Becky

Violeta : a novel

by Isabel Allende

FICTION Allende Isabel
Historical Fiction

Violeta comes into the world in 1920, the first girl in a family of five boisterous sons. The ripples of the Great War are still being felt, even as the Spanish flu arrives on the shores of her South American homeland almost at the moment of her birth. As the Great Depression transforms the genteel city life she has known, Violeta's family loses all and is forced to retreat to a wild and beautiful but remote part of the country. She tells her story in the form of a letter, recounting devastating heartbreak and passionate affairs, times of both poverty and wealth, terrible loss and immense joy. Her life will be shaped by some of the most important events of history: the fight for women's rights, the rise and fall of tyrants, and, ultimately, not one but two pandemics.

In a novel spanning one hundred years and bookended by pandemics, Isabel Allende writes of class, political and gender tensions in the life story of Violeta. For fans of historical fiction and interesting protagonists, this is worth checking out! -Becky

The Lincoln highway

by Amor Towles

FICTION Towles Amor

In June, 1954, eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson is driven home to Nebraska by the warden of the juvenile work farm where he has just served fifteen months for involuntary manslaughter. His mother long gone, his father recently deceased, and the family farm foreclosed upon by the bank, Emmett's intention is to pick up his eight-year-old brother, Billy, and head to California where they can start their lives anew. But when the warden drives away, Emmett discovers that two friends from the work farm have hidden themselves in the trunk of the warden's car. Together, they have hatched an altogether different plan for Emmett's future, one that will take them all on a fateful journey in the opposite direction-to the City of New York. Spanning just ten days and told from multiple points of view, Towles's third novel will satisfy fans of his multi-layered literary styling while providing them an array of new and richly imagined settings, characters, and themes.

Like Towles' other novels, "The Lincoln Highway" moves at a brilliant pace. Spanning just ten days, the narrative's journey across the U.S. and with varying perspectives had me fully absorbed in the characters and plot. A great blend of wit and intrigue, with some unexpected moments-- highly recommended! -Becky

A knock at midnight : a story of hope, justice, and freedom

by Brittany K. Barnett

340.092 /Barnett

An urgent call to free those buried alive by America's legal system, and an inspiring true story about unwavering belief in humanity-from a gifted young lawyer and important new voice in the movement to transform the system. By day she moved billion-dollar deals, and by night she worked pro bono to free clients in near-hopeless legal battles. Ultimately, her path transformed her understanding of injustice in the courts, of genius languishing behind bars, and the very definition of freedom itself. Brittany's riveting memoir is at once a coming-of-age story and a powerful evocation of what it takes to bring hope and justice to a system built to resist them both.

After listening to Brittany K. Barnett speak at a conference, I can’t wait to get started on her memoir! Her father’s advice to “Stop thinking about the challenges- think about the possibilities,” gave her the push she needed to focus on her true passion: working to transform the criminal justice system and supporting/nurturing the talents and minds of those behind bars. -Becky

The Alice network : a novel

by Kate Quinn

FICTION Quinn Kate

It's 1947 and American college girl Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and on the verge of being thrown out of her very proper family. She's also nursing a fervent belief that her beloved French cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, might still be alive somewhere. In 1915, Eve Gardiner burns to join the fight against the Germans and unexpectedly gets her chance to serve when she's recruited to work as a spy for the English. Sent into enemy-occupied France during The Great War, she's trained by the mesmerizing Lili, the "Queen of Spies", who manages a vast network of secret agents, right under the enemy's nose. Thirty years later, haunted by the betrayal that ultimately tore apart the Alice Network, Eve spends her days drunk and secluded in her crumbling London house. Until a young American barges in uttering a name Eve hasn't heard in decades, and launching them both on a mission to find the truth ... no matter where it leads.

Fans of "The Nightingale" will not be disappointed! Kate Quinn writes an engaging historical fiction account that alternates between a British female spy network during WWI and the quest of a young woman searching for family after the end of WWII. -Becky

Call us what we carry : poems

by Amanda Gorman

811.6 /Gorman

The presidential inaugural poet--and unforgettable new voice in American poetry--presents a collection of poems that includes the stirring poem read at the inauguration of the 46th President of the United States.

Amanda Gorman displays such versatility in "Call Us What We Carry." This collection of poems takes on a wide variety of shapes and styles, containing an interesting blend of impact, resonance and fun word play. -Becky

Cloud cuckoo land : a novel

by Anthony Doerr

FICTION Doerr Anthony
Fiction

Constantinople, 1453: Anna lives in a convent where women toil all day embroidering the robes of priests. She learns the story of Aethon, who longs to be turned into a bird so that he can fly to the paradise of Cloud Cuckoo Land, a better world, and reads it to her sister as the walls of Constantinople are bombarded by armies of Saracens. Lakeport, Idaho, 2020: Seymour, an activist bent on saving the earth, sits in the public library with two homemade bombs in pressure cookers. Upstairs, eighty-five-year old Zeno, a former prisoner-of-war, and an amateur translator, rehearses five children in a play adaptation of Aethon's adventures. The future: On an interstellar ark called The Argos, Konstance, alone in a vault with access to all the information in the world, knows Aethon's story through her father, who has sequestered her to protect her. All are dreamers, misfits on the cusp of adulthood in a world the grown-ups have broken.

I finished reading Cloud Cuckoo Land several weeks ago, but find that my mind keeps drifting back to it, making new connections between the interwoven narratives. The novel’s movement through storylines, seemingly unconnected characters, places and times initially frustrated me, but I came to appreciate the fluidity in the text. Each thread of the narrative built quickly, setting up an image of life in 15th century Constantinople, 21st century Idaho, and a futuristic space mission of 2146. These stories linked in myriad ways: love, loss, war, escape… but I especially appreciated the focus on libraries and the influence that one particular manuscript had on the lives and times it touched. -Becky

The invisible life of Addie LaRue

by Victoria Schwab

SCIENCE FICTION Schwab Victoria
Fantasy

France, 1714. In a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever-- and cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Addie LaRue's life will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art. After nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore. He remembers her name-- and everything changes. How far will she go to leave her mark on the world?

In a desperate moment, Addie strikes a bargain with unintended consequences. This novel explores the value of being remembered and the impact of everyday interactions and connections. The audiobook narration is fantastic (read by Julia Whelan) and, for Iowa City Resident Card Holders, can be downloaded instantly on hoopla or borrowed through Libby. Recommended for fans of Naomi Novik and Katherine Arden’s “Winternight Trilogy.” -Becky

Ariadne

by Jennifer Saint

FICTION Saint Jennifer
Fiction

"Ariadne, Princess of Crete, grows up greeting the dawn from her beautiful dancing floor and listening to her nursemaid's stories of gods and heroes. But beneath her golden palace echo the ever-present hoofbeats of her brother, the Minotaur, a monster who demands blood sacrifice every year. When Theseus, Prince of Athens, arrives to vanquish the beast, Ariadne sees in his green eyes not a threat but an escape. Defying the gods, betraying her family and country, and risking everything for love, Ariadne helps Theseus kill the Minotaur. But will Ariadne's decision ensure her happy ending? And what of Phaedra, the beloved younger sister she leaves behind? Hypnotic, propulsive, and utterly transporting, Jennifer Saint's Ariadne forges a new epic, outside the traditional narratives of heroism and glory that leave no room for women"--

Calling all fans of Circe and A Thousand Ships! Ariadne is another novel rooted in Greek mythology, told from the female perspective. It opens up the untold narrative of Ariadne, Princess of Crete, beginning with her role in the story of the Minotaur. Engaging tale, complex characters, all the things I like! -Becky

The canyon's edge

by Dusti Bowling

jFICTION Bowling Dusti
Kids

A year after the death of her mother in a restaurant shooting, Nora is left struggling to stay alive when a climbing trip with her father goes terribly wrong.

One year after the traumatic death of her mother, Nora and her father embark on a rock-climbing expedition in a remote Southwest canyon. A flash flood separates Nora from her father, and she must find a way to survive the elements, reconnect with her father, and work through her grief. Written in verse, Dusti Bowling effectively brings an emotional resonance to this thrilling story of survival. I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it for middle grade readers and up. -Becky

The once and future witches

by Alix E. Harrow

eAUDIO
Fantasy

"In the late 1800s, three sisters use witchcraft to change the course of history in Alix E. Harrow's powerful novel of magic and the suffragette movement. In 1893, there's no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box. But when the Eastwood sisters -- James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna -- join the suffragists of New Salem, they begin to pursue the forgotten words and ways that might turn the women's movement into the witch's movement. Stalked by shadows and sickness, hunted by forces who will not suffer a witch to vote -- and perhaps not even to live -- the sisters will need to delve into the oldest magics, draw new alliances, and heal the bond between them if they want to survive. There's no such thing as witches. But there will be"--

An engaging tale of three sisters who bring magic and witching back during the time of the women's suffrage movement. A great read for those who enjoy a historical setting, well-developed characters, and a bit of magic. -Becky

Braiding sweetgrass

by Robin Wall Kimmerer

508 /Kimmerer
Nature, Science

"As a leading researcher in the field of biology, Robin Wall Kimmerer understands the delicate state of our world. But as an active member of the Potawatomi nation, she senses and relates to the world through a way of knowing far older than any science. In Braiding Sweetgrass, she intertwines these two modes of awareness--the analytic and the emotional, the scientific and the cultural--to ultimately reveal a path toward healing the rift that grows between people and nature. The woven essays that construct this book bring people back into conversation with all that is green and growing; a universe that never stopped speaking to us, even when we forgot how to listen"--

Blending personal, aesthetic and scientific perspectives on nature, “Braiding Sweetgrass” will have you thinking more about gratitude, restoration, and the relationship between humans and the environment. Kimmerer writes in a poetic style, sharing her own experiences as a mother, a professor, and a Potawatomi woman. A great read! -Becky

King and the dragonflies

by Kacen Callender

jFICTION Callende Kacen
Read Woke, Kids, LGBTQ+

"In a small but turbulent Louisiana town, one boy's grief takes him beyond the bayous of his backyard, to learn that there is no right way to be yourself"--

An important middle-grade read about a ten-year-old boy working through the grief he feels after his brother’s death and the questions he has surrounding his sexuality. It’s a beautifully written book about coping, identity, friendships, and safety. -Becky

The mercies : a novel

by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

FICTION Hargrave Kiran
Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+

Finnmark, Norway, 1617. Forty fishermen, including Maren Magnusdatter's brother and father, are drowned and left broken on the rocks below. The women of the tiny Arctic town of Vardø must fend for themselves. Three years later Absalom Cornet comes from Scotland, where he burned witches in the northern isles. His young Norwegian wife, Ursa, sees something she has never seen before: independent women. But Absalom sees only a place untouched by God, and flooded with a mighty evil. Maren and Ursa are drawn to one another in ways that surprise them both, but Absalom's iron rule threatening Vardø's very existence. -- adapted from jacket

“The Mercies” is a stimulating account of life in a small Norwegian fishing village in the early 1600's. Kiran Hargrave cleverly weaves together historical elements of gender roles, religion, and witchcraft with a narrative strongly rooted in its setting and characters. -Becky

The nickel boys : a novel

by Colson Whitehead

eAUDIO
Black Lives Matter

This was my first read by Colson Whitehead, but will certainly not be my last. “The Nickel Boys” is a fictionalized account based on an actual reform school in Florida, set during the Jim Crow era. It follows Elwood Curtis, a hardworking teenage boy, inspired by the ideals upheld by Dr. Martin Luther King. Elwood was on track to attend a local black college, but one innocent misstep sends him to a segregated juvenile reform school, where violence, brutality and abuse alter his life forever. A poignant and important read that exposes unjust political and social structures. -Becky

The ballad of songbirds and snakes

by Suzanne Collins

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Collins Suzanne
Young Adult

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute. The odds are against him. He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined, every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute, and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.

Fans of the Hunger Games will not be disappointed with this intimate account of a teenage Coriolanus Snow, future president of Panem. -Becky

A long walk to water : based on a true story

by Linda Sue Park

eAUDIO
Kids

When the Sudanese civil war reaches his village in 1985, eleven-year-old Salva becomes separated from his family and must walk with other Dinka tribe members through southern Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya in search of safe haven. Based on the life of Salva Dut, who, after emigrating to America in 1996, began a project to dig water wells in Sudan.

Linda Sue Park was inspired by historical documents and an interview with Salva in the creation of this short novel. I highly recommend the audiobook for young, mature audiences. It’s only about 3 hours long, extremely powerful, and features the voices of the author and Salva at the conclusion. -Becky

Ghost

by Jason Reynolds

eAUDIO
Kids

"Ghost, a naturally talented runner and troublemaker, is recruited for an elite middle school track team. He must stay on track, literally and figuratively, to reach his full potential"--

This is a story that will have you thinking about circumstance, opportunity and the value of mentoring influences. -Becky

An American marriage

by Tayari Jones

eAUDIO
Fiction

"Newlyweds Celestial and Roy, the living embodiment of the New South, are settling into the routine of their life together when Roy is sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit. An insightful look into the lives of people who are bound and separated by forces beyond their control"--

“An American Marriage” will have you thinking about the effects of incarceration and the messiness of human relationships. -Becky

The hate u give

by Angie Thomas

eAUDIO
Young Adult

After witnessing her friend's death at the hands of a police officer, Starr Carter's life is complicated when the police and a local drug lord try to intimidate her in an effort to learn what happened the night Kahlil died.

“The Hate U Give” had been on my must-read list for a while, and I finally was able to listen to the captivating audio version. Such a powerful and poignant read, and a story that I continue to think about well after its close. -Becky

The birchbark house

by Louise Erdrich

eAUDIO
Kids

This is a vital and dramatic novel of a year in the life of a young Ojibwa girl in the mid-1800s.

Birchbark is a great parallel for readers who enjoy the Little House books. Louise Erdrich provides a unique perspective into Ojibwa daily life during the nineteenth-century. The story is divided into the four seasons and told through the eyes of 7-year-old, Omakayas. Readers learn about a Native American family’s daily life, traditions, and connection with nature. Erdrich, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwa, was able to weave in her research, observations, and conversations with Ojibwa elders into a narrative that is accessible to middle-grade children. -Becky

Keeper of the lost cities

by Shannon Messenger

eBOOK
Kids

At age twelve, Sophie learns that the remarkable abilities that have always caused her to stand out identify her as an elf, and after being brought to Eternalia to hone her skills, discovers that she has secrets buried in her memory for which some would kill.

I want to give a big shout out to the tween patron that recommended this series to me! I think this is a series that will appeal to audiences of all ages, particularly to fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. Shannon Messenger excels at character development, dialog, and intriguing plotlines. In “Keeper of the Lost Cities,” we follow Sophie’s passage into a new world, where we try to unravel the mysterious elements behind her powers and abilities. While I love the fantasy elements of this story, I also really appreciate Shannon Messenger’s focus on relationships, integrity, and bravery. I think many kids (and adults) reading this will find things to relate to and will quickly get sucked in to the fantastic storytelling. I’ve got the next book on hold and can’t wait! -Becky

Gregor the Overlander

by Suzanne Collins

eBOOK
Kids

When eleven-year-old Gregor and his two-year-old sister are pulled into a strange underground world, they trigger an epic battle involving men, bats, rats, cockroaches, and spiders while on a quest foretold by ancient prophecy.

Looking for a middle-grade fantasy adventure series? “Gregor the Overlander” follows Gregor and his adorable two-year-old sister as they fall through a grate and enter the world of the Underland. Gregor finds that the uneasy cohabitation of humans with large spiders, cockroaches and rats in the Underland has placed this world on the brink of war. Interwoven throughout this fast-paced narrative, Suzanne Collins allows the reader to explore issues of tolerance and loyalty. Well written and exciting—a great start to the Underland Chronicles series! -Becky

Near the exit : travels with the not-so-grim reaper

by Lori Erickson

eAUDIO
Nonfiction

Near the exit examines how different cultures confront and have confronted death.

I had put “Near the Exit” on hold awhile back when I missed the chance to see Lori Erickson speak at the Iowa Book Festival last year. I finally got my hands on it and it was worth the wait! In this book, Erickson uses in-depth research, spiritual travels, interviews, and personal experience to examine how various cultures view death. I appreciated her curiosity and open-mindedness, and thoroughly enjoyed the insight and the unexpected humor in this read. -Becky

The one and only Ivan

by Katherine Applegate

eBOOK
Kids

When Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall, meets Ruby, a baby elephant that has been added to the mall, he decides that he must find her a better life.

This is a story about animal treatment, friendship, integrity, and the power that comes with words and art. -Becky

Pax

by Sara Pennypacker

eBOOK
Kids

"After being forced to give up his pet fox Pax, a young boy named Peter decides to leave home and get his best friend back"--

This is a beautiful story about a twelve-year-old boy named Peter and his fox, Pax. With the onset of war, Peter is forced to leave home and release Pax back into the unfamiliar wild. That separation fills Peter with remorse, and he makes the decision to prepare for a journey to reunite with Pax. Chapters alternate between the viewpoints of Peter and Pax, and through their parallel adventures, you can see the power of friendship and devotion, as well as the power that comes from self-discovery, survival and peace. There are so many powerful messages to be gained through this story and I highly recommend it! -Becky

Doll bones

by Holly Black

eAUDIO
Kids

Zach, Alice, and Poppy, friends from a Pennsylvania middle school who have long enjoyed acting out imaginary adventures with dolls and action figures, embark on a real-life quest to Ohio to bury a doll made from the ashes of a dead girl.

Zac, Poppy and Alice are friends that are deeply linked in a magical world that they created for their action figure toys. In “Doll Bones,” these friends are faced with a question of whether this made-up fantasy contains elements of truth, when Poppy’s dreams become haunted about a figure that is supposedly made out of bones. This question leads them on a quest, where they attempt to break an imminent curse and discover the full story behind the doll. This story is a good read for young readers who like plot driven adventure stories with a bit of spookiness. -Becky

Neverwhere

by Neil Gaiman

eAUDIO
Fantasy

"Under the streets of London there's a place most people could never even dream of. A city of monsters and saints, murderers and angels, knights in armour and pale girls in black velvet. This is the city of the people who have fallen between the cracks. Richard Mayhew, a young businessman, is going to find out more than enough about this other London. A single act of kindness catapults him out of his workday existence and into a world that is at once eerily familiar and utterly bizarre. And a strange destiny awaits him down here, beneath his native city: Neverwhere."

Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors of ALL time. He is descriptive and funny, and has a talent to cleverly weave fantastical elements into a realistic setting. Neverwhere was the first book of his that I listened to in audio form. The added bonus of the audio book is that it is read by Neil Gaiman! His voice and pacing make this great book even better. Neverwhere is a tale that follows Richard Mayhew, an ordinary man who once helped a girl he had found bleeding on the sidewalk. That one kind act lands him in Neverwhere, a place that exists in the cracks and shadows of London. -Becky

The Dutch house : a novel

by Ann Patchett

FICTION Patchett Ann
Historical Fiction

At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves. Cyril's son Danny and his older sister Maeve are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another.

"The Dutch House" compiles a set of memories and stories that span the course of five decades. Ann Patchett skillfully moves us back and forth in time, with the house serving as an integral piece to our understanding of the characters and changing family dynamics. I love the moments and conversations between Danny and his sister Maeve. One particular conversation that stuck with me throughout my reading was when Danny and Maeve were discussing whether or not the past could be viewed as it actually was or whether the past is altered by the lens we use at present. I really enjoyed reading Patchett's, "The Dutch House! It’s a great read for those who enjoy well developed characters, interesting family relationships, fairy tale undercurrents and a historical setting. -Becky

Lalani of the distant sea

by Erin Entrada Kelly

jFICTION Kelly Erin
Kids, Fantasy

"Twelve-year-old Lalani Sarita takes on the impossible task of traveling to the legendary Mount Isa, towering on an island to the north. Generations of men and boys have died on the same quest--how can a timid young girl in a tiny boat survive the epic tests of the archipelago?"--

What an amazing story inspired by Filipino folklore! “Lalani of the Distant Sea” is an engrossing story that weaves in superstition, gender roles, friendship and choice in a way that is thought-provoking and inspiring. I loved this story and would highly recommend it! -Becky

Where the mountain meets the moon

by Grace Lin

jFICTION Lin, Grace
Kids, Fantasy

Minli, an adventurous girl from a poor village, buys a magical goldfish, and then joins a dragon who cannot fly on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon in hopes of bringing life to Fruitless Mountain and freshness to Jade River.

This is a beautiful fantasy adventure novel rooted in Chinese folklore. It follows Minli, a strong and lovable heroine, on her quest to seek answers from the Old Man of the Moon. While traveling, Minli meets several interesting characters and is told memorable folklore tales. This is a book for all ages! Grace Lin is an excellent storyteller and her artwork throughout the story is stunning! -Becky

The tiger's wife

by Téa Obreht

FICTION Obreht, Tea
Fiction

Remembering childhood stories her grandfather once told her, young physician Natalia becomes convinced that he spent his last days searching for "the deathless man," a vagabond who claimed to be immortal. As Natalia struggles to understand why her grandfather, a deeply rational man would go on such a farfetched journey, she stumbles across a clue that leads her to the extraordinary story of the tiger's wife.

“The Tiger’s Wife” is a tale where the real and the fantastical are intertwined, a great example of magical realism. While the story follows Natalia, the main storyline builds upon the death of her grandfather. Natalia reexamines memories and stories shared by her grandfather to come to a better understanding surrounding the mysteriousness of his disappearance and death. Through those memories, we are introduced to the Deathless Man and the Tiger’s Wife, both are characters rooted in fantasy and superstition. It is through the Deathless Man and the Tiger’s Wife that Natalia deals with her grief and learns more about her grandfather. -Becky

The song of Achilles

by Madeline Miller

FICTION Miller Madeline
Fiction

"Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia to be raised in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles. "The best of all the Greeks"-strong, beautiful, and the child of a goddess-Achilles is everything the shamed Patroclus is not. Yet despite their differences, the boys become steadfast companions. Their bond deepens as they grow into young men and become skilled in the arts of war and medicine-much to the displeasure and the fury of Achilles' mother, Thetis, a cruel sea goddess with a hatred of mortals. When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, the men of Greece, bound by blood and oath, must lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice. Built on the groundwork of the Iliad, Madeline Miller's page-turning, profoundly moving, and blisteringly paced retelling of the epic Trojan War marks the launch of a dazzling career." (Summary from Amazon)

"The Song of Achilles" is such an interesting rendition of the tale of the Trojan War. It is told by the perspective of Patroclus, beginning with him as a young child being exiled to the court of King Peleus. There, he and Achilles develop a deep bond which carries them through Chiron's training and into the battlefield. Beautifully written! -Becky

The secrets we kept

by Lara Prescott

FICTION Prescott Lara
Historical Fiction

At the height of the Cold War, two secretaries are pulled out of the typing pool at the CIA and given the assignment of a lifetime. Their mission: to smuggle Doctor Zhivago out of the USSR, where no one dare publish it, and help Pasternak's magnum opus make its way into print around the world. Glamorous and sophisticated Sally Forrester is a seasoned spy who has honed her gift for deceit all over the world--using her magnetism and charm to pry secrets out of powerful men. Irina is a complete novice, and under Sally's tutelage quickly learns how to blend in, make drops, and invisibly ferry classified documents.

While "The Secrets We Kept" is set around the creation and publication of Pasternak's "Doctor Zhivago," it is not necessary to have read "Doctor Zhivago" to appreciate Prescott's work (though I now have added it to my list of books to read in the future!). Your attention shifts between two U.S. undercover typists working to distribute Pasternak's novel, to Olga (Pasternak's mistress), who's own livelihood and well being is very closely linked to the novel's publication. I really enjoy historical fiction and loved how this account examines the consequences and impact of creative, intellectual works during the time of the Cold War. -Becky

Circe : a novel

by Madeline Miller

FICTION Miller Madeline
Fiction

Follows Circe, the banished witch daughter of Helios, as she hones her powers and interacts with famous mythological beings before a conflict with one of the most vengeful Olympians forces her to choose between the worlds of the gods and mortals.

A great read for those who enjoy Greek mythology, complex heroines, magic, and adventure! Miller is an intelligent and skillful writer, which made the telling of "Circe" an enjoyable and engaging tale for me! -Becky

Red at the bone

by Jacqueline Woodson

FICTION Woodson, Jacqueline
Fiction

"Two familes from different social classes are joined together by an unexpected pregnancy and the child that it produces. As the book opens in 2001, it is the evening of sixteen-year-old Melody's coming of age ceremony in her grandparents' Brooklyn brownstone. Watched lovingly by her relatives and friends, making her entrance to the music of Prince, she wears a special custom-made dress. But the event is not without poignancy. Sixteen years earlier, that very dress was measured and sewn for a different wearer: Melody's mother, for her own ceremony-- a celebration that ultimately never took place"--Adapted from jacket.

Jacqueline Woodson writes in such a beautiful, poetic narrative. Red at the Bone is a story about choices and consequences. It examines how individuals within two families view and handle the circumstances that they are dealt by weaving together fragmented memories and moments experienced by these individuals. -Becky

The testaments

by Margaret Atwood

SCIENCE FICTION Atwood Margaret
Dystopian

The theocratic regime of the Republic of Gilead maintains its grip on power, but there are signs it is beginning to rot from within. At this crucial moment, the lives of three radically different women converge, with potentially explosive results. Two have grown up as part of the first generation to come of age in the new order. The testimonies of these two young women are joined by a third voice: a woman who wields power through the ruthless accumulation and deployment of secrets. Each woman is forced to come to terms with who she is, and how far she will go for what she believes. -- adapted from jacket

I would recommend The Testaments to all fans of Atwood's 1986 work, The Handmaid's Tale, and/or to all those who have enjoyed the Hulu original series. As a sequel to the original work, I think it is important to have read (or at least watched) The Handmaid's Tale in order to fully appreciate and understand the testimonies given about the world of Gilead in this latest work. This story is narrated by three individuals with very different perspectives and experiences in/surrounding Gilead, fifteen years after the original story takes place. Another great work by Atwood! -Becky