the shadow year The Shadow Year, by Hannah Richell, begins with Lila receiving a mysterious envelope from a solicitor. The envelope contains a key, deeds to a cottage, and a map to the remote Peak District, but we don’t know who has left Lila this property or why. Lila is in a state of grief […]
The Great Alone The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah The Great Alone, Kristin Hannah’s new novel takes us into the lives of the Allbrights. Ernt, husband, father, and veteran recently returned from Viet Nam; Cora, loyal wife and mother; and their daughter, 13 year old Lenora (Leni) are a fragile family. It is 1974 and […]
News of the World By Paulette Jiles Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd has lived through the American Civil War. At 72 years old, he deserves a break. He now makes his living traveling throughout 1870s Texas reading the news to small audiences. Small town residents love to hear about European wars, the politics of the American […]
Missing, Presumedby Susie Steiner Missing, Presumed, by Susie Steiner is an armchair mystery novel that tells the tale of a fictional high profile disappearance case in Cambridgeshire, England. Edith Hind, daughter of Lady Miriam Hind and Ian Hind, a prominent London physician, suddenly disappears without a trace. The apartment she shares with her fiancé, Will, […]
The Mountain StoryBy Lori Lansens I love survival stories and Lori Lansens’ The Mountain Story doesn’t disappoint. At 18 years of age, Wolf Truly has faced many challenges in his life. His mother died when he was very young, and his father, Frankie, is a drinker, a gambler, and not much of a dad. After […]
Beartown By Fredrik Backman Beartown is a small town with big dreams. Fredrik Backman takes us into this small community nestled amongst the trees, with a heavier storyline than his usual lighthearted, humorous fiction; maybe that’s because there’s so much riding on the outcome of this tale. Regardless, I was quickly drawn in and I […]
New BoyBy Tracy Chevalier The Shakespearian tragedy of Othello is reimagined in Tracy Chevalier’s mesmerizing book, New Boy. When Osei arrives at his new school in Washington D.C. in the 1970s, he is the only black boy on the playground. This is not a new experience for him. Osei’s father is a diplomat from Ghana […]
Exit West by Moshin Hamid In the futuristic, magical novel Exit West by Moshin Hamid, Saeed and Nadia meet in an evening class in an unidentified country that is under siege and about to explode into war. Saeed is contemplative and reserved while Nadia is fiercely independent and confident. As their friendship develops, the fighting […]
All The Crooked SaintsBy Maggie Stiefvater Beatriz Soria is not only fiercely intelligent, she can also grant miracles. So can her cousins, cool Joaquin and saintly Daniel. In fact, all the Sorias have the power to grant miracles. In Bicho Raro, Colorado, miracles are commonplace. The Sorias are accustomed to “pilgrims” who come to them […]
The Hate U GiveThe Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Starr Carter lives in a poor black neighbourhood, but attends a white prep school in the suburbs. She lives two lives, one in each place, but one night these worlds threaten to collide as she becomes the sole witness to the shooting of her best friend, […]