MADreads

Book reviews by library staff and guest contributors

Find the extraordinary Newbery at the library in February

Cover of Hello Universe
A review of: Hello Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

This year's Newbery Award for the most distinguished contribution to children's literature goes to Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly. Told from the shifting points of view of four kids, Hello, Universe is both an exciting and thoughtful, quiet and suspenseful. It's the story of a quiet kid that gets trapped in a well, and the three seemingly disparate kids that set out to find him. Infused with Filipino folklore, there is a lot to love in this story about courage, friendship, and childhood.

Posted by Beth M on Feb 13, 2018

Go, gummy, go!

Cover of The Not-So-Secret Society:
A review of The Not-So-Secret Society: Tale of the Gummy by Matthew Daley

Books that involve gangs of problem solving kids, hijinks and hilarity are perennially popular at my house. I checked this new book out because it looked like it fit that bill, and boy did it ever. Wherever this series goes I will follow. Madison, Dylan, Emma, Aidan and Ava are twelve years old, classmates, and members of the Not-So-Secret Society.  

Posted by Molly W on Feb 6, 2018

Perception is everything

Cover of Tess of the Road
A review of Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman

I was so excited when I was offered a galley of Hartman's new novel set in the fantasy realm of Goredd first introduced in Seraphina. Here we meet Seraphina's half-sister Tess. Tess chafes at the role she's had to take on in her family and the restrictions placed on her as a female. She's bitter and angry and yes, she drinks too much to dull her frustrations. But she's chugging along with the goal of getting her sister settled in a good marriage.

Posted by Jane J on Jan 30, 2018

Working for the whole

Cover of The Streak: Lou Gehrig, Ca
A review of The Streak: Lou Gehrig, Cal Ripken, Jr., and Baseball’s Most Historic Record by John Eisenberg

I found this a very interesting read. I enjoyed both sections though of course I am more familiar with Ripken (my time period) than Gehrig so it was good to learn more and see him as more than the man speaking at Yankee Stadium at the end of his career. I think what really made the book work were the sections in between that looked at baseball streaks in general, a little history of statistics in baseball, and more importantly the people and their own feelings about their streaks.

Posted by Liz C on Jan 29, 2018

Disappearing twin

Cover of Beautiful Lies
A review of Beautiful Lies by Jessica Warman
Beautiful Lies was an amazing book. The fact that it offered many experiences that I haven't been exposed to was incredible. It showed me what could happen with a problem that I may not currently face. Somehow, even though the story was very different from my life, I was still able to relate with the character. I knew how she felt when her twin disappeared as I would be devastated if one of my siblings just disappeared mysteriously. I would definitely recommend this book as well as other books by Jessica Warman.
Posted by on Jan 16, 2018

Monsters need to eat, too

Cover of Brave Chef Brianna
A review of Brave Chef Brianna by Jillian Crab

A famous chef and restaurateur in failing health decides to pit his children against one another in order for one of them to achieve the rights to his successful empire.  All of the children (12 boys!) and one daughter, Brianna Jakobsson, must start a new restaurant.  The child with the most successful restaurant wins the inheritance.  Each restaurant must be in a different town and all of the children must open their restaurant without any assistance from their father.  Brianna is at a major disadvantage because she is the youngest in the family and has only recently graduated from culinar

Posted by Molly W on Jan 12, 2018

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