Book of the Month : December - Let It Snow, Three Holiday Romances

Let it Snow

By John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

I am not one for romances but I was looking for something to get me into the holiday spirit and these short stories seemed like just what I was looking for.

Let it Snow is a collection of three short stories tied together by a common thread; written by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle,

So go make yourself some hot coco, grab your favourite snugly blanket, curl up by the fire and prepare for a warm night in with this to read. All three romances have a holiday theme and they definitely got me in the spirit of things. The three stories can stand alone but there is an underlying thread to tie them together in the end.

My favourite of the three authors stories was by John Green, I actually found myself laughing and read this one very quickly. The other tales were a little sappy for my taste ... but who am I kidding I love a little sappy, cheesy-ness once in a while. 'Tis the season for love and friendship and spreading joy and all that.

Richmond Public Library keeps this book in storage and only pulls it out this time of year so you might have to place a hold on it to guarantee you can get your hands on it.

Happy holidays to you all!

Labor Day

Labor Day

By Joyce Maynard

Being the week of Labour Day I felt this title was appropriate. This is held in the Richmond Public Library adult collection but I believe this coming of age story is wonderful for young adult readers too.

Joyce Maynard has combined a young mans coming of age story with an interesting love story; not just between a man and a woman but also between a boy and a father figure. Labor Day tells the story of Henry and his single mother just getting through life until one Labor day weekend.

Henry's mother finds it difficult to leave the house, with a debilitating discomfort of other people and places. Henry is doing his best to take care of her until they meet an intriguing man the Thursday before Labor Day. While shopping at their local convenience shop Henry is approached by a man, looking a little worse for ware with some blood on his pants and a large cut on his head. Would you invite a stranger with blood on his clothes into your home? Thirteen year old Henry and his mother, Adele, did and what happens next might surprise you.
It turns out that the stranger, Frank, is an escaped convict on the run. Frank is strong and innovative, helpful and kind, even when he has Henry's mother tied up to a kitchen chair there is a safety that Adele seems to feel.

Henry learn's some of life's valuable lessons: how to make the perfect piecrust; don't put in too much water, how to throw a baseball; finger placement is the key. Henry will also learn about jealousy, betrayal, love and patience all from the mysterious Frank.

This is an adult title and has some strong language and contains a small amount of sexual content.

Also available in streaming audiobook format through your RPL Hoopla account.

The Boomerang Effect

The Boomerang Effect

By Gordon Jack

This is the first book that I have read in a really long time that actually had me laughing out loud. Let's just say the domino effect is in full force here, one bad decision can start a landslide!

Lawrence Barry is a junior and reminded me a little bit of Ferris Bueller except Lawrence's charm doesn't always hit the mark and readers end up feeling a little sorry for him rather that feeling he's "the coolest." There is a masked prankster on the lose and Lawrence is the prime suspect due to his "not-so-great" reputation. Thanks to a men-tee program Lawrence gets the chance to redeem himself showing a hidden intelligence and heart when he is forced to quit smoking pot. He's under the threat of reform school and there is nothing like threatening to take a person away from their friends to sober you up.

The Boomerang Effect is a pretty quick read and I would recommend it to the reluctant reader who, like myself, can find some books a little daunting. With a mystery, plenty of pranks and a good number of laughs the pages will fly by. With relatable characters and some silly situations Gordon Jack has created one entertaining read!

Book of the Month: April - Killer Instinct

Killer Instinct

By S.E. Green

What would you do if you had urges to kill? How would you feel if a local serial killer was sending you morbid messages? Most of us would be horrified, not Lane, the protagonist of Killer Instinct, book one of the Killer Instinct series by S.E. Green.

Lane spends her days keeping up her good grades, her afternoons working at the local animal hospital and her evenings hunting local criminals. Using her skills in Aikido and special knowledge of what makes a killer tick Lane is trying to bring justice to her town. The local news has nicknamed her the "Masked Savior" for all of the "good deeds" she has been doing.

Lane is trying her best to quell her own dark urges since she herself might just be a serial killer as well. Are we born a killer or is it something we become? This question is something Lane asks herself regularly.

I listened to this book through my RPL Hoopla account as a streaming audio book. It is read by Emily Woo Zeller, I really like the tone and production of this audio book. Zeller is a well established audio book narrator and has interpreted teenager Lane well. It is also available in print, you can place a hold by clicking here: Killer Instinct.

Please note that this book contains strong language and sexual content.

A Taste for Monsters

A Taste for Monsters

By Matthew J. Kirby

"I woke up next to a dead woman. A black fly rested on her open left eye, straddling her lashes ..." With an opening like that how could I resist? I am a fan of history, strong female leads and horror; A Taste for Monsters has it all.

Set in 1888 London our lead, Evelyn, is out of work and on the streets after becoming disfigured in a fire at the matchstick factory where she worked. Looking for a place to hide from the cruel streets she gets a job working at a hospital as the caregiver for Joseph Merrick, otherwise known as the Elephant man. While most people turn from her disfigurement in disgust, Evelyn finds a kindred spirit in Mr. Merrick. 

A combination of historical fiction, horror and mystery this tale of a young woman in the late 1800's intertwines historical facts with spirits and haunting that bring the unlikely pair into the folds of the Jack the Ripper murders.

This story does not shy away from the harsh realities of London's White Chapel district in the late 1800's; prostitution, desperation and death are all on display in the streets. Kirby describes the plight of a woman without position and the cruel treatment of a man with a life threatening disfigurement. As these themes lend themselves to a dark and layered story, this book is not for the faint at heart.

Author Matthew J. Kirby is the winner of the PEN Literary Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature and the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery.

Shadowshaper

Shadowshaper

By Daniel Jose Older

Here is an urban fantasy set in the magical city of Brooklyn. Shadowshaper follows artist Sierra Santiago during a summer of discovery. Sierra's family has been keeping a secret from her but with the help of her friends she will find out what a special soul she truly is. Sierra and her friends know the streets of Brooklyn well and Older describes the city with such colour and love that the reader feels like they have been transported. Older has brought us a diverse cast of characters with an inspiring lead in Sierra an Afro-Latina youth who speaks her mind and holds her own even when things start to get chaotic she can gather herself and take charge.
Sierra finds out that she has a family history that allows her to see the souls of the dead, she is a legacy of a supernatural order called the Shadowshapers. She has the power to connect with spirits of people who have passed through her artwork. With a swirl of paint, in some graffiti, even a simple side walk chalk drawing Sierra can bring forth and call upon the energy of the dead.
This book was recommended to me because I enjoyed some of Cassandra Clare's work. I have to say that Shadowshaper's is far superior writing with much more relatable and interesting characters. Two thumbs up from me!


Shadowshaper is available in audio format on Hoopla and e-Book on Overdrive.

Book of the Month: August - Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer

Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer

By Katie Alender

The story opens in Paris, the apartment of a beautiful, 19 year old, up-and-coming French model, Gabrielle. She has just arrived home from a chic party and is getting ready for bed. Admiring herself in the mirror she notices a dark smudge on her arm. She tries to wash it off but no matter what it would not wash away. As she leaves her wash room she notices that, strangely, all of the lights are on. She calls out to see if anyone is home but there is no-one. Just then she feels like someone is watching her, she turns and there in front of her is a strange woman in a strange costume. Gabrielle is surprised, the woman just stares coldly at Gabrielle. The woman then hisses "Are you from the Rou family?" in French. Then without warning the mirror behind this frightening stranger shatters and a large piece of the mirror comes flying directly at Gabrielle's neck. Then Gabrielle's head falls to the floor.

With an opening like this Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer had me hooked. I love a good murder mystery and this one takes place in the beautiful and magical city of Paris, France. I decided to listen to this one through Hoopla. This eAudio book is read by Erin Spenser and Elea Oberon. The story is written in two parts; readers follow Colette Iselin as she takes a trip to Paris with her French class. The other part is written from the point of view of the poor murder victims; there is a serial killer on the lose in Paris. While Colette is trying to enjoy her tour of Paris she finds herself seeing the strange apparition of a beautiful woman dressed in 18th century garb, showing up in historic locations around the city. What does this all mean? With clues popping up all over the city Colette might be the key to understanding and solving the mystery.

Author Katie Alender takes readers are whisked away to Paris as they follow Colette on her path to understanding her family history, tours the city, brushes up on her French, learns about true friendship and maybe even falls in love.

I like listening to these Hoopla eAudiobooks while I walk my dog in the morning. It is easy to stream them on any device and it is free with your library card. Set up an account today and check out Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer for yourself.

Looking for more books like this? Check out my YA murder mystery book list in our Library Catalogue.

As Dead as it Gets

As Dead as it gets

By Katie Alender

I'll be completely honest I was waiting for the first book in this trilogy and I got tired of waiting so instead I decided to start at the end. Here at the library we often find ourselves unable to find the first book in a series and we don't always know if the books can be read out of order. Will the story stand on its own? I decided to see if this was the case with As Dead as it gets book 3 in the Bad Girls Don't Die series.

I was pleasantly surprised. I did not need to read the first two books to be able to follow along as Alexis tries to get her life back to normal after witnessing the death of a friend. Alexis has a special, if not annoying, ability. She can see and communicate with ghosts. Some may think this would be a wonderful ability but ghosts are everywhere and some can be really intrusive and even life threatening.

This story is filled with thrills and chills as an angry ghost named Lydia seams to be trying to exact revenge on our poor Alexis. Just when Alexis is starting to fall in love and settle into year book committee her life is turned upside down when young girls from school start going missing and turning up dead. If you are looking for a creepy and haunting read with a little romance thrown in then check out As Dead as it gets today also available through Hoopla streaming audio book.

Here is the book trailer too. Enjoy! Supernatural

#Scandal

#Scandal

By Sarah Ockler

From the author who brought us Twenty Boy Summer and Bittersweet comes a story about what can happen when a picture goes viral, #Scandal. In this digital age a picture is worth more than a thousand words and many of those words will be negative ones. Author Sarah Ockler captures social media hazards and teens in this novel. In this day and age there are so many issues with online bullying and #Scandal brings those issues to life.
Our main character, Lucy, finds herself at the prom with her best friends man and they find themselves in a compromising position. This wouldn't be so bad because they had every intention of confessing except before they have the chance to do so a picture as evidence goes viral around the school. This one night of fun brings Lucy's whole world crumbling down. This is a cautionary tale of teen life.
There is a strong message of honesty and standing up for yourself. With confidence Lucy works hard to gain back the trust of her best friend and hold her head up high in the judging halls of her high school. Real life, romance, friendship and confidence all come together in this high school drama.

Stone in the Sky

Stone in the Sky

By Cecil Castellucci
Have you ever gone to the library to pick up the newest book series only to find that the first book in the series is out. Well that is what happened here but I decided to try reading the second book first and see how it went. I was not disappointed at all. I was able to follow the story even though I had not read the first book, Tin Star. Stone in the Sky is set in space and filled with aliens and adventure this book is a wonderful look at the human experience. Our main character, Tula, has not had it easy but she has found her place, safety, a home and a family. Award winning author Cecil Castellucci brings the reader to a remote space station near a resource rich planet. Beings from across the universe, some very dangerous, are descending upon the planet in the hopes of becoming rich. Unfortunately, for Tula, one of these people is the man who nearly killed her many years ago. Readers should be ready for an intense read when they pick this up. Adventure, intrigue and romance fills this duet of novels. According to the author this series is only going to be two books long, unlike many series and trilogies on the YA shelves.

Things I Know About Love

Things I know about Love

By Kate Le Vann

I was looking to read a little something with some romance and this popped out at me from the shelf. I was intrigued because of the premise; a young woman travels half way across the world to visit her brother after she has won a battle with Leukaemia, this sounded inspiring and Things I Know About Love was just that. Livia is a strong young woman looking to get away and celebrate winning a battle with a serious illness. She travels from England to New Jersey to visit her brother over the summer and she ends up finding love.
Over the summer instead of creating a traditional travel journal, Livia decides to create a blog. She writes about all of her experiences in this private blog. The book is written as if the reader has been given access to this blog and the format of the writing style is fun to read. With lists and notes about love and life the reader is taken into this seventeen year old girls life and self-reflection. I especially enjoyed reading some of the British slang that Livia uses and found myself reading many portions with an English accent. One word of warning though; you might need a tissue for some points and you will definitely finish the book wanting to know more.
After finishing I was drawn to look at more YA fiction that had a blog feel and now I am reading Kiss & Blog. I'll let you know how it goes!

Alex as Well

Alex as Well

By Alyssa Brugman

This is the complicated story about a young teen who is trying to figure out who they are. Many teens are trying to figure themselves out but for Alex things are a little more complicated because Alex, our main character, was born a little different. Alex was born intersexed. What is this? You may be asking yourself. Well Alex was born with the sexual organs of both sexes. As a baby Alex's parents chose to raise Alex as a boy. Unfortunately Alex has always felt like a female. So after being raised as a boy for so long she decides to create a whole new identity as a female. The journey will be tough and long. Many questions and lessons about gender, acceptance, sexuality, belonging, and friendship are dealt with in this novel. Alyssa Brugman's Alex as Well answers the question; does it matter whether you're a boy or a girl?

Antigoddess

Antigoddess

By Kendare Blake

Antigoddess is the first installment in a new series by Kendare Blake, acclaimed author of Anna Dressed in Blood. This first in the Goddess War series. We are in a world where gods and goddesses live among us undetected. They always thought they were immortal until one day when they all start getting sick. Athena and Hermes are now on the search for the cause and a cure. They are led to a teen, Cassandra, who may be the key to a cure. This was an interesting read. I found that I learned a lot about Greek Gods while reading this. I enjoyed the idea that these interesting immortals could be wandering the earth among us. Watch this book trailer and you will be hooked. The trailer was what got me to grab this book from the shelves, once I started reading I could not put it down.

Trash

By Andy Mulligan

Trash was just hiding on the shelf and I'm so glad that I picked it up. It takes place in an unnamed third world country. Readers follow three friends; Raphael, Gardo and Jun Jun a.k.a Rat. These friends live and work in a dump site and make their living digging through trash. They spend their days sorting trash looking for paper, tin and pretty much anything that they can possibly sell. Most of the time they find "stupp," I am going to let you read about what stupp is. Let's just say it is not pleasant. One day while digging they come across a wallet in a bag. This is a rare find. There is money, identification and a note. The boys know that there is more to this than meets the eye. The three friends pull together and take drastic measures to not only free themselves from life in the dump but also help many others along the way. At times they even risk their own lives while they are trying to solve this mysteries. The book is written from many points of view so that readers have an opportunity to gain understanding and knowledge from all sides. This was a fast read and I feel would be great for reluctant readers. This book was also made into a movie. I give this one two thumbs up!

Other books like Trash; Shooting Kabul, Golden Boy, As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth.

The 100

By Kass Morgan

I have been watching the T.V series connected to this novel from the first episode. I was excited when the library received the novel hoping to compare. I was very surprised to read and discover that while there are similarities there are even more differences. Character's names and occupations are different and the plot line has changed. Even with all of the differences I really enjoyed The 100 the novel. With this novel readers will get a better picture of the Arc and it's workings. I feel that readers will also enjoy getting to know some of their favourite characters, with chapters written from different points of view and flash backs galore. Kass Morgan takes us to a place three centuries into the future. The only known survivors of the human race are now living as a colony in space. Resources and supplies are low so any crimes are punishable by death unless the criminal is under 18 wherein they are put into jail, until recently. The Chancellor of this space colony has decided that it is time to see if Earth is safe and inhabitable; he has chosen 100 young criminals and sent them down. Will the space station survive? Is Earth safe? Is there other life, human life, on Earth? Pick up this book today to find out for yourself.

Shadow and Bone

By Leigh Bardugo   

Shadow and Bone readers are taken into a whole new world, surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee. Our main character, Alina Starkov, has never been good at anything but when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life. This power could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart. 
I enjoyed the similarities to Game of Thrones and I really liked the strength that Alina demonstrates; very inspiring.
Like book trailers, check out this one for Shadow and Bone.

Afterworlds

By Scott Westerfeld

This book takes place in parallel universes. Our main character Darcy Patel has put college and everything else on hold to publish her novel, "Afterworlds." Darcy drops everything she knows and heads to New York. Once she gets to New York she has no apartment or friends and she wonders whether she's made the right decision until she falls in with a crowd of other seasoned and fledgling writers who take her under their wing. This story is told in alternating chapters flipping between Darcy's life and her novel, a suspenseful thriller about Lizzie, a teen who slips into the 'Afterworld' to survive a terrorist attack. But the Afterworld is a place between the living and the dead and as Lizzie drifts between our world and that of the Afterworld, she discovers that many unsolved - and terrifying - stories need to be reconciled. And when a new threat resurfaces, Lizzie learns her special gifts may not be enough to protect those she loves and cares about most.
Check out the book trailer here and check this book out today.

Cruel Beauty

By Rosamund Hodge

Cruel Beauty is an adaptation of Beauty and the Beast with some Greek Mythology thrown in. Our main character, Nyx, since birth, has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom, because of a bargain struck by her father. Also since birth Nyx has been training to kill her future husband, Igniflex. On her seventeenth birthday, Nyx has to leave her home to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. She has to not seduce this awful man as well she must destroy the enchanted castle to break a 900 year old curse, this will help set her people free. But it turns out that Ignifex is quite charming and sort of wins over Nyx. She starts falling for him.

note: this one takes a bit to get into as the author Hodge is creating a whole new world for the reader to become immersed in.

I liked the way that even though this is a fantasy the main character Nyx reacts very realistically, she is not perfect and not always likable but she is very real.

The Accidental Highwayman

The Accidental Highwayman: being the tale of Kit Bristol, his horse Midnight, a mysterious princess, and sundry magical persons besides.

By Ben Tripp

Readers are taken to eighteenth-century England and into the life of Kit Bristol. He is a simple servant of a nobleman, or so he thinks. One day when his master arrives home Kit is brought into a world of highway robbery, magic and mystery. The full title of this book tells us a lot about what to expect. When his master arrives home, badly bleeding, after another one of his outings; Kit dawns his masters garb and ventures off into the night.

This is a new take on fairy tales and is filled with every aspect of the fantasy world. There is romance, intrigue, and some humor for good measure. I particularly enjoyed the vocabulary, accents and vernacular of some of the characters. Some are comparing this book to the Princess Bride, while I would not go that far I would say there are elements that are similar.

Project Cain

By Geoffrey Girard

In this sci-fi, mystery, thriller readers are taken on an exciting ride. Our main character is Jeff Jacobson, a fifteen year old who has just discovered that his scientist father "created" him in a lab. Jeff is made from the DNA of infamous serial killer; Jeffrey Dahmer. This story takes us to a place where nature vs. nurture is tested to the extreme. Jeff is not the only teen who was created from the DNA of a serial killer. These children where created as part of a top-secret government cloning experiment called "Project Cain."
Jeff's father comes to him one day, tells him the truth and then his dad disappears. Jeff is left to his own devices, other clones were set free by the geneticists and so the summer of killing begins. It seems that Jeff is the key to stopping the killing but can he hold back his natural urges to kill?