Empire State: A Love Story (Or Not)

Empire State: A Love Story (Or Not) by Jason Shiga
Adult Graphic Novels - Main Level - EMP

Jimmy and Sara are best friends. When she decides to move to New York to take an internship in the publishing industry, Jimmy is distraught. He has a crush on her, and can't imagine life in California without her. He is very sheltered and naive, and doesn't understand why she needs to spread her wings and move on.

He finally decides to visit her in New York to proclaim his love for her. The book is funny - Jimmy mails Sara a letter telling her to meet him on the observation deck of the Empire State building (ala Sleepless in Seattle). She never gets the letter, so she doesn't expect him when he finally gives up and shows up on her doorstep. Jimmy meets Sara's new boyfriend, Mark. He's sophisticated and worldly, and knows much more about technology than Jimmy does. Jimmy is embarrassed because he thought he could get a job in the dot-com industry in New York, making web sites. It is clear that he barely knows what he's doing once Mark steps in.

So, readers have to get all the way to the end before they find out if Sara and Jimmy can ever be together as more than friends. Maybe they are becoming just too different, growing apart. Or maybe their reunion makes them realize how much they mean to each other. This is a cute, fast read with quirky, funny characters and comedic timing.

Put 'Em Up!

Put 'Em Up!: A Comprehensive Home Preserving Guide for the Creative Cook, from Drying and Freezing to Canning and Pickling by Sherri Brooks Vinton
New Book Shelves Upper Level - Cook 641.4 V

I've never canned anything, but my garden is looking pretty good and I want to give it a try. I've been looking through lots of books on the subject, but so far this is my favorite. It's organized nicely by ingredient (want bean recipes? Look under beans!), and has an excellent chapter on technique where there are step-by-step procedures on things like cold-pack canning and hot-pack canning. It also has color pictures throughout. The author goes through equipment needs, and is very practical about what pieces are absolutely necessary vs. what is "nice to have." I'll be making pickles, pickled peppers, salsa, and tomato sauce. I think, with the help of this book, that I can do this!

The Storm of War: A New History of the Second World War

The Storm of War: A New History of the Second World War
by Andrew Roberts Adult Nonfiction – Upper Level 940.54 R

Single-volume histories of major events often get bogged down in the "what" "when" and "who" without devoting much attention to the "why". Andrew Roberts in "Storm of War" devotes much of his attention to the "why" in his history and analysis of World War II. He relates events clearly and concisely, but the most interesting parts of the book are his explanations of the reasons behind the decisions made. (Hint: Nazi ideology was a double-edged sword.)

One Caveat: Pacific theater buffs may prefer to pass on this book. Roberts is an Englishman who pays only cursory attention to the fight against Japan. He tells readers what happened but does not interpret it, to the extent that Japan is mentioned only twice in his conclusive analysis.

Leviathan

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
Teen Zone Fiction – Main Level - Westerfeld

Australian YA author Westerfeld of Uglies fame takes a turn toward a steampunk alternate history with this first in a trilogy. The year is 1914. Prince Alek, son of the Archduke Ferdinand, is woken in the middle of the night by his tutor, who takes him for what he thinks is a midnight training ride in one of the two-legged walkers that Austria-Hungary is becoming famous for. Except that it turns out not to be training. His parents have just been assassinated, his people have turned against him, and Alek must run for his life. Meanwhile, Deryn Sharp is posing as a boy so that she can join the British Air Service, where genetically engineered ecosystems of animals create large dirigible-like ships that float through the air. Unlike Jacky Faber, Deryn finds the constant jockeying for position among the midshipmen wearing, but she is already experienced in the air, brilliant and courageous. She ends up serving on the Leviathan, a very large airship that is carrying Dr. Nora Darwin Barlow and some precious cargo on an urgent diplomatic mission to the Ottoman Empire. The world is on the brink of war between the Darwinists and the Clankers – can two young people from opposite sides prevent it? The action is non-stop, the characters a delight, and the technology intriguing. We have it in teen, but so far I haven’t seen anything in to make it inappropriate for middle graders (no sexual situations and minimal, considered violence), while it’s deep enough to work for adults as well. I’ve already devoured the second book, Behemoth, as well, and am now waiting for book three to come out in September.

The Plymouth Library owns Leviathan in print, audio cd, e-audio and ebook.

Exclusive

Exclusive by Sandra Brown
Adult Fiction- Main Level– BROWN

Barrie Travis is a TV journalist with a shaky tract record of news stories. Barrie was surprised when she received a phone call from the First Lady of the United States Vanessa Merritt inviting her to lunch. Barrie is perplexed by this; the lunch is awkward especially when the death of Mrs. Merritt’s baby is brought up. Robert Rushton Merritt was only 3 months old when he died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Vanessa was very distraught during the lunch and Barrie was unsure what made Vanessa reach out to her. After the lunch Barrie had the idea to do a news series on SIDS and Vanessa agreed to be interviewed. During the interview Vanessa seemed very controlled, not at all the like distraught upset mother she was a few weeks ago during the initial lunch. Barrie took Vanessa’s change in demeanor to mean that Vanessa did not believe that her son died of SIDS but was actually murdered. Barrie decided to look further in baby Merritt’s death. She called her source at the local hospital and discovered that there was never an autopsy done on little Robert. What was even more concerning, her source seemed to disappear: she left her job and her apartment with no forwarding address. Barrie immediately realized she was on a hot story. She tried to set up another interview with the First Lady but Vanessa went into seclusion and Barrie was denied access. Barrie decided to follow another course of action; she tracked down Gray Bondurant in Wyoming. It was rumored that Gray and Vanessa has a secret affair and he was really the father of her child. Gray follows Barrie back to Washington DC only to discover that the story is bigger than they thought. Barrie’s townhouse is fire-bombed and they are being followed. Barrie and Gray are taking on the White House. Will they ever prove the baby Robert was murdered and by whom? They are in a race against time to get the truth out and save Vanessa and themselves from the same fate that poor Robert experienced.

Alice Bliss

Alice Bliss By Laura Harrington

Adult New Fiction Harrington


In this beautiful coming-of-age novel, we learn that Matt Bliss is “somebody who knows how to be happy.” He has a loving wife and two young daughters, left his engineering career to become a carpenter, and grows the best vegetables in town. He is worshiped by his eldest, Alice, who accompanies him on roofing jobs and working in the garden.

Matt is also in the National Guard and his unit has been called up for deployment to Iraq. Angie, his wife, has a desperately hard time without him there and her already-uncomfortable relationship with Alice just grows more distant. Angie pretty much abdicates care of the family to Alice. Alice is having a hard time focusing on anything besides her father’s absence. She wears an unwashed shirt of his for weeks.

This family does not exist in a vacuum, though. They have the loving support of just about everyone around them. Angie’s brother Eddie takes over Matt’s role in the family as best he can, teaching Alice to drive and taking Angie out for dinner and dancing. Henry, Alice’s best friend since birth, tries to be there in any way he can for Alice. Ellie, Alice’s precocious young sister, offers Alice the opportunity to be needed and focus on something outside herself and her misery. And Gram holds the whole clan together.

The best of small-town America is reflected in this novel. In uncertain times, these people struggle and support one another. Hearts break and everything changes, but ultimately life does go on.

This is a magnificent debut novel. I can’t wait to see more from Laura Harrington.

Korgi

Korgi. Book One. by Christian Slade
Youth Graphic Novels – Lower Level - KOR

Korgi is a sparkling graphic novel, wordless except for the introduction, nicely all ages. Hidden in the forest live the small magical people called the Mollies, with their helpful fox-like Korgis. One day, a little girl named Ivy gets lost, and she and her Korgi must outwit the monsters who are trying to trap them in order to get back home. The pen and ink illustrations are beautiful and expressive. The cover made me wonder about it being too girly of a book for my gender-conscious boy, but not to worry – there was quite enough straight-up adventure to hold his attention, as well as the occasional touch of humor. This has been added to our personal library and we’re now giving it as kid birthday presents. There are two more books in the series now available.

I'd Know You Anywhere

I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman
Adult New Book Display - Main Level - Mystery Lippman

I picked up a Laura Lippman book because it was on the “new” shelf at the library (and because it’s on my summer reading list). I liked the cover and I liked the title, and I remembered reading some reviews of it in the review journals. I had never read a book by her before, but I most definitely will read more of them now!

I’d Know You Anywhere is about the 1985 kidnapping of Elizabeth Lerner. It’s also about Eliza Bennett, the only person kidnapped by Walter Bowman to live to tell. Elizabeth and Eliza are the same person – she changed her name to Eliza so that she could start over and not live under the drama and the “story” of Elizabeth Lerner the rest of her life. All these years later, Eliza is married with children. She is perfectly content with her life and her anonymity. Her husband knows what happened and her parents and sister know what happened to her, but her children and her neighbors and friends have no idea.

That’s why her world is turned upside down when Walter contacts her out of the blue. He is scheduled to be executed in two weeks, and wants to talk to her before that.

There is so much going on in this book – I don’t want to write a four page review or summary of the whole plot, so I’ll just say this: pick up this book and do not stop reading until you have finished! Find out what Walter really wants. Find out if Eliza will agree to see him. Find out if he is executed.

Read this book!

Safe Haven

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Adult New Fiction Sparks


There is a new waitress at Ivan’s Restaurant and she has a secret. A big one.

When Katie arrives in Southport, North Carolina, she knows no one and no one knows her. She is there to start over, period. Despite her ever-present anxiety over the life she left behind, she finds herself falling in love with Alex, a local store owner and widowed father of two small children. Her next door neighbor, Jo, in whom she reluctantly confides her past, encourages the relationship. Katie’s past, however, holds her back as it rears its ugly head in her mind and eventually, her new life.

This story is darker than most of Sparks’ novels and gives us frightening insight into the mind of the antagonist that Katie so desperately fears. It is also a study in true courage. The way Sparks plays out the story is fascinating. It’s a great summer read.

Not That Kind of Girl

Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian
Teen Zone New Fiction- Main Level– VIVIAN

Natalie has worked hard all through high school and it is finally senior year. Everything is going to be perfect: she was elected (in a harsh battle) student council president, has earned the respect of a well admired teacher, and her best friend Autumn has stuck by her side. She has lived out her high school days by not going to parties, ignoring guys and not having many close friends. She is determined to be a successful powerful woman who is independent and always in control. Things start to change when she takes Spencer under her wings. Natalie used to babysit Spencer once upon a time and now she wants to make sure Spencer goes through high school making the right decisions. Spencer has another plan; she wants the help of Natalie but she does not want to sacrifice who she is. Spencer is a freshman who is very confident in herself and her sexuality. Natalie and Spencer disagree on how to be a strong woman without acting or looking overly sexual. Natalie is determined to change Spencer but realizes that she would have to go it alone because her faithful friend Autumn has decided to actually enjoy her senior year and socialize with other classmates. Natalie’s own strength is being tested when the unthinkable happens: she starts falling for the “bad boy”, who really is not that bad. Natalie goes through a lot of emotions and hurdles to realize that you can still be a strong woman with beliefs but still have time carved out for friends, boyfriends and fun.

Polly and the Pirates

Polly and the Pirates by Ted Naifeh
Teen Manga – Main Level - POL

Our story opens with the young Polly Pringle at boarding school. She is regarded by her peers as sweet but much too willing to abide by the rules. That very night, her bed is hoisted out of her bedroom onto a pirate ship. She refuses to believe the awful truth at first: she is the only daughter of the famous Pirate Queen, taken as her crew’s last chance to find the Pirate Queen’s Hoard. The Pirate Prince, a handsome and untrustworthy-looking young man, is also after the treasure, and the Navy is after the lot of them. Polly rises to the occasion in a glorious way, proving in a manner quite unsettling to herself that she has inherited large amounts of her mother’s talent at nefarious business. Naifeh’s whimsical art, where the ships look like buildings, suits the story perfectly and is quite different from the moody shaded work he produced for Holly Black’s The Good Neighbors. This is rated for 7 and up, and I think it could go even younger if the child in question can sit still for an exciting story (we have it in teen because it predates our youth graphic novel collection.) The book says “Volume 1”, but I regret to say that my visit to Ted Naifeh’s web site failed to turn up any signs of a sequel in the works. Still, there’s a lot to be said for a one-shot story, and this one is highly entertaining.

Among the Hidden

Among the Hidden
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Youth CD Books--Lower Level--Haddix

This was the first time that I have experienced this book. I have always wanted to read, or hear it, and was not disappointed. It is a great dystopian novel that is well written and tragic. Most of the characters have some depth and there were some twists and turns that kept even an adult reader interested. I definitely want to continue the series to experience more adventures with Luke Garner, the protagonist.

Children will enjoy this book because they will be able to relate to the feeling of being ignored, or less important, than siblings and peers. Tweens also enjoy reading about unusual or extraordinary experiences. The captive life of Luke Garner will keep most young readers intrigued. This would also be a good recommendation for young readers who enjoy other dystopian novels, like the very popular Hunger Games Series. The presence of likeable and strong male and female characters will make this book appeal to both male and female readers.

Rocky Road

Rocky Road by Rose Kent
Youth New Book Shelves - Lower Level - KENT

Twelve-year-old Tess Dobson is moving from sunny San Antonio, Texas to chilly Schenectady, New York in the dead of winter with her mom and eight-year-old brother, Jordan. She is not a happy camper, but she tries to make the best out of the situation. It seems her mother has decided that the answer to all of their troubles is a fresh start in a new town where they can open an ice cream shop. After all, "Ice cream warms the heart, no matter what the weather." Starting an ice cream business is one of Tess' mother's crazy ideas that she periodically gets before she crashes into "shooting stars." Unfortunately, Tess' mother suffers from bipolar disorder and when she has a new idea, she runs on little sleep and lots of hope. However, after awhile she will fall into a deep depression.

Once in Schenectady, Tess struggles with making friends, caring for her deaf brother, and keeping her mother in line. It is a lot for anyone to handle especially a preteen. Tess and the family move into a seniors’ housing complex and make some interesting friends: Winnie, a caring retired nurse, and Chief, a disciplined retired Navy officer. Both of these senior citizens help Tess to see the best in herself and her family. Further, Tess finds her niche at her new school by becoming a peer mediator who helps solve disputes between students. As time passes, Tess starts to feel more hopeful that maybe her mother’s crazy ice cream idea will be successful because her mother is doing such a meticulous job in planning the shop which is aptly named “A Cherry on Top.” Still how can everything be okay when your mother is sick with an illness?

Rocky Road by Rose Kent is a delightful novel that will leave you with hope and fuzzy feelings. While it does touch upon the serious issue of mental illness, it provides hope that anything is possible with the right help, love, and guidance. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys positive messages of perseverance.

The Andrews Sisters

The Andrews Sisters The Andrews Sisters
CD Bins – Easy Listening - A

If you’re looking for some bright and cheerful music to match the spring weather (or maybe make it feel like spring even if the weather isn’t cooperating), look no further than the Andrews Sisters. Their two most famous hits are “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen”, both great songs. The tight, three-part harmony and the swingin’ style carries through the whole album, though a hint of old-fashioned racial attitudes are unfortunately apparent in “Rum and Coca Cola.” This particular album could also be improved with some liner notes – I had to go to their web site for details such as the date of their first hit (1938, after six years of touring) and learning that they were the first female group to go platinum. This is brassy, upbeat World War II cheer on a disc.

After

After by Amy Efaw
Teen Zone Fiction Main Level - Efaw

Devon Davenport is smart and reliable – an A student with real talent for soccer. She trains and studies hard; a teacher’s and coach’s dream. The book begins with a newborn abandoned in a dumpster behind an apartment complex. How could Devon Davenport possibly be connected to this crime? As the police begin asking questions around the neighborhood, Devon is found bleeding and barely conscious in one of the apartments next to that dumpster. She is raced to the hospital where it is confirmed that she has given birth in the last 24 hours. This book is about Devon’s time in juvenile detention, her conversations with her lawyer, and her ultimate acknowledgement of the crime. It is emotionally intense, shocking, and heartbreaking – but an excellent read!

The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen

The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen
Youth Fiction-Lower Level - ANDERSON

This sequel to Whales on Stilts follows the adventure of Katie, Lilly, and Jasper who are forced to solve yet another mystery while attempting to enjoy their vacation at the Moose Tongue Lodge and Resort. I personally enjoyed this book. It did a good job of both paying homage to, and poking fun of, all the various mystery series created over time. The narrator was silly at times, and often went on side tangents. As a result, the narrator almost became another character in the story. This, along with silly diagrams and footnotes, added depth to the story. Anderson did a great job of adding humor by making the characters take themselves seriously while encountering ridiculous people and situations. Similarly, the narrator often added to or pointed out this humor to the reader. I found this to be quite funny and kept me interested throughout the book. The ending, however, did get confusing and a little odd. I hope that some of the confusion was just to keep young readers looking for answers in the next book. On a whole, I found that this lived up to the expectations that a story by a great author like M.T. Anderson brings.

Magical Tales from Many Lands

Magical Tales from Many Lands Retold by Margaret Mayo. Illustrated by Jane Ray
Youth Non-fiction – Lower Level – J 398.2 M

I’m always on the lookout for good stories to read curled up with my six-year-old. Key features would include stories that work well read aloud, hopefully short enough to read at bedtime or before little sister becomes loses patience, and good pictures, as well as just the right blend of excitement without being too scary. I’ve loved Jane Ray’s work in Berlie Doherty’s Fairy Tales for years, but only recently found this earlier work. I still love Jane Ray’s style, folk-art like with lots of gold highlights. In this book, she blends her distinctive style with elements of the art of the culture she’s representing to create work that’s both cohesive throughout the book and reflective of the culture each story is from. The stories are Arabic (“The Lemon Princess”), Japanese, Chinese, Russian (a slightly less frightening “Baba Yaga Bony-Legs” than I’m used to), African (a version of “Unanana and the Elephant,” a story I remember from one of my favorite childhood storybooks of feminist folk tales.), African-American, Native American, French and more. It’s a good mix of cultures, and while the collection doesn’t feature all women, there are enough stories of strong women for balance. They are well told, with lots of the repetitive language that works so well for story-telling. Although perhaps less interesting to children, I really appreciated her notes on each tale, explaining the source or sources and her deviations from that version. This gem is now out of print, so enjoy it at your library!

Other favorite fairy tale collections:

Fairy Tales by Berlie Doherty – J 398.2 D

Mightier than the Sword by Jane Yolen – J 398.2 Y

Not One Damsel in Distress by Jane Yolen – J 398.2 Y

Ghost a la Mode

Ghost a la Mode by Sue Ann Jaffarian
Adult Mysteries- Main Level– Jaffarian

Ghost a la Mode is the first in the Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery series written by Sue Ann Jaffarian. Emma Whitecastle went with her friend Tracy to a séance. She was only going as a favor because Tracy needed to do research on séances for a class that she was teaching. During the séance a ghost tried to reach out to Emma. Emma does not believe in ghosts and being able to hear or see them. Well, after the séance she started hearing and seeing her great-great-great grandmother. Ish Reynolds (nicknamed Granny Apples) asks Emma for her help to prove that she did not kill her husband Jacob like the legend believes in their old hometown of Julian, California. Emma was looking for a distraction, she was in the middle of a divorce, her daughter was traveling for the summer and Emma did not have a lot to do. Emma decided to research her family and she started by going to Julian, CA. Once there she learned the mystery surrounding her great-great-great grandparent’s death. In doing so she put her own life at risk when she learned that there was gold still buried in Julian that belonged to her family. Emma just wanted to clear Granny Apples' name; instead she ended up in a game of cat and mouse with 2 gold thieves, some ghosts, and the handsome Phil Bower who currently owns Granny Apples' property. This is not your average murder mystery. It is a fun and quirky read if you enjoy mysteries but want something with a twist. Book two, Ghost in the Polka Dot Bikini, was recently released.

The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead
Adult Graphic Novels-Main level - WAL

This graphic novel is about police officer Rick Grimes who gets shot during a traffic stop. He awakens to find himself in an empty hospital and a world full of zombies. The plot follows his journey to find his family, help other survivors, and simply stay alive. The black and white illustrations add to the creepy feeling of the book and left me thinking of the classic movie “Night of the Living Dead.”

Like many good zombie stories, this one is just as much about how people react during time of crisis as it is about the reanimated corpses. The drama among the living is powerful and can be just as scary as the zombies. I greatly enjoyed the AMC television version that aired during the fall and finally got around to reading the graphic novel. It did not disappoint. Both the graphic novels and the TV series are highly recommended! However, due to graphic content I would recommend this graphic novel for mature readers.

You may also like:

Night of the Living Dead - DVD Collection- Main Level - SCIFI HORROR NIG

The Walking Dead. Season One - DVD Collection- Main Level - TV WAL

If I Stay

If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Teen Zone Fiction Main Level - Forman

Mia is a 17-year-old cello player. She plans to go to Julliard after high school. She has a wonderful boyfriend. She loves her family, and genuinely enjoys being with them. These are her reasons for living.

You see, Mia and her family were in a car accident. She is the lone survivor, in a coma in the hospital. Her body is pretty messed up: collapsed lung, spleen removed surgically, brain contusions, and more. Mia knows this because she watches her body and the people around her in the hospital in an out-of-body experience. These are her reasons for dying.

The story is told from her wandering "soul" self. She has to decide if life is worth fighting for. If she stays, what will her life be like? If she goes, what will death be like?

This is a heart-wrenching story. Mia's best friend, her boy friend, and her surviving extended family gather around her - all reasons to stay. In addition to the play-by-play from the soul self, we learn about what Mia's life was like before the accident: how she met her boyfriend, how her parents met and how they raised their children, how Mia's brother Teddy was more like her own child than her brother because they were so close. All of these details make us root for her to stay.