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Featured Book: The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender

The Strange...This post is part of an original series created by librarians/media specialists across Central Minnesota featuring books.

Title: The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender
Written by Maria Burnham, Media Specialist at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School

Ava Lavender was born with a special gift – the gift of wings.  Kept as a recluse from the world for fear of being ridiculed, Ava, along with her grandmother, mother and twin brother (born catatonic and wingless) keep to themselves.  But eventually, the family starts to venture out in to the wide world, one by one, and the world slowly adjusts to them.  A coming-of-age tale that is heartbreaking and inspirational, this book is one to remember.

I truly enjoyed this book for so many reasons.  First, I loved that the story was multi-generational.  To hear about where a family comes from and why they are the way they are was so satisfying and enthralling.  I also loved that the story is a mix of true love and tragic love as well as teen curiosity and personal bravery.

There were times when this book reminded me of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.  The characters are lovable and complicated.  So much so that I didn’t want the story to end.  I highly recommend this book for upper middle school through adult readers!

5 stars.

 

Image credit: Candlewick Press
Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Featured Book: Far Far Away

Far Far AwayThis post is a part of an original series created by librarians/media specialists across Central Minnesota featuring books.

Title: Far Far Away by Tom McNeal

Written by Maria Burnham, Media Specialist at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School

This book is an interesting, genre-busting YA novel.  Set in the current day in the town of Never Better, Jeremy Johnson is a quiet boy who is doing all he can to keep his life afloat.  With a deceased mother and a recluse of a father unable to work or pay the bills, Jeremy is forced to do what he can to keep a roof over his head and food on the table.  But what makes Jeremy’s life interesting (and bearable, to him) is that he hears a voice that helps to guide him through the world.  And it’s not just any voice; it’s the voice of Jacob Grimm, one half of the famous writing duo of the Grimm brothers.  Part mystery, part fantasy, part realistic fiction, this novel is sure to keep you wondering.

The first half of the book was interesting, but a little slow. However, when I got to the last 100 pages, I could NOT put the book down. I literally bit my nails as I read. I love that the narrator of the book is the ghost of Jacob Grimm and that there are many connections to Grimm’s tales. This book is full of storyline layers that I love.

My only gripe is that I could see a logistical flaw toward the end of the book. I can’t mention what it is because it would spoil the book for some. Without that flaw, I would’ve given the book 5 stars! My favorite YA book of the summer to be sure!

 National Book Award Nominee for Young People’s Literature (2013), Michigan Library Association Thumbs Up! Award for Honor book (2014), Carnegie Medal in Literature Nominee (2014), YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (Top Ten) (2014)

 

Image credit: Random House LLC
Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Featured Book: The Opposite of Loneliness

This post is a part of an original series created by librarians/media specialists across Central Minnesota featuring books.

OppositeofLonlinessTitle: The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories by Marina Keegan

Written by Maria Burnham, Media Specialist at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School

Well, I have to say that I am biased toward this book because the story of the author reminds me of my college days as an English major (okay, minus the graduation from Yale and the internship at The New Yorker). Marina Keegan was a talented Yale student of writing.  Shortly after graduation, she died in a tragic car accident.  This book, The Opposite of Loneliness, is a beautiful compilation of her work, both in fiction and non-fiction.  It was the perfect book to read this time of year because the first piece is an essay titled “The Opposite of Loneliness” which captures the essence of students nearing graduation.  Here’s the opening paragraph: “We don’t have a word for the opposite of loneliness, but if we did I could say that’s what I want in life.  What I’m grateful and thankful to have found at Yale, and what I’m scared of losing when we wake up tomorrow after Commencement and leave this place.”

The fiction stories in the book are human, grounding and enticing.  They didn’t feel too lofty or snooty like some short stories can be.  The essays are beautiful and insightful and just enough to make you think about life without getting depressed.

I am sad that I will not be able to read more of her work.  I’m sure it would’ve brought me back to a subscription to The New Yorker.

 

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Featured Book: In the Garden of Beasts

This post is a part of an original series created by librarians/media specialists across Central Minnesota featuring books.

BeastsTitle: In the Garden of Beasts, by Erik Larson

Written by Maria Burnham, Media Specialist at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School

The first Erik Larson book I read was Devil in the White City, and I couldn’t believe how mesmerized I was by the content, the characters, the storyline.  I have to say that I love non-fiction that reads like fiction.  After all, I even have a whole section of my library called “Non-Fiction Narrative” so students who like true stories but can’t find these non-fiction books that read like novels amongst the more factual and reference-like books in the non-fiction section.

In the Garden of Beasts was exceptionally written.  A fascinating tale of the Dodd family who moved over the Berlin, Germany pre-WWII.  William A. Dodd was named the United States Ambassador to Germany in 1933, and he remained ambassador until 1937.  The book tells both of his journey as a man struggling to maintain his “Jeffersonian” beliefs in a profession that’s renowned for lavish parties and extravagant social situations and of his struggle to clearly and accurately relay the tone of Berlin back to the U.S. during the rise of Hitler and the blacklisting of Jews. And perhaps even a more fascinating element of the story, is the journey of Martha, Dodd’s daughter, who was quite “friendly” with Nazi soldiers and eventually became an agent for the Communist party.

This book is a captivating tale of Germany and the Dodd family journey.  It certainly left me wanting to know more about the rise of Hitler.  Perhaps I’ll be checking out more non-fiction books this summer to satisfy my craving!

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Featured Book: We Are Water

This post is a part of an original series created by librarians/media specialists across Central Minnesota featuring books.

WeAreWaterTitle: We Are Water, by Wally Lamb

Written by Maria Burnham, Media Specialist at Sauk Rapids Rice High School

True to form with anything I’ve read by Wally Lamb, this novel left me moved, emotional, and full of deep thought.  It’s one of those books that, even after turning the last page and closing the back cover, I knew I was not done with the book; it’s going to take a good discussion or two with someone else who has read the book to really come to terms with the story.

We Are Water is a powerful fictional story of Annie Oh, a stay-at-mother-turned-infamous-artist, and her family’s journey, both past and present.  Told from multiple points of view, the reader learns of Annie’s life as a child and victim of molestation, her first marriage to a man named Orion and the birth of their three children (later grown adults in the novel), her eventual artist status in New York City, as well as her impending nuptials to her art dealer, a woman named Viveca.  The story is beautifully layered and touches on aspects of the human spirit that few other authors can write as well as Wally Lamb.  A bit disturbing, yet vividly human, this novel explores topics that any reader will be left thinking about for days.

We only have five weeks to go before CMLE goes on summer hiatus from its publishing duties ! Have you read a book recently that you would like us to feature?

I bought a few copies of this book for my book club among some of the adult staff members in my school.  The copies of this book do reside on the shelf in my media center for students and staff to checkout, but it’s worth noting that there are described scenes of molestation and sexual experiences that some might find offensive and disturbing. Beware who takes this book home–it’s not for the easily offended or the faint of heart.

Please share your take on books you have read recently. If you have a book you would like to showcase, please send your review to our offices. Five weeks until we go on summer hiatus!