MADreads

Book reviews by library staff and guest contributors

Setting the world on fire

Cover of Nothing to See Here
A review of Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

Lillian Breaker is at loose ends. She's just turned 28 years old, works at the local Save-a-Lot and is still living in her mother's house (in the attic no less). To say that she's going nowhere would be an understatement. Until she receives the latest letter from her highschool friend Madison Roberts. Madison has always been everything Lillian is not, pretty, confident, wealthy and now married to the man, Senator Jasper Roberts, slated to be the next US Secretary of State. But Madison has a little problem. One that she would like Lillian to solve.

Posted by Jane J on Nov 12, 2019

All is not what it seems

Cover of The Lemon Sisters
A review of The Lemon Sisters by Jill Shalvis
Brooke Lemon has led an adventurous life as a photojournalist and editor traveling around the world, and would appear to have a life anyone would envy….except….appearances are not always what they seem. So too with Brooke's older sister Mindy. She also seems to have the perfect life.
Posted by Liz C on Nov 7, 2019

A timely take on privilege and violence

Cover of Big Library Read
Big Library Read

Overdrive has announced the newest addition to its Big Library Read program with the young adult novel I’m Not Dying With You Tonight by debut authors Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal. High school students Lena and Campbell aren’t friends. African American Lena has a plan for the future, a fine boyfriend and a sure sense of herself. Campbell, who is white, just wants to make it through her first year at a new school without incident.

Posted by Katie H on Nov 1, 2019

Pumpkins as a muse

Cover of Pumpkinheads
A review of Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks with colorist Sarah Stern

Fall is here, school is in full swing and harvest time is now. That means visits to apple orchards, corn mazes and pumpkin patches. Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks is the perfect book to read to celebrate the season.

Posted by Molly W on Oct 30, 2019

Sweet Anticipation for November/December 2019

Sweet Anticipation graphics
New Titles

As the quote goes, there’s a big difference between being mostly dead and all dead, and in the publishing world, 2019 is only mostly dead as publishers are wrapping up their offerings and looking forward to 2020. But for readers, 2019 is more than slightly alive with plenty of notable titles hitting shelves in November and December. And with the 24 hour news cycle churning away, the possibility of some last minute newsmakers running up the bestseller lists is a definite possibility. Here are some of the highlights left to come in 2019:

Posted by Katie H on Oct 28, 2019

It takes guts to talk about stomach problems

Cover of Guts
A review of Guts by Raina Telgemeier

It's important to talk about tough topics and Raina Telgemeier's latest graphic novel transforms discussion about gastrointestinal troubles. The Telgemeier household is plagued by stomach flu for days at the beginning of Raina's autobiographical story and that sets the stage for a 4th grade year filled with vomit, diarrhea, farting, gas and other bathroom issues. The boys in fourth grade are obsessed with grossing everyone out and the girls are becoming increasingly secretive.

Posted by Molly W on Oct 25, 2019

A deep dive

Cover of Fire and fortitude: The US
A review of Fire and fortitude: The US Army in the Pacific War, 1941-1943 by John McManus
It's an ambitious undertaking to give a deep look at the Pacific theatre of World War II. McManus is giving himself room to complete the task. Here he has written an intense and thorough book covering the first two years of the Pacific War, but he's not done. He'll complete the endeavor in a second volume. Even so, it is a long book and almost too detailed to be absorbed. Caveats aside, it actually reads fairly easily.
Posted by Liz C on Oct 23, 2019

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