Classics
Bud, not Buddy
Christopher Paul Curtis
eBOOK
Black Lives Matter, Read Woke, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Classics
Ten-year-old Bud, a motherless boy living in Flint, Michigan, during the Great Depression, escapes a bad foster home and sets out in search of the man he believes to be his father--the renowned bandleader, H.E. Calloway of Grand Rapids.
This won the Newbery Award when I was about the same age as Bud. It's just as meaningful now as I remember it being at 11. -Casey
The Watsons go to Birmingham-- 1963
Christopher Paul Curtis
eBOOK
Black Lives Matter, Black History, Historical Fiction, Classics
The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons, an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963.
Added by Casey
The mouse and the motorcycle
Beverly Cleary
eBOOK
Classics, Adventure, Fantasy, Animals
A reckless young mouse named Ralph makes friends with a boy in room 215 of the Mountain View Inn and discovers the joys of motorcycling.
This is the first Beverly Cleary novel I remember reading as a child, and I'm beyond excited to share it aloud at bedtime again! -Casey
Three tales of my father's dragon
Ruth Stiles Gannett
eBOOK
Fantasy, Adventure, Classics
A compilation of three tales which relate the fantastic adventures of Elmer Elevator and a baby flying dragon named Boris.
My Father's Dragon is a delight! A story as delectable as fresh tangerines, whimsical illustrations, and digestible chapters make this perfect family reading. -Casey
House of salt and sorrows
Erin A. Craig
On a remote island estate, Annaleigh Thaumas, the sixth-born of twelve sisters, enlists the aid of an alluring stranger to unravel the family curse before it claims her life.
The Twelve Dancing Princesses is one of my favorite fairy tales. I'm beyond excited about reading this dark retelling. -Casey
The count of Monte-Cristo
Alexandre Dumas
FICTION Dumas, Alexandre
Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Classics
Riveting, heart breaking, and beautifully told, prepare to watch as nineteen year old, Edmond Dantes's life comes crashing down around him through no fault of his own. Fourteen years in prison later, we see him rise from the ashes only to descend to the depths of villainy. Revenge is a dish best served cold, and unabridged. -Casey
A tale of two cities
Charles Dickens
FICTION Dickens, Charles
Literary Fiction, Classics, Historical Fiction
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair...in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." This may be my favorite Dickens, be ready to shed some tears! I'm planning on picking this one up again in March. -Casey
Ella enchanted
Gail Carson Levine
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Levine, Gail Carson
Kids, Fantasy, Classics
In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her.
This is the book that made me a reader at the age of nine. I recently shared this one on a road trip with my family and loved it just as much as I did in 1997. The first fairytale retelling I ever read, and a fantastic story to boot, if you've never met Ella, it might be time to do so. -Casey
Stardust
Neil Gaiman
SCIENCE FICTION Gaiman, Neil
Fiction, Classics, Fantasy, Romance
Hard to believe that Stardust has been around for just over 20 years! One of, if not the, first book by modern magician, Neil Gaiman, that I read many years ago. Although written with simplistic prose reminiscent of Grimm, and Andersen fairytales, this is a work that is definitely NOT for children. I can hardly wait to cross the wall and seek a fallen star in Faerie again. -Casey
I saw that this book was getting adapted for the screen via Netflix and felt regret that I hadn't read it. Luckily it was available on Libby and I was done with it roughly 24 hours later. What a read! So much mystery and shroud with a couple good twists and wonderful descriptions. It's hard to believe this was written almost a century ago, it feels ahead of its time and contends with all of the suspense books written more recently. I am a firm believer in reading the book first and this was a great read, and while I am excited to watch it on screen, I doubt it will live up to it's expectations of the book. -Mari