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Book reviews by library staff and guest contributors

Pausing to breathe

Cover of Too Much!  An Overwhelming
A review of Too Much! An Overwhelming Day by Jolene Gutièrrez
Angel Chang

The day has begun and the world is full of noises, lights, sounds, and feelings. The alarm clock is loud, the sun is bright, and the shirt is too itchy. Our main character is struggling and experiencing sensory overload. How will she navigate her day when the world is so loud, bright, and overwhelming?

The grownups in her life allow her to self-regulate and tell them what she needs. Slowly, our main character is able to have a gentle hug, quiet time, and personal space in a dark place surrounded by comfy things.

Oct 2, 2024

If a story is never told, where does it go?

Cover of The Cemetery of Untold Sto
A review of The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez

An esteemed author who writes under the pen name "Scheherazade" decides to retire to the Dominican Republic and build a cemetery and sculpture garden to mark stories that she and others started to write or tell and didn't finish. To provide closure, the stories are "buried" and marked with fantastical sculptures. Those with open hearts and minds are allowed entry into the garden. Skeptics with closed minds must stay outside the gates. Once inside, guests to the cemetery are allowed to wander and listen and learn.

Sep 30, 2024

How (not) to say you're sorry

Cover of I'm Sorry You Got Mad
A review of I'm Sorry You Got Mad by Kyle Lukoff
Julie Kwon

Let me just start by saying this is my current favorite book - I think everyone can learn something about emotions, apologies, and sincerity by reading this epistolary tale filled with classroom drama.

First, the facts. Jack knocked over Zoe's castle, and now he is trying to write an apology letter. The story opens with a crumpled note stating "sorry," and we see Jack working through various iterations. A couple attempts later:

Sep 27, 2024

Hero or villain? In war is there any difference?

Cover of The Light Brigade
A review of The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley

Some books I read and think, "I cannot wait to rave about this book to anyone and everyone." And the next thought is, "how will I do it justice?" The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley had me thinking both of those as I finished. It's a deceptively straightforward military science fiction novel, that packs a much deeper and thought-provoking punch.

Sep 26, 2024

Sweet Anticipation for October 2024

Sweet Anticipation graphic
New Titles

October brings with it a particularly special time of year here in Madison: the return of the Wisconsin Book Festival, this October 17-20. This year’s events include authors of national standing to student writers embarking on new careers; topics of politics, poetry, science and culture to things that go bump in the night and just plain good stories that will keep you reading late into the night. And best of all, it’s all free. Check out the events page and plan your schedule—some events require advance registrations.

Sep 24, 2024

Shot by Cupid's arrow

Cover of Lunar New Year Love Story
A review of Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang
LeUyen Pham

Valentina Tran's favorite day of the year is Valentine's Day. She is named after the holiday and it's no wonder that her imaginary friend is Cupid. Val and Cupid are cuddly and sweet buddies when Val is younger, planning out hand decorated cards and heartfelt messages for friends and family. As Val grows older and learns more about her family history she starts to hate Valentine's Day. Her pal Cupid takes a dark turn and manifests as a terrifying spirit version of the martyred Saint Valentine. No matter what she does, Val cannot shake the haunting.

Sep 23, 2024

May be harder than you think

Cover of Butt or face?: Can You Tel
A review of Butt or face?: Can You Tell Which End You're Looking At? by Kari Lavelle

Does it ever get old??? No, it does not. Animal books are one of the staples of any library kids collection and these two are extra fun. In close up, highly detailed color photos, the reader is asked if they are looking at a “butt” or a “face” of an animal. Turn the page and get your answer along with interesting facts about the animal in question.Some animals are easy guesses, but most are exotic surprises.  Who knew an Australian Mary River Turtle breathes through its butt and can stay underwater for several days at a time?

Sep 20, 2024

Commuting connections

Cover of Iona Iverson's Rules for C
A review of Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley

A couple of months ago, my colleague Jane posted a book review for A Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and described it as “a warm hug of a book.” I really needed a warm book hug at the time and I read it… three times. Ever since I have been on the hunt for that warm hug feeling. A book about people making connections, showing up for each other, and making the most out of their lives. It’s a big ask, and not something you find every day.

Sep 18, 2024

There's always a way in

Cover of The Gatekeeper
A review of The Gatekeeper by James Byrne

Desmond Aloysius Limerick (Dez) is a retired gatekeeper. What's a gatekeeper you may ask? Well in Dez's case, a kind of cross between Jack Reacher, MacGyver, and John McClane. His former profession had him working ops around the world and as a gatekeeper he was responsible not only for getting his teams into whatever location they needed to enter, but making sure they all got out too. He was an expert on entrances and exits of all kinds. His current life has him living in southern California and sitting in on an occasional musical gig.

Sep 16, 2024

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