clothing and armor but there are super computers and 24 hour news channels.  In fact, at one point they discuss magic on the news.  And they question Lionheart's codpiece.  Yep. 

Anyways, Blackheart is trying to defeat his nemesis Goldenloin.  Yep, Goldenloin.  Who has long, golden hair.  They had a training session go wrong when they were younger and now Ballister has a mechanical arm.  Goldenloin works for The Institute set on world domination-or something like that.  It's called The Institute-they're bad.

While trying to prove how important to the missions she is, Ballister and Goldenloin discover that Nimona is far more blood-thirsty and dangerous than they could have imagined.  She can shape-shift in to dragons, foxes, and sleepy little cats.  When asked about her origins, Nimona tells a story fit for a book on fairy tales.  Is it true?  Who knows.  

This book was full of action, complex characters, hilarious one-liners, and really fun world building.  I mean, the lines about game night with the henchmen were perfect!  The Kid loved it, I loved it, and someone else needs to read it because I want to talk.    

Nimona

By Noelle Stevenson

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Vacationland by John Hodgman

I've mentioned before that I love podcasts-and I'm not done talking about them.  If you hop on the listening train of Stuff You Missed in History Class, this will will lead you to a detour of Stuff You Should Know, which then will make another stop at Movie Crush, and then you would finally end up at Judge John Hodgman.  We binged multiple episodes on our long drive to Florida.

So of course, I bought the book.  Also, it was all over Instagram.  

John Hodgman gives us a collection of essays covering how and why he has not one, but two vacation homes on the East coast.  This collection should be pretentious and annoying-I mean, he bought a boat! There's a whole essay on how he accidentally bought a boat! Have you ever accidentally bought a boat? No? 

His writing is actually very relatable.  His stories reinforce the idea that there is a group of adults out there who are not born with the innate ability to know everything.  Should cereal go down the garbage disposal? Apparently not.  Should one know where the septic system is? Probably.  Is it ok to talk to your neighbors? Depends on where you live. 

I found the book very enjoyable.  He's written several others and they've  been added to the never ending TBR...

The Girl with all the Gifts by M. R. Carey

The Girl with all the Gifts by M. R. Carey

The Girl with all the Gifts  by M. R. Carey

This book was wonderfully terrifying! 

Melanie is a very smart little girl who goes to school and tries very hard to impress her teacher.  She loves listening to the books that her favorite teacher, Miss Justineau reads to her class.  Books about the Greek myths, Winnie-the-Pooh, and history.  Melanie is incredibly smart and can memorize all sorts of facts about math, geography and populations.  We learn as the book progresses that the world Melanie learns about in her classes is not the world found outside.  

Melanie is not like other little girls.  Melanie doesn't know this.  

Melanie and her classmates live on a military base with soldiers, researchers, and scientists.  The children are all kept locked in their cells at night and strapped in to wheelchairs during the day.  We learn very quickly through Melanie's descriptions of her daily life that she is not a normal child.  She has guns drawn on her, takes chemical showers, and is fed only once a week. 

There is no touching.

As the book progresses, we learn how the world fell apart.  How humanity has tried to hold on and rebuild.  Dr. Caroline Caldwell, head scientist on the base, believes that Melanie and her classmates are the key to humanity's future.  It is only when Melanie is brought to Dr. Caldwell to assist in an experiment that we learn how low humanity has fallen.  

While Melanie is strapped to an exam table, the base is attacked by hungaries.  These hungaries were once human and are now just a vehicle for a mysterious and deadly fungal infection that has destroyed the human race.  With the help of Miss Justineau and two soldiers, the surviving members of the base embark on a journey to find safety.  

Any more and I'll spoil the book.  This was an intense and amazing read.  The audio book version that I listened to was narrated by Finty Williams.  I firmly believe that a narrator can make or break an audio book. I have DNF'd many audio books because the narration was horrible. Williams' performance was incredible.  Listening to her polished, British accented voice describe human dissection was chilling.  

The Boy on the Bridge  is book #2 in the Hungary Plague Series.  

The Night Masquerade by Nnedi Orkorafor

The Night Masquerade by Nnedi Orkorafor 

The Night Masquerade is the third book in the Biniti trilogy.  I don't want to think about it being the last book in this series, I'm hoping that there will be more.  I also understand that trilogies only have three books.  

I'm in book denial.

Also, spoilers ahead.

Binti is a young woman from earth and the first of her tribe to leave the planet and attend the Intergalactic school called Oomza Uni.  The first two books in the series describe her incredible and harrowing journey to the university and her first year at school.  Book three puts Binti back on earth and on a mission to end the violence between the Khoush and the Meduse.

The Night Masquerade opens with Binti trying to reach her family after experiencing their deaths in a terrifying nightmare.  She makes this journey with Mwinyi, a young man from her father's tribe who is helping her after she has her zinariya abilities unlocked.  I am not going to pretend to understand everything that she experienced.  Needless to say, it was intense and life changing.  Along their journey, Binti is faced with her new abilities, visions of the Night Masquerade,  a war between two enemies, and the loss of her family.  

Did I mention she's only 17?

Orkorafor's writing is magical.  You can feel the sand beneath your feet as Binti is traveling through the desert.  You can smell her otjize as she applies it to her skin.  I really want to travel in one of those space shrimps.  It sounds amazing-traveling through space in a living creature who has plants growing inside of her.  

One thing that I love about this series is Binti always knows who she is.  She truly believes in her abilities and doesn't back down or let others shake her confidence.  She is proud of her math abilities and the skill of her family members.  Her family is well respected because of their skill in creating the best astrolabes-small devices that individuals wear.  They are not seen as lower class because they work with their hands.  

Towards the end of the book, an event occurs with Biniti that took all my willpower to not read the last few pages to see how it all ended.  And I mean all my willpower.  

A Study in Scarlet Women

Even my rough treatment of this book can't diminish how gorgeous this cover is!

Several months ago, I listened to an interview with Leah and Bea Koch on the Smart Podcast, Trashy Books podcast.  If you haven't listened to this podcast yet, stop what you are doing and go listen.  It's fantastic. 

I'll wait.

Leah and Bea own an independent bookstore in Los Angeles called The Ripped Bodice.  It's on my bucket list to visit but in the meantime, I can order from them online and pretend to give Fitzwilliam Waffles snuggles.  He has an Instagram account-check it out.

While browsing their signed  books section I stumbled across Sherry Thomas' book, A Study in Scarlet Women.  It's a gender-flipped Sherlock Holmes retelling.  I had to have it.  

This book was everything that I was hoping it would be.  Charlotte Holmes has no desire to marry, but instead wants to become the Headmistress of a school and live her life on her own.  As one can imagine, these plans did not sit well with her parents.  Charlotte's plans for independence lead to a family scandal, a string of mysterious murders, and an interesting new friendship.  

I really loved this book.  The characters were so well developed and the story flowed so well that I was able to finish it only two nights.  At one point, I had to stop and pick up something else just so I wouldn't have to end the book so soon.  Book 2 in this series, A Conspiracy in Belgravia,  is available now.    

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The Cruel Prince has the most gorgeous cover!

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

When Jude was only seven years old, she witnessed the brutal murder of her parents.  It is only after this that she learns her older sister is not human and that the world of Faeries exists.  

This books was so good.  Finish in one sitting good.  

There was a time where the very words "Young Adult" meant a book was an automatic no.  Then, I became a Librarian.  I have since learned the error of my ways and Young Adult is fun.  It's even more fun when you mix magic, faeries, tough young women, and teenage hormones.  

Jude is strong and intelligent.  Faeries are spoiled and look down on humans.  Jude's journey through the royal court and the intricacies of behavior and expectations was both a coming of age story and one of determination to leave oppression.   

I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to see what Holly Black comes up with next.

The Book of Unknown Americans

The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez was part of the 2017 Illinois Reads event.  It was on my list to read before the November event...and it just now made it to the top of the pile. 

I wish I had read this sooner.  

This book follows the lives of families who came to the United States to create a better future for themselves.  We meet Alma and Arturo.  Parents of a daughter who suffers a traumatic brain injury as a teenager and needs specialized schooling.  We also meet Mayor, a young man who sees beyond Maribel's struggles to the amazing person beneath.  There stories are interwoven with the other families who live in the same apartment complex.  The book takes you through many facets of their lives, each family struggling with everyday problems that makes their story as relatable as the next.  

Grab tissues for the ending.  You'll need them.