|
Staff
Picks
As part of our reader advisory services, SRLS staff members read
and review a variety of fiction and non-fiction books each month.
June 2008
PICTURE BOOKS
|
Jesse Gibson, Director of Richmond County Libraries
Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
"Inspired by an actual 1850s lithograph, this beautifully crafted picture book briefly relates the story of Henry "Box" Brown's daring escape from slavery. "--School Library Journal
|
Henry’s Freedom Box is a hard gripping story, with illustrations that sear with the emotions of the time. Although a fictional piece, most of the story is pretty accurate. The picture on the cover is a little misleading because when Henry is shipped in the box (3 X 2 X 2), he is a full grown adult. A word of caution: be prepared to be bombarded with questions, either from small children or adults like myself. I suggest you read the Narrative of the Life of Henry Box Brown, written by Himself. It is a gem of a primary source document. The full-text of this book is available online via the Documenting the American South collection at UNC-Chapel Hill.
The web address is: http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/brownbox/menu.html
JUVENILE FICTION
|
Linda Lamp, Supervisor & Children's Coordinator
Montgomery County Public Libraries
Blue by Joyce Moyer Hostetter
"A portrayal of family and community, this book could be enjoyed by young and old alike. " |
Blue is a work of historical fiction about life in a small community during the war years of 1944-45, the polio epidemic and the Miracle of Hickory, the polio hospital built in 1944 in Hickory. Hostetter weaves her research into a tale of a 13 year old girl who must become the man of the family when her father leaves for war. Told in first person southern vernacular, Ann Faye describes caring for her younger brother and sisters while pushing to keep up the work in garden. Her brother becomes stricken with polio and she becomes her sisters’ sole caretaker when her mother leaves to stay in the hospital. When she becomes ill and succumbs to the disease, she describes survival and the painful rehabilitation. The encouragement she is given from the girl beside her in the intensive ward allows racial issues to emerge as the friendship grows through the stages of recovery. A portrayal of family and community, this book could be enjoyed by young and old alike.
NORTH CAROLINA AUTHORS
 |
Carol G. Walters, SRLS Director of Libraries
The Piano Teacher by Lynn York
"North Carolinian Lynn York - born to a family of car dealers - grew up in High Point & Pilot Mountain. Educated @ Duke & University of Texas. Worked in Washington, DC. Moved back to NC in 1995 to Chapel Hill where she found The Piano Teacher waiting for her." |
Motherhood. Mayhem. Murder. And a little Miss Marple on the side enters the life of peaceful, kind Miss Wilma, the Piano Teacher in a delightful romp. Chapter 1 has Miss Wilma at Lily's wedding extravaganza and heading home to find her daughter Sarah & her child Starling on her doorstep looking like a long lost waif, who by the way she has not seen for 10 years. And, sometimes in the middle of the night up drives Sarah's absentee husband Harper a few short hours after a murder has occurred in Swan's Knob. If that's not enough to get a small town talking Jonah Branch, a long haired native of Santa Fe comes calling. Seems like a house full of trouble and like it or not calm Miss Wilma has no choice but to sort through the confusion. In the process Swan Knob's perennial bachelor Roy Swan chooses this particular time to enter her life. A delightful read and excellent idea for an author event.
ADULT FICTION
 |
David R. Atkins, Director of Montgomery County Public Libraries
The Reluctant Burglar by Jill Elizabeth Nelson
"This is a good story and a worthwhile addition where inspirational fiction is in demand."
|
The plucky heroine of this story is Desiree Jacobs. She even comes equipped with a wise-cracking and equally plucky sidekick. The hero seeking to win her heart, while investigating her seemingly nefarious activities, is handsome (of course) heart throb (Italian) special agent Anthony (Tony) Lucano.
Hiram Jacobs, the head of a security firm that provides services to museums and private collectors around the world, is murdered while under investigation by Agent Lucano as being an operative in an international art theft ring that funds terrorist activities. Hiram leaves behind a stolen cache of art and instructions for his daughter to return the art to its rightful owners. Problem is that the leader of the art theft ring wants Desiree to turn the stolen art over and ally herself with this group.
Will Desiree turn become an art thief? Will Agent Lucano gain her trust and win her heart? Will the art theft ring be brought down and Hiram Jacobs’s killer brought to justice? These questions are all answered nicely by the close of the book.
|
Sheila B. Evans, Director, Hoke County Public Library
The Art of Racing In the Rain by Garth Stein
"A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life . . . as only a dog could tell it. " --Barnes & Noble
|
OK, the cover art hooked me…again; after I met Enzo, the hooks sank deeper. He’s a dog (named after Enzo Ferrari) who longs for opposable thumbs and the power of speech, and hopes to be human in his next life (he’s pretty sure he’s ready, having learned all about the reincarnation of dogs as men while watching a documentary on TV). Enzo recounts the story of his life with Denny Swift, an aspiring race car driver with whom he shares two mutual loves; speed, and Denny’s daughter Zoe, as Denny struggles to make it in racing while balancing a job and a family.
The web addres is: http://www.artofracingintherain.com
 |
Stephen Zibrat , Moore County Director of Libraries
The Book of Old Houses by Sarah Graves
"Local color and an entirely unexpected denouement combine for engaging reading. "--Publishers Weekly |
Set in a small town in Maine, this is the latest installment in a series of novels featuring Jacobia Tiptree, a transplant from New York who, with the help of her stalwart friend, Ellie, solves murders while trying to keep her two-century old house from falling down around her ears. Though the plot does stretch credulity at points, this novel is nonetheless a satisfying afternoon read featuring local color, flawed characters, mysterious books and even a few home repair tips!
YOUNG ADULT FICTION
 |
Kit Brewer, Hampton B. Allen Library, Anson County
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
"[Boyne's] combination of strong characterization and simple, honest narrative make this powerful and memorable tale a unique addition to Holocaust literature for those who already have some knowledge of Hitlers Final Solution."--
Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH for School Library Journal
|
This book is told from a 9 year old boy's point of view. Bruno talks about
the "Fury" coming to his house with a pretty lady. His parents are very
impressed with the "Fury" and go to great lengths to impress him. The next
thing Bruno knows the family is moving from Berlin to "Out-With". His father
wears a uniform and all the soldiers respect him. The boy is lonely with no
one to play with and goes exploring one day & sees a boy on the other side
of a fence. They are both surprised to see each other, but begin a
friendship even with the fence between them. Bruno is jealous to think that
Shmuel has lots of friends to play with, but Shmuel tries to tell Bruno that
he doesn't really get to play and that there are so many people and very
little food. Bruno begins to bring Shmuel food when they meet each other
until one day Shmuel tells Bruno that he can't find his father. Bruno says
that he would help if he could get through the fence & if he had a pair of
pajamas to wear like Shmuel's. The next day Shmuel brings a pair of pajamas
and passes them under the fence, the boys pull on the fence just enough for
a boy to crawl under, and Bruno is on the other side! Shmuel & Bruno look
for Shmuel's father until the soldiers start shouting and moving people
around to go on a "march". The boys don't know where they are going because
they are caught in the middle of the crowd and it's raining and they are
muddy & Bruno wants to go home. Then they are in a building & Bruno is glad
to be out of the rain & mud and tells Shmuel that he is sorry that they didn't
find his father, but he is glad to have a new best friend and while they are
holding hands a gasp is heard from the other people and Bruno is not seen
again.
RETRO READING RECOMMENDATIONS
| Thr3e |
Ted Dekker |
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy |
Douglas Adams |
Star Quality |
Joan Collins |
|
