Starry River of the Sky

Grace Lin
Rendi leaves home hoping for a place bigger and better but finds himself stranded in a small nowhere village. A missing mountain, strange moaning in the night, and a moon that is gone from the sky haunt the village and overshadow any chance for happiness. Rendi becomes the chore boy at the village Inn. ...

Review by Michele R. »

The Unfortunate Son

Constance Leeds
Don’t let the dull dark cover lead you astray, there are great and huge adventures in this work of historical fiction set in the fifteenth century. Luc, unfortunately born with only one ear, is considered unlucky and his father despises and neglects him. His mother has already left. ...

Review by Michele R. »

Navigating Early

Clare Vanderpool
When Jack’s mom dies, his long absent military father comes home and places Jack in a boarding school. Alone and a bit miserable, Jack befriends the unusual student Early Audon. Early is strange, almost in a magical way. ...

Review by Michele R. »

American Ghost: a Novel

Janis Owens
Totally CAPTIVATING! That was my reading experience with “American Ghost” by Janis Owens. The story developed from the author’s research on a real lynching that occurred in 1934 in Marianna, Florida. ...

Review by Larry F. »

All There Is: Love Stories from Storycorps

Dave Isay
This book is a compilation of vignettes taken from true stories about love. The people who share their stories in All There Is are participants of the Storycorps project. Storycorps is a national project designed to inspire everyday people to share their stories orally. ...

Review by Brice B. »

Little White Duck: a Childhood in China

Andrés Vera Martínez
Na Liu moved to the U.S. in her early 20’s. Soon after learning that she and her cartoonist husband would be having their first child, they decided to work together to create a graphic novel for children. Na Liu’s husband loved hearing his wife’s childhood stories describing life in Wuhan, China. ...

Review by Melanie A. »

El Jazz Mexicano De Tino Contreras

Tino Contreras
Almost unknown outside of his native Mexico, Tino is certainly one of Mexico's best kept secrets in contemporary big band music. A composer, arranger, and, legendary pioneering drummer with a career spanning more than 60 years, Its about time for his due! ...

Review by Keith S. »

Heat Wave: a Novel

Nancy Thayer
Nancy Thayer writes with warmth and wisdom in this emotional but heartwarming story of a widowed woman who keeps her family together as she feels her life unraveling. Strong and determined Carley moves on with plans for financial security by opening her house as a bed and breakfast regardless of the conflicting opinions of others. Relationships become...

Review by Betsy M. »

No Kiss for Mother

Tomi Ungerer
Piper Paw is one bad cat. He is always causing trouble in school and hangs with all the other tough cats. But what really, really, really gets him mad is his MOTHER!!!!!She is always KISSING him…..ALWAYS.She calls him Darling and Honey Pie…just disgusting.Is there any hope for this horrible young cat…..read….the….book. ...

Review by Christopher S. »

What's for Lunch?: How Schoolchildren Eat Around the World

Andrea Curtis
So what do you like to eat? This fun book shows the fascinating food that kids eat in different countries. It also gives interesting glimpses into their various social and cultural habits. But best of all (in my opinion) it illustrates other approaches toward solving problems like too much junk food or malnourishment in less privileged parts of the...

Review by Christopher S. »