Becky

Liesl Shurtlif does a great job developing a backstory for Rumpelstiltskin. Typically the antihero in fairy tales, Rump is shown here as a misunderstood and thoughtful hero. His power develops during a time of hunger and loss, and we watch as he learns more about himself, his powers, and the consequences of magic. Plot driven, surprising, and a fun read! -Becky

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

A cat AND magic?! I think this is a book that I would have loved as a child. First in a series, “The Familiars” follows a seemingly ordinary cat named Aldwyn who is mistaken for an animal with magical abilities. He is paired up to assist Jack, a young wizard in training. When Jack and other wizard apprentices are captured, Aldwyn pairs up with a magical blue-jay and a tree frog on a quest to save them. Their quest is full of adventure, magic, humor, secrets and self-discovery. -Becky

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

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

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

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

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

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

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" 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

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

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” 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" 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

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

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

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

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

I ended up listening to the audio book version of this story (read brilliantly by Imogen Church) and had a hard time setting it aside! Ruth Ware does a fantastic job with pulling in mysterious and suspenseful elements, leaving you anxious to fit together the clues and themes that are woven in throughout the narrative. The Death of Mrs. Westaway was such an engaging story and I would highly recommend the audio book version (available through the Libby App). -Becky

This is a difficult, but important story that evaluates multiple post-colonial attitudes through the lenses of a missionary wife and her four daughters. It provides such an interesting portrait of a family and of a village in the Belgian Congo (beginning in 1959), and delves deeply into issues of culture, politics and human experience. -Becky

I love how Delia Owens flawlessly weaves in two timelines for Where the Crawdads Sing. I was constantly trying to figure out how these timelines would merge and would look for clues to help me judge the mindset and capabilities of Kya, the "Marsh Girl." It is a beautiful story about human nature, human experience, and a celebration of nature. One of my favorite reads this year! -Becky

Such an interesting and well-researched book about America's food culture. It really makes you think about where your meals are coming from and the influences surrounding food creation. -Becky

At around 800 pages in length, I was a bit daunted by my choice in reading this novel. But, after watching the BBC series based on Clarke's book and having it recommended to me by my brother, I was determined to give it a try. This story was a great fit for me because it combines my love of fantasy, England and historical fiction. I especially liked the striking differences between Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell and enjoyed watching their relationship to one another and magic evolve. -Becky

Another great work by Naomi Novik that allowed me to escape into a mystical world rooted in Russian folklore. A powerful story that highlights self-sacrifice, endurance and love. I would probably rate Uprooted (also by Novik) a bit higher, but I still loved this story and would highly recommend it. -Becky

I was immediately drawn in to the story of the Dragon, Agnieszka and the mystery surrounding her village. Novik is an excellent storyteller and Uprooted was full of great character development and interesting twists in the plot. Love this book! -Becky

I particularly enjoy fantasy stories and I ended up reading Katherine Arden's entire trilogy within a week. The Bear and the Nightingale (first in the series) is a beautiful construction of a Russian fairy tale following young Vasya and the development of her magical abilities. She quickly finds resistance with her power and must navigate a world full of change, evil and influence in order to protect her family, her village, and those unseen. -Becky

This is a story that highlights the endurance, courage and strength of women. I worked through the book rather quickly, absorbed in the plot and determined to find out how it would all end. An opening quote in the novel suggests that "In love we find out who we want to be; In war we find out who we are..." this statement was revealed in an interesting development in each of the two sisters. -Becky

Amor Towles does a fantastic job with character development; I especially enjoyed watching Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov masterly navigate his circumstances with class, wisdom, and a great deal of charm. Such a beautifully written book and satisfying from start to finish. -Becky

In Alias Grace, Margaret Atwood delivers a fascinating account of the life of Grace Marks, an Irish immigrant who settled in Canada as a young child. My initial perception of Grace's character is immediately put into question as the story builds around her possible involvement in the horrific murders of her employer, Thomas Kinnear, and his mistress. Based on a true story from the 1840's, Atwood excels in historical storytelling. By weaving in period appropriate views of religion, science and mental illness along with the memories shared by Grace Marks and actual accounts written about the trial, you are constantly left wondering: victim or villain? -Becky