"Vengeance Road" Book Review

"Vengeance Road" is a young adult western. The protagonist and her father live quietly on a farm until their peaceful life is destroyed by a gang of men looking for something. Although she isn't sure what they want, she begins a quest to find out the secrets her father has been hiding and to take revenge on the men who killed him. She isn't prepared for the secrets that unfold on her ride through the west.

I love watching westerns as I grew up on John Wayne movies, however, western books haven't always appealed to me. Specifically, this book wasn't my favorite because there was a large focus on the romance that unfolds as they cross the terrain and encounter dangerous situations. I thought it was a little far-fetched and over done. The plot twists were intriguing though and I wanted to know what was happening. There is some language which would make me nervous about putting it in some school libraries and it is for a more mature audience. 

"Heat" Book Review

I don't know about anyone else, but sports are not my thing. As librarians, we have to be well-versed in many different types of books so I picked up a Mike Lupica book called "Heat." I have to admit the first chapter or two I thought I was in for a long, dull read. I didn't think there was any way I could get through a sports book, especially baseball oriented. I was pleasantly surprised though.

"Heat" is about a Cuban-American boy. Without official papers he has to be careful not to attract the attention of the "official persons" that could take him away from his family or deport him. The only problem is that he also happens to be a fantastic pitcher and his team is poised to make a run for the big game. He attracts plenty of attention and not always for good reasons.

The game scenes are very detailed and vocabulary specific, but even so I got caught up in them and couldn't wait to see how it all turned out. The characters were intriguing without being overdone. It also captured the fear and concern that children have when authority figures hold power over them and possibly not in a positive way. I think kids who love baseball will be caught up in the suspense of the games and the quest for the ultimate trophy. Even readers who don't understand all of the baseball lingo will get caught up in the story.

Castle Hangnail Book Review

This book was adorable! Castle Hangnail is in need of an evil master and Molly just happens to show up and fit the bill. Before she can be considered the evil master of the castle she has certain obligations to fulfill. The only problem is she doesn't look or even quite act like the evil she is supposed to be. Will she be the master of the castle or will it close down and the magic be removed?

I adored the quirky characters and the odd happenings. From moles to ice queens to minotaurs it was a fun ride. I can't wait to add it to our library collection!

Wolf Hollow Book Review

This is one book that I read and absolutely loved. First, isn't the cover beautiful? It takes the first words of the book and puts them front and center, drawing you in.

In Wolf Hollow a little girl disappears and the only suspect is a war veteran who lives in an old shack and wanders the country side. The town and people are shaken at the disappearance and assume the worst. The only one to believe that he is innocent is another little girl who tries to find the truth and clear his name. It's such a poignant story about how we perceive other people and how "different" can often be decided as bad.

The author brought out deep subjects, but didn't overpower the story or characters. Everything unfolded beautifully. I could see you using this book with older students to start a discussion on PTSD, judging others, and so many more topics. Even though it's set during World War II, the topics are just as relevant and most likely even more prevalent today.