Juvenile Review - The Star Shepherd by Dan Haring and MarcyKate Connolly

What a unique, original, and interesting story about the stars!  Eleven year old Kyro helps his Star Shepherd father retrieve stars that have fallen so they can return them to the sky.  The stars were originally put there by the Elders of their civilization, to keep the dark creatures away.  When more and more stars begin falling, and glimpses of the dark creatures begin to occur, Kyro's father goes to investigate and disappears. Kyro is now left with the responsibilities of shepherding the stars back to the sky, finding out what happened to his father, and saving his world before the dark creatures take over.

Kyro is a likeable and sympathetic hero that readers will root for.  His friend Andra is a loyal and true friend who does not allow the prejudices of her elders stop her from doing the right thing.  The author does a good job showing the effect grief and loss can have on both the young and old, and how important it is to share and communicate.  I feel like there could be a sequel to this story in the future, and I look forward to reading it.  4 stars.

Juvenile Review - This is not a picture book! by Sergio Ruzzier

A cute picture book that says it is not a picture book.  This beautifully illustrated book shows the power of words and different feelings you can get from reading a book.  At one point, however, the duck kicks the book away and calls it "stupid." My kids were not allowed to say this "s" word growing up, and I would substitute it for a different word if I read this to a classroom. 4 stars.

Juvenile Review - DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOK! by Michaela Muntean

This book really reminded me of Sesame Street's The Monster at the End of This Book (starring Grover of course). It's funny, really draws the reader into turning the pages (even though they are told repeatedly not to) while teaching them the importance of words and putting words together to mean something. The illustrations add to the learning and humour, and two little spiders have their own interactions as the story goes along. I can't wait to read this to a classroom - the children will love it! 4 stars.

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

If you are a fan of The Handmaid's Tale on TV, but are afraid to read a book by Margaret Atwood, I encourage you to give The Testaments a try! The Testaments is the long awaited and much anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale that reads more like pop fiction novel than a traditional Margaret Atwood book.

The Testaments takes place approximately 15-16 years later than The Handmaid's Tale. The reader sees what the world now looks like through the testimony of three female narrators: Aunt Lydia (yes, that Aunt Lydia), Witness 369A, and Witness 369B. Aunt Lydia reveals that Gilead's citizens are more power-hungry and corrupt than ever. Trust is a rarity, and Aunt Lydia says to "Keep your friends close but your enemies closer. Having no friends, I must make do with enemies." Witness 369A tells the reader about her life growing up as the daughter of a Commander in Gilead. Witness 369B lives in Canada, and gives the reader her perspective as an outsider of Gilead, looking in. I can't give you any more details about the narrators than that without spoiling the many twists, turns, shocks and surprises you will encounter as you read the book.

I've been waiting for this sequel for so long that I really wanted to take my time reading it. However, my copy must have contained chocolate because it kept calling me to come back to it, and I ended up reading it within a day. I found myself totally engaged with the narrators and each new morsel of information they revealed made it that much harder for me to put down.

I recently attended a "Margaret Atwood: Live in Cinemas" event that was presented onscreen at a local Cineplex. Ann Dowd, who plays Aunt Lydia on The Handmaid's Tale TV series, read two excerpts from Aunt Lydia's narrative in The Testaments. Two other readers each read an excerpt from Witness 369A and 369B. Atwood was also interviewed, and she was asked was what made her decide to finally write a sequel to The Handmaid's Tale after 34 years? Her answer? When Trump got elected as President of the United States. She was also asked what she thought was the most important issue facing the world today. Without hesitation she said our planet, and she feels if we focus on healing and protecting our planet, our other issues will fall into place.

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms

When Amy Byler's husband left her and their two kids, it took every ounce of her energy to go back to work, maintain the house, pay the bills and be a single mom.  Now, after 3 years, her husband is back and wants to re-connect with the kids over the summer.  When Amy comes across an opportunity to go to New York, she jumps at the chance to re-visit her college roots.  What she discovers, however, is  under that huge layer of "mom" is an intelligent and attractive woman desperate for more than just a summer in the spotlight.

I loved the humour in this book and laughed out loud several times.  I also found the emotions and relationships in the book to be very real: you want to comfort Amy when she's hurt, angry, and down on herself, and you want to cheer her discoveries and accomplishments. I gave this book 4 stars.

By Chance Alone by Max Eisen

Max Eisen was only 15 when he and his family were rounded up and taken to Auschwitz in 1944.  In this book, Eisen shares the horror and inhumanity his family and millions of other Jews suffered.  Eisen worked in the concentration camp's hospital, and provides details and information I have never read in other books.  Eisen also reveals the difficulties and continued mistreatment Jews faced even after they were liberated.  Eisen made a promise to his father that he would tell the world about their experiences, and he keeps this promise through the speeches he gives all over the world, and by writing this book.

I am in awe of Max Eisen's resiliency and courage. His writing made me feel like I was there, seeing things through his eyes.  Racism and prejudice is on the rise in today's world, and, like Max Eisen, I wish everyone would read books like this so they learn or remember, and the horrors of the past will never be repeated.

How Quickly She Disappears by Raymond Fleischmann

I loved this book!  I found the plot interesting filled with twists I didn't expect and I was invested in Elizabeth's story, both past and present.  There were times I wanted to cover my eyes at the choices characters were making but was too hooked not to see things play out. I loved the remote isolation of the Alaskan setting with the "present" 1941 time frame.

This book will be published January 14, 2020 by Berkley Publishing Group.  I gave this book a rating of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this title in exchange for an honest review. #HowQuicklySheDisappears #NetGalley. 

Severed Knot by Chyssa Bazos

I really didn't realize that Scottish and Irish Christians were indentured to plantations in the West Indies in the 17th century.  It becomes clear that the author did a lot of research for this book as the detail of the day-to-day lives of  the Scottish hero and Irish heroine make you feel as though you are there.  It was disturbing at times to read of the entitlement of some, while they abuse and mistreat others that had no control over their circumstances.  I was captivated by the building romance between Iain and Mairead, and with their resilient spirit that kept them going through many trials and tragedies.

Severed Knot will be published June 7, 2019 by BooksGoSocial.com.  I gave this book a rating of 4/5 stars.
#NetGalley #Severed Knot

Juvenile Review - My Two Grandads by Floella Benjamin

Both of Aston's grandfathers are musicians: one plays the trumpet in a brass band, while the other plays steel drums in a steel band.  Even though their music and backgrounds are very different, they learn to blend and play together to help Aston's school. 

I liked the story in that Aston loves and wants to learn how to play the instruments of his two very different grandfathers.  I did not like the font chosen for this book; most pages have several lines of text and I found it a bit small. Sometimes letters within a word shift in their vertical position, and, while this can resemble notes on a sheet of music, I didn't find it as easy to read.  I gave this book a rating of 3 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. It will be published May 7, 2019 by Frances Lincoln Children's Books. 

#MyTwoGrandads #NetGalley

Juvenile Review - The Worst Christmas Ever by Kathleen Long Bostrom

Matthew, his family, and his dog Jasper move to California and Matthew is not happy about it.  Everything is different, and Matthew can't stop thinking about how things were back home.  Now, Christmas is coming, and although the rest of his family is excited, Matthew is certain it will be a disaster.  Then something happens - will Matthew predictions come true, or will the miracle of Christmas happen after all?

This is a good story about how it can feel when a child moves, and how it is important to remember the things that do not change.  Beautiful illustrations throughout the story help convey the family's emotions and even reveal a few clues. I gave this book a rating of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. #NetGalley #TheWorstChristmasEver

Juvenile Review - The Night of His Birth by Katherine Paterson

What a wonderful story full of wonder, faith and praise. "Sing out, my soul, the wonder..." begins and ends the story, and sounds like a line from a hymn. The illustrations add to the dreamlike wonder of Mary's descriptions of her newborn son, the loyalty and support she has in Joseph, and her incredulity that God chose her of all people to play such an important role in this miracle. Adults reading this story to their children will feel they've been given a glimpse of some of the things "Mary pondered in her heart."

I received a downloaded copy from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for honest feedback/review.  This book will be published September 17, 2019 by Flyaway Books.  I gave this book 5 stars. 

#TheNightofHisBirth  #NetGalley

The Guest Book by Sarah Blake

Ogden Milton originally purchased Crockett Island, in Maine, as a symbol of "what made them Miltons." Three generations of Miltons have now spent every summer on their island. What will time, with its many secrets, reveal about what the Miltons were really made of?

I enjoyed this book very much, although for the first 100 pages or so I found it hard to keep track of who was who (especially Evelyn and Evie).  I would have preferred dates or names to change storylines, rather than the chapter breaks.  Racism, social standing, and the roles society expected men and women to play are all explored here.  I gave this book 4 stars.

The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain

It is 1970 in North Carolina, and the main character, Carly, has not only lost her husband to the Vietnam war, but has just been told the baby she is expecting has a major heart defect and will not survive long after birth.  Carly is offered a chance to save her baby's life, but it will require her to suspend her fear and disbelief and step into the unknown.

I have mixed feelings about this book.  On one hand, I liked most of the characters and I could identify with the lengths a mother would go to save or protect her child.  On the other hand, I found it hard to suspend my own disbelief.  If time travel was as it is described in this book there would be people disappearing into portals all the time! There were also a couple of times when Carly seemed to make choices that were out of her character and more about fitting the plot of the book.  I enjoyed the various references to the seventies.  I gave this book 3 stars.

Juvenile Review - Song For a Whale by Lynne Kelly

Twelve year old Iris is deaf and feels a bit lost and alone.  Then one day at school, she learns about Blue 55, a hybrid whale who sings at a much different frequency than any other whales in the ocean.  Iris becomes obsessed with finding a way to help this whale know he is not alone.

What a wonderful story about connection and communication on many levels: child vs. parents, deaf vs. hearing, whales vs. other whales, and humans vs. whales.  The author does an amazing job tying various threads about whales, space, radios, and grief together so that her characters learn how to connect and communicate with each other. I gave this book 5 stars and can't wait to read it to middle grade classes.

Teen Review - Internment by Samira Ahmed

This book terrified me. Why? Because the behaviour and treatment towards Muslims in this book is upsetting and horrific. There are also hints of this book currently in the news, in terms of racism, hatred, and the treatment of refugees in the United States. You will tell yourself while you're reading it that this story can't/won't possibly come true, and then the author reminds you that it has already in American history with Japanese-American citizens during WWII. 

I would love to see this become required reading in early high school, not only to teach the younger generation what can happen when there is hate and prejudice in the world.  The book contains some some kissing, some swearing, and some violence. Although there were instances that were teen-focused, I had no problem relating to it as an adult. I gave this 5 stars, and I can't wait to read more from this author.

Recursion by Blake Crouch

I loved this book at the beginning.  I was into the characters, I was intrigued with the idea of trying to retrieve memories for people with Alzheimer disease, and it was fast-paced reading with lots of twists and turns.  However, I wasn't as fond of second half of the book.  I found the timelines harder to keep track of, and I wasn't as engaged with the characters.  I also found the science behind everything harder to grasp in the second half. I gave this 3 stars.

A Girl Named Lovely: One Child's Miraculous Survival and My Journey to the Heart of Haiti by Catherine Porter

This is one of those books you find yourself thinking about for days after you finish reading it.  Porter blends what she sees in the aftermath of Haiti's earthquake as a journalist, with what she feels not only as a fellow human being, but as a woman and mother.  Porter is candid about the personal internal struggles she faced as well as her struggles to affect change within Haiti's culture and infrastructure.  The only issue I had with this book was that some of the humanitarian efforts in Haiti did "more harm than good." I would hate to see individuals get discouraged from aiding others in need because their idea of helping is different from someone else's.  That being said, I give this book a rating of 5 stars.

Juvenile Review - The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt

I have to admit I don't really get the hype about this book.  I loved the premise of Rock Paper Scissors having a "legend" but, for me, the book was all about looking for a new fight.  It seemed to me that you could only be friends with one of the "heroes" if you proved yourself to be equal or better to one of them.  I would not read this to a classroom at school.

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick

The premise of the story is that someone leaves the main character a book on the library's doorstep.  The book contains stories she wrote as a child and is authored by her grandmother that died 3 years before the book was published. Martha follows the book's trail to discover her family's secrets.

I almost stopped reading this book because the main character allowed everyone to take advantage of her and mistreat her. I find it hard to read stories about people who have such low self-worth that they don't stand up for themselves.  However, I stuck with it because I liked the premise of the story and Martha begins to heal and grow as the book develops.  A good story about family, acceptance, and forgiveness.

Summer at Firefly Beach by Jenny Hale

This book was just okay for me. I would have liked to see a stronger main character in Hallie.  We learn later in the book about something  Hallie dealt with all by herself, but anytime her best friend Ben is around, she seems completely helpless.  For example, at one point in the book she comforts two other people and seems surprised that she could do this by herself without having to lean on others for support. Seriously?  The "secrets" in the book either seemed obvious or seemed to come into the story out of nowhere.

Margaret Atwood

"A word after a word after a word is power" Margaret Atwood

            When you hear the name Margaret Atwood, what comes to mind?  I asked several people this question and besides the "Who's that?" I got from my son (…sigh…), most people answered that she’s Canadian and that she wrote The Handmaid's Tale. Other people said she wrote stuff that was "weird" or "dark."

            In fact, Margaret Atwood is a world famous novelist of many titles, as well as a poet, teacher, literary critic, environmental activist with a particular focus on oceans, and an inventor. I recently had the opportunity to hear her speak at a fundraiser THEMUSEUM hosted at Centre in the Square.  To be honest, I wasn't really sure what to expect with the headliner "From The Handmaid's Tale to Art &Technology." What I discovered was Margaret Atwood is actually quite funny, brilliant, profound, and a little bit saucy!  Daiene Vernile, former journalist, politician and cabinet member, led the conversation…that is unless Atwood wagged her finger and either pointed out that she wasn't finished talking, or would say "Didn't you mean to ask me about…?"

I learned that Atwood grew up with very scientific parents in northern Quebec where there was no school to attend.  Instead, she read any book she could get her hands on, including her parents scientific books.

When Vernile described her as visionary, Atwood disagreed.  She said she reads a lot of science newsletters and magazines, and that the seeds of her ideas can be found in these items. Scientific American is one of the magazines she reads faithfully.

As you may know, The Handmaid’s Tale is the story of a totalitarian group named Gilead, who has taken over the government in the United States.  Women who are still fertile are forced to become handmaids, in order to bear children for their masters and their wives. These handmaids have had their families, careers, and even their names have been taken away from them. Offred (she is now named this because she is of-Fred who is her master) tells her story, switching between her past life and her current circumstances.

            Atwood said she had one rule while she was writing The Handmaid’s Tale: that she would only include things that had already been done TO someone BY someone.  I don't know about you but I found this very scary. She finished writing this book in Alabama, and mentioned the irony of this considering their recent anti-abortion law.

            The popularity of The Handmaid's Tale has increased dramatically with the release of the TV series by the same name.  Season 1 and 2 are available on DVD, while Season 3 just recently began airing on Hulu or Crave. Many people don't realize that a lot of taping for the show occurs nearby, in Cambridge, Ontario.  You can search the Internet to look for familiar scenes or follow this link to Cbridge.ca for pictures and information.

            The handmaid's red cloak and wide white bonnet have become common sights at protests around the world. No words or signs are needed but the message they present is clear. Atwood seemed humbled that a costume she created in a book has become a powerful "voice" for women today.

            Atwood has now written a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale entitled The Testaments. It will be released this fall, on September 10^th. I can’t wait!

Juvenile Review - Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

Julian sees 3 women, while riding the subway with his grandmother, and imagines they are mermaids. Later, while his grandmother is taking a bath, Julian transforms himself into a mermaid using items from his grandmother's home.  Will his grandmother be mad or encourage his creative self-expression?  Illustrations in the book are descriptive and "real."  I would give this 3.5 stars.

The Wonder of Lost Causes by Nick Trout

This is a story about Jasper, who has Cystic Fibrosis, his mother, and an "ugly mutt" that he makes a connection with at his mom's animal rescue centre.

The chapters alternate between Jasper's perspective and his mother's.  While it was good to read the different parent/child reactions and emotions to events, I sometimes found too much overlap explaining the same event twice.  In addition, I'm not saying I like to cry, but I expected this to be a real tear jerker. There were definitely touching moments, but I didn't need to have tissues handy.  However, I did really enjoy the book, especially all the nuances of a family dealing with Cystic Fibrosis and the amazing connection between a boy and a dog.

The author includes details after the ending about how the book came from his own life experiences.  The book also includes book club questions

Juvenile Review - A Dog Wearing Shoes by Sangmi Ko

This is a story of a girl named Mini and her mom, who find a dog lost in traffic that is wearing shoes.  When they can't immediately find the dog's owner, they take it home to look after it until the owner is found. A cute story about caring for lost animals, and the responsibilities that come with having pets. 

I love the illustrations in this book!  It is mostly black and white except for a few splashes of yellow or red on items of significance.

Juvenile Review - They Say Blue by Jillian Tamaki

I found this book a bit disjointed.  I loved the girl's descriptions of colour, and how colour can change. However, the girl goes from playing with friends on one page spread, to sailing alone on a field of grass on the next; I thought I had missed a page. I loved her sprouting into a tree with her imagination but after several pages as the tree, I began to wonder if the girl was gone from the story? Once I finished reading the story, I went back and read it again, sure that I was missing a deeper meaning.  I get that children can jump around from thought to thought, which may be what is happening here, but the adult in me wanted more.

I would have given the book a 2 star rating except for the beautiful illustrations. 

The Underneath by Melanie Finn

Kay, her husband Michael, and their two children come from England to rent a farmhouse in Vermont for the summer.  The idea is to escape their problems back home and work on their marriage.  However, Michael almost immediately gets called away, which adds to the disconnect they are already feeling. While exploring the house, Kay finds some things that set off her radar as a journalist.  Her pursuit for answers only seems to produce more questions, such as where is the owner of the house and why does everyone seem so evasive when asked about him? 
The book also provides chapters on Kay's experiences as a journalist, and how they helped define who she is as a wife and mother.  We also follow the story of Ben, a local, and how the violence in his childhood affects him in the present, both good and bad. 
I liked the quick pace of the book for each of the different story lines.  However, I had a hard time liking Kay.  She seems very self-centered and focused on getting "the story" at the expense of being a better wife and mother.  Although I felt empathy for the way Ben was raised, I also had a hard time accepting some of the choices he makes.  The book seemed to be brewing to a big finish but instead felt anti-climatic.

The Catalogue of Shipwrecked Books by Edward Wilson-Lee

I can probably count on one hand the number of times I have ever started a book and not finished it.  The Catalogue of Shipwrecked Books, however, was a total snorefest for me.  I was so excited to read this book after seeing promotional blurbs hyping it as the story of Christopher Columbus' illegitimate son, Hernando, and his quest to accumulate every book, image, and piece of music for his library. However, in the few chapters I read, I felt as though the story was more a history of the times and Christopher Columbus' troubles, voyages and relationships with the royal court than one about his son's accomplishments.

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood

A wonderfully detailed and comprehensive book on essential oils and how to use them in anything and everything, including health issues for different ages, aromatherapy, home cleaning products, beauty products, garden and even pet care.

Juvenile Review - The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

A beautiful story about how sometimes children feel as though they are so different from everyone else, due to their speech, culture, or what they eat.  However, when each child begins to share parts of themselves to others, they find they are a little alike each person in different ways.

Juvenile Review - Hush Little Bunny by David Ezra Stein

The rhyme in this book mimics the "Hush Little Baby" lullaby.  It is a story about how a Papa bunny will love and protect his little bunny through all kinds of situations. 

Juvenile Review - Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal

Alma Sofia Esperanza Jose Pura Candela thinks her name is too long. Her father explains the significance of each of these names, instilling a sense of family pride and honour.  The name "Alma" is just for her, however, to make and create her own story.  Absolutely wonderful story.

Juvenile Review - Me and My Fear by Francesca Sanna

I loved this book!  What a creative and powerful way to describe a child's fear!  Fear is illustrated as a "friend" that grows and shrinks according to a young girl's feelings and what is happening in her life.  She has recently moved to a new country, so fear has grown very large and is preventing her from participating in her surroundings.  It is only when a boy reaches out to her that she begins to realize that everyone has a fear friend of their own, and the more she engages in her environment, the smaller her fear friend becomes.

Juvenile Review - Blue by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Is Blue a colour? A feeling? The name of a dog?  Maybe all three? To be perfectly honest, I didn't get this book the first time I read it until I was near the end.  Then everything clicked into place.  This simply-worded book packs an emotional wallop as Seeger takes us through the adventures, life, and relationship of a boy and his dog.  Holes are intentionally cut into the pages and hold significance to both the front and back of the same page.  These holes will delight a child's curious mind and fingers, and adults will find themselves remembering fond memories of their own experiences.

Juvenile Review - Mommy's Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Mommy's Khimar is an excellent story of acceptance and cultural diversity.  The young girl details the beautiful colours of the khimars in her mother's closet, and how she uses them to play.  The smells remind her of her mother, making her feel safe and loved.  The girl explains that her grandmother does not go to a mosque like they do, but that is okay and they love each other just the same.

Juvenile Review - You Make Me Happy by Smriti Prasadam-Halls

You Make Me Happy is the uplifting story of a fox and porcupine's relationship.  The book is filled with beautiful illustrations and the rhyming is lovely and well-paced.

Are You Up for the Challenge?

"Read More!" was one of my New Year's Resolutions for 2019.  Was it one of yours? I feel like there are so many good books on my want-to-read-list but never enough time to make a dent in it!  

Goodreads.com offers a yearly reading challenge to encourage and support people who want to follow through on their resolution to read more.  In case you are not familiar with Goodreads, it is the world's largest website for sharing and following what you and others are reading. Once you are a member, you also get book recommendations geared to your personal reading tastes.

According to the Goodreads website, 1,393,100 people have already signed up for the 2019 Reading Challenge!  These people have pledged to read an average of 46 books from the beginning of January until the end of the year. If everyone makes their pledge more than 65,000,000 books will have been read!

Goodreads also provides lots of good advice on how to keep your challenge, or resolution, on track. One tip is to push yourself but make your reading target achievable. They recommend using the calendar as a guideline: if you think you can read one book per month that would mean pledging 12 books, reading one book a week would be 52 books, and so on. They also encourage you to re-read old favourites to count against your pledge, and to try new or other formats, like listening to an audiobook while you're puttering around the house. Goodreads offers thousands of different reading groups you can join to help keep you interested and accountable. I especially like their tip to use your local library, so you always have your next book ready to read!

To help you keep track of what you want to read next, you can either use Goodreads' "Want to Read" shelf, or look and see if your local library offers a Reading List feature when you access your membership account online.

Need inspiration to keep your reading resolution on track?  As I mentioned earlier, Goodreads provides reading recommendations based on your previous reading history.  A library's online catalogue is another great source for finding your next read. Try searching for one of your favourite titles and then check to see if other recommendations for similar titles, authors or story elements are offered.  See if your library subscribes to NoveList, a reader's advisory database. NoveList allows you to view Recommended Read Lists, browse genres or search for favourite titles or authors to get new read-alikes to try.

Photo credit: see glasses on books (CC0 Public Domain)

The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende

Alma Belasco was a Polish Jew who came to live with relatives in San Francisco during World War II.  There, the relationship between Alma and the son of her uncle's Japanese gardener began.  Years later, Alma's care worker and nephew try to unravel the clues and secrets about this passionate love affair that lasted through war, social expectations, and marriages to other people.

I was originally drawn to the book due to the never-ending resiliency of people who have suffered through great tragedies in their lives. However, I found Alma to be self-centered, spoiled, and difficult to like at times.  I also felt there were a number of characters in the book that were not necessary and made the story more layered and complicated than it needed to be.  I feel the book would have been more effective if it had focused on just a few central characters.

Juvenile Review - Saffron Ice Cream by Rashin Kheiriyeh

Saffron Ice Cream by Rashin Kheiriyeh is the story of a girl who is going to an American beach for the first time since her family left Iran. She compares the similarities and differences between going to the beach at the Caspian Sea and the one at Coney Island.  A great story for children who find themselves in new and unfamiliar surroundings and for all children to learn about cultural differences. Colourful illustrations promote cultural diversity and acceptance.

Juvenile Review - A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin

What a lovely story to explain the different phases of the moon! Little Star and her mother bake a mooncake together that becomes an irresistable temptation every night. Beautiful illustrations throughout the book.

Juvenile Review - Drawn Together by Minh Le

It is easy to see why Drawn Together by Minh Le was a Caldecott Medalist winner and a best book of 2018.  It is the story of a grandson who comes to spend time with his grandfather but they seem to have nothing in common: the grandfather doesn't seem to speak English and the grandson doesn't speak Thai.  They discover a common interest and use this to bond and learn from one another.  This book does not contain many words: the story is mainly told through colourful illustrations.

The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson

There has been a huge shift in the world recently: women and girls are taking centre stage, their voices are being heard, their talents, strengths, and abilities recognised. Books, movies, and television are featuring strong female characters, such as Katniss from The Hunger Games, Diana Prince from Wonder Woman, and Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones.  

  

The heroine in Tyrell Johnson's The Wolves of Winter is no different. Gwendolynn (Lynn) McBride is a survivalist in a world laid to ruin from nuclear war and a pandemic flu. Lynn and her family eke out an existence in the cold and snowy Yukon, away from what's left of humankind and the clutches of disease. Lynn spends her days skillfully hunting with a bow and arrow, trapping animals, and remembering what life was like before. She is not afraid to speak her mind, or fight for what she feels is right. In my mind I picture Lynn like Ygritte, the wildling from Game of Thrones (she even has long red hair).

After seven years in the wilderness, Lynn is surprised to encounter a man named Jax and his dog, Wolf. She brings them home, never imagining the whirlwind that follows. Jax seems full of secrets and dangerous talents, and, when more strangers appear, things quickly spiral out of control. Lynn will find herself questioning everything and everyone she thought she knew.

This may be Johnson's first book but I feel he does an amazing job of making you feel like you can see what Lynn is seeing; the Yukon he describes is beautiful but also dangerous.  Johnson's apocalypse is believable: you only have to read newspaper headlines to feel afraid this book could come true. The plot really quickens in pace after Lynn meets Jax. The Wolves of Winter has action scenes, plot twists, and even some romance. I would not be surprised to see Johnson write a sequel to continue Lynn's story. Overall, I would give The Wolves of Winter 4 out of 5 stars.

Need to Know by Karen Cleveland

Tags: Spy Fiction

         Thrillers and Suspense

Have you ever been watching something on TV when suddenly the scene becomes so tense you feel like you can't bear to watch, and you just want to hide until that part is over?  I have never felt this way while reading a book…until now.

Vivian Miller is a busy wife and mother of four children, one of which has special medical needs.  She is also a CIA counterintelligence analyst!  She develops an algorithm to root out Russian agents hiding in the United States, but what she discovers will turn her whole world upside down. She is forced to choose what is more important, the security of her country, or the lives of her family.

Need to Know is a nail-biter from beginning to end. I found Vivian's character very real and believable, and I struggled right along with her, trying to decide what I would do in her shoes. The twists and turns in plot keep the story moving at a fast pace, and I was still thinking about the ending days after I finished the book.

I first heard about Need to Know from the author Louise Penny, who highly recommended it in a monthly newsletter.  Other best-selling authors, such as John Grisham, Lee Child, and Patricia Cornwell all have high praise for this book as well.

The author, Karen Cleveland, was a former CIA analyst herself, so the subject matter would have been very familiar to her. However, it is still hard to believe that Need to Know is Cleveland's first novel.  I only hope, for the sake of everyone who enjoys reading Need to Know as much as I did, that it won't be her last.

Hot Detox by Julie Daniluk

     

One of my favourite things about working in the library is the treasures I find shelving or among the returns in the book chute. Many times, my interest is captured by an item I would never have thought to search the catalogue for on my own. Hot Detox, by Registered Holistic Nutritionist Julie Daniluk, is new to the library and one of my latest finds. The title hooked me right away, and when I quickly flipped through the book I found lots of beautiful photographs and healthy-looking recipes.

Later, at home, I discovered whole chapters dedicated to cleansing toxins from your "gut", liver, lymph system, kidneys, lungs and skin. Julie Daniluk, who is also the author of the Meals that Heal Inflammation and Slimming Meals that Heal cookbooks, explains how she suffered from colitis and joint pain for years until she began to experiment and eat foods that reduced inflammation in her body. In Hot Detox, Daniluk takes her experience and learning even further, by using warming spices in all the recipes, traditional Ayurvedic practices from India, and medicinal techniques from China. Hot Detox provides a 3 day, 10 day, or 21 day detox plan, each complete with suggested menus.

          

I decided to try the 21 day detox. In the first 9 days of the plan (Phase 1) you are weaned from gluten, dairy, refined sugar and caffeine. This sounds way worse than it is!  I did have a bad headache for a couple of days, which Daniluk suggests could be caused by shifting hormones or toxins, dehydration, or caffeine withdrawal. Phase 2 of the detox (days 10, 11, and 12) eliminates animal products and relies heavily on liquids. Phase 3 allows you to choose whether you want to remain vegan or reintroduce animal products again. There is also more of a focus on rebooting and nourishing all the systems in your body. 

I have to say I really surprised myself!  Not only did I stick to the plan, but I didn't feel hungry or have cravings. I tried lots of new-to-me foods, such as hemp hearts, chia seeds, coconut flour, and coconut milk. My whole family found the supper recipes to be especially good, and some even provided leftovers for another meal. I think the only recipe I really didn't like was called Detox Rocket, which was a smoothie that included boiled beets. Other members of my family, who are counting calories, didn't like the fact that the detox recipes do not include a nutritional breakdown. To save money, I went to Bulk Barn to get only the amounts I needed of ingredients I wasn't sure I would use again after the detox, rather than buy them in big bags at Goodness Me or the grocery store. Some of the recipes also require additional preparation time, so I either chopped up ingredients in advance, or tried the recipe on a day that wasn't as busy. 

I lost 12 pounds on the 21 day detox plan. People ask me, "But how do you FEEL?"  Other than the obvious answer, "I feel great!  I lost 12 pounds!" I think the biggest change happened after the detox was over, when I ate a cookie a friend had made. One small taste of refined sugar and I felt very sick for several hours. This has only given me more incentive to carry on, and I have now borrowed Meals that Heal Inflammation and Slimming Meals that Heal. 

Hot Detox has been shortlisted for the Taste Canada Cookbook Awards 2017.  Daniluk, who lives in Toronto, has appeared on The Dr. Oz Show, is a resident expert for The Marilyn Denis Show, and hosts The Healthy Gourmet on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).  Daniluk's blog, free recipes and video cooking classes can be found on her website at www.juliedaniluk.com.

Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan

"Life is change, constant change, and unless we are lucky enough to find comedy in it, change is nearly always a drama, if not a tragedy.  But after everything, and even when the skies turn scarlet and threatening, I still believe that if we are lucky enough to be alive, we must give thanks for the miracle of every moment of every day, no matter how flawed" spoken by Pino Lella in Beneath a Scarlet Sky.

            Writing Beneath a Scarlet Sky literally saved the author's life. In the preface, Mark Sullivan writes openly about a time in his life when he was so low he considered crashing his car. He decided instead to go to a dinner party, where he heard an old story about a young hero that completely changed his life around.

            Beneath a Scarlet Sky is based on the true story of Pino Lella, who, at 17, wants nothing more than to meet a girl and fall in love. However, it is 1943 and not only is Nazi Germany in Milan where Pino lives, but the Allies start dropping bombs on the city every night.  I am a huge fan of WWII fiction but, until this book, I had never read anything from the Italian point of view. I feel Beneath a Scarlet Sky does a good job describing the struggles within Italy between the Nazis, Fascists, Partisans, and later, the Allies.

            The reader will be drawn to Pino's idealism and passion for his homeland and all those who are suffering. This young man clearly sees the cruelty and injustice around him and acts upon it, while many of the adults seem too full of hatred or too afraid.  Each task that Pino takes on is more dangerous than the last, and he witnesses and endures more heartbreak than anyone at any age should.  It is sad to wonder if he keeps going on because of the resiliency of his youth, or because he lived in a time when there was no other choice.

            There was only one part of the book I found slow, but I think the detail was necessary to truly appreciate the peril that follows. Similar to Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See I found myself thinking about the characters and the story days after I finished reading it, giving thanks for the miracle of a young man named Pino Lella.

The Only Child by Andrew Pyper

I took a course last summer that required me to read from genres outside of my normal reading tastes. Horror is a genre I haven't touched since the mid 1980's, when I read Stephen King's Pet Cemetery, became terrified of my roommate's cat, and had to sleep with the light on for a week!

The other day I noticed a book called The Only Child by Andrew Pyper. When I saw National Post quoted on the cover saying "Pyper could be the next Stephen King" and then discovered that Pyper is Canadian, I was willing to give horror another try.

The Only Child revolves around the character of Dr. Lily Dominick, a forensic psychiatrist, who became obsessed with the human mind after witnessing her mother's death at the age of six.  Lily's newest patient, however, shakes her to the core: not only does he claim to be 200 years old, but he says he knew her mother. Lily struggles between what is real and not real, both in the memories of her mother and the stories this "man" tells her about his life. The patient/man/monster quickly establishes a hold on Lily that keeps both her and the reader in suspense and looking over a shoulder until the end of the book. 

Elements of the characters of classic horror, including Jeykll and Hyde, Dracula, and Frankenstein are present in this storyline, so it definitely had the potential to be terrifying.  However, I found the book to be more creepy than scary. I was able to determine a couple of plot twists way in advance, which also helped reduce my fright (and our hydro bill). Overall, I would give The Only Child a 3 out of 5.

Click!  Light turned off for the night.

Grief Cottage by Gail Godwin

I always feel a little sad when I see a severely neglected and abandoned house. I wonder about the people who might have lived there, the joys and sorrows they might have experienced within its walls, and how they might feel to see their former home in such a state. 

In Gail Godwin's Grief Cottage, the main character becomes obsessed with the dilapidated cottage near his great-aunt's house, especially after he sees the ghost of a missing boy. The cottage was dubbed "Grief Cottage" by the locals after a mother, father, and 14 year old boy disappeared from it when Hurricane Hazel hit. Their bodies were never found. 

Marcus, the 11 year old main character, has had to deal with a fair amount of grief of his own. In fact, the title could easily be a metaphor of his own life. He had already suffered losses before his mother is killed in a car accident. Marcus is sent to live with his only remaining relative, his great-aunt Charlotte, who is a talented but reclusive artist that lives on a small island in South Carolina.

Marcus reminds me of Disney's Pollyanna, only without her eternal optimism. Godwin has written this character to be extremely sensitive to others and wiser than his years: the result produces a profound effect on those around him. In many ways, Marcus is as neglected and abandoned as Grief Cottage, and I found myself bracing for the hurricane that eventually releases inside him. Grief Cottage is a good read but not a happy read: even the positive twists near the end are tinged with loss. Overall, I give Grief Cottage a 4 out of 5 stars.

           

The Map of Salt and Stars by Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar

            

 The Map of Salt and Stars, by Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar, follows the plight of Nour, a young Syrian girl and her family. Nour's family was living in New York City, but after the death of her father (Baba), Nour's mama decides to move the family back to Syria. The family isn't back in Syria long before they are touched by war. Nour tries to take comfort in the stories her Baba told her of Rawiya, a legendary girl, who disguised herself as a boy in order to travel with a mapmaker charting the Mediterranean for the first time. Nour's mother also makes maps, and, as her family flees Syria for Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, and Ceuta, they end up mirroring the journey of Rawiya from the past. 

I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the parallels the author drew not only between maps of the past and present, but also the maps we contain within ourselves, as we journey through our lives. There are many instances where you get a real sense of the danger, suffering, and loss refugees must feel as they try to find food, safety, and someone who will give them a new "home."

 
Nour has synesthesia, a condition that allows her to see colours and shapes for smells, sounds, and letters. For example, Nour sees her mother's angry voice as red, almost white; her sister's laugh as pink-and-purple; and, when oil and fat sizzle in a pan, it pops like yellow and black bursts in her ears. The fact that Nour experiences multiple senses in colours and shapes also reminds me of the colours and shapes on a map.

I also like that there were strong female characters in this book: all of them had to make hard choices and sacrifices. I continue to be amazed about civilization's ability to be humane and inhumane in times of crises.

However, I found the transitions between the Nour and Rawiya's stories very confusing. Three asterisks were all that separated one timeline from another within the chapters, and sometimes there was extra spacing between paragraphs making me think the storyline was switching when it wasn't. I also had to flip back through the book at times to remember where one girl's story had ended off before it went to the other girl's story. I feel the poor transitioning prevented me from truly engaging with either storyline, and turned what could have been a great book into just a good book. 

Autism in Heels by Jennifer O'Toole

Tags:     Autistic people

             Autism spectrum disorders

            Autism is definitely a hot topic in Ontario news right now. I don't think I really had a true grasp of how difficult it is for children and their caregivers to receive a diagnosis, support and treatment, let alone how much it all costs.

            While browsing the "New This Week" section of our website, I came across a memoir entitled Autism in Heels: the untold story of a female life on the spectrum by Jennifer Cook O'Toole. O'Toole is the bestselling author of the Asperkids series of books, a motivational speaker along the likes of Tony Attwood, and is described as "one of autism's most prominent figures." O'Toole certainly knows her stuff: not only are her husband and all 3 children on the spectrum, but she herself was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome when she was 35 years old. She says that was when her "real life began."

            I learned a lot from this book. I learned that in the not-so-distant past, Autism assessment screening tools were often gender-biased towards males. Girls often had to present more obvious characteristics to even be noticed, and experts believed autistic girls had "more severe symptoms and more significant intellectual disabilities." I also learned that girls with autism are more prone to eating disorders, inflicting self-harm, and to be victims of abuse.  Another thing I learned was that people with autism can feel overwhelming compassion and empathy for others, to the point that it literally hurts them to see someone or something else hurting. I encourage you to explore the many other things I learned for yourself by reading the book.

            I have to say, however, that I found this book difficult to read. O'Toole suffered through a lot of bullying and mental, physical, and sexual abuse in her life before her diagnosis. There are even content warnings for a couple of chapters later in the book. These can be difficult topics to read about anyway, but to discover the author thought her mistreatment was deserved or her fault? Heartbreaking. It is also hard to read about how hard she has tried her whole life to make friends and feel accepted. O'Toole has a huge list of accomplishments, but, at times, I felt as though she was still seeking this acceptance and acknowledgement from me as a reader. O'Toole confesses to having a "jumpy thinking style." I often found her writing style to be repetitive or fragmented. I could not read more than a few pages at a time before stopping for a while, but I refused to give up because of all the valuable bits of information I learned. I do not want to discourage you from reading this book, however, as others have stated they could not put it down.