Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

Title: Ordinary Grace

Author: William Kent Krueger

Genre: Fiction, Coming of Age, Mystery

"It was a summer in which death, in visitation, assumed many forms. Accident. Nature. Suicide. Murder." The words of narrator 13-year-old Frank Drum, growing up in small town MN in 1961, captured me from its outset. This is a quiet yet powerful book full of mystery, secrets and adversity.  Frank's father is the town Minister, whose unshakable faith and hope holds his family and town together even in the midst of unspeakable tragedy and sorrow. For all its "heaviness," the story is ultimately uplifting and hopeful and leaves you touched by "not-so-ordinary" grace.

- Karen

Check out Ordinary Grace @ the library.

Hey Ladies! by Michelle Markowitz and Caroline Moss

Title: Hey Ladies!

Author: Michelle Markowitz and Caroline Moss

Genre: Humor

Hey Ladies! Such a simple salutation, but what follows is a years’ worth of communication, mostly through e-mail, between a group of 8 friends living in the New York area. It starts with January’s resolutions shared with each other, to February’s surprise proposal, and then the rest of the year is all about Jen’s wedding preparation and events.

Even if you don’t have a group of friends quite like this, it’s hard not to get involved with the friendship drama of these very different women. You’ll root for Nicole’s business startup, be flustered with Ali’s making decisions for everyone with a pretty steep price tag. You’ll follow Jen’s wedding drama, and hope that Gracie and Morgan stay as level headed as they are throughout it all. Caitlin, a wellness guru wanna be; Katie, an aspiring journalist; and Ashley, a teacher in Connecticut round out our group of 8.

Originally on the now-defunct site The Toast, this year-in-the-life book will have you laughing and being thankful you aren’t on the receiving end of these ladies’ e-mails!

- Katie

Check out Hey Ladies! @ the library.

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

Title: The Immortalists

Author: Chloe Benjamin

Genre: Fiction

1969. New York City. The four young Gold children, Varya, Daniel, Klara, and Simon, visit an old lady rumored to be psychic. After she speaks with each of the siblings in turn, they are left with the date of their impending death. Follow the children as they try to defy their foretold destinies and become a researcher, a doctor, a magician, and a dancer. Did the Romany woman have their futures pegged? Can they move out of the shadow of their own impending deaths? Check out The Immortalists to see.

I liked that I could picture the story as it took place in my mind's eye. I also found Benjamin's portrayal of a person with OCD to be very authentic. Plus, she's a local (Madison, WI) so she name drops spots around our state in the book which is cool, too.

- Sarah R.

Check out The Immortalists @ the library.

Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror by Steve Alten

Title: Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror

Author: Steve Alten

Genre: Action, Horror, Science Fiction

Years ago, Jonas Taylor saw something terrifying during a deep sea dive that changed his life forever. Now, he works to prove that there really is a monster living deep within the Marianas Trench. But when the creature escapes to the surface, everyone will have to pay the price as it begins its rampage through the oceans.

The inspiration for the upcoming movie The Meg, this book is a fun, fast-paced adventure with a little science and a lot of action. A great read for anyone who loves Jurassic Park or is afraid of what could be lurking in the ocean’s depths!

- Rachel C.

Check out Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror @ the library.

Lady Sherlock Series #1 and #2: "A Study in Scarlet Women" and "A Conspiracy in Belgravia" by Sherry Thomas

Titles: A Study in Scarlet Women and A Conspiracy in Belgravia (Lady Sherlock Series #1 and #2)

Author: Sherry Thomas

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery

Excellent! The Lady Sherlock Series is a gender-flipped retelling of Sherlock Holmes. It's not the first gender-flipped retelling, but it has to be the best. The characterization is fabulous, the crimes and surrounding plots are interesting, and both novels provoke fascinating conversations on gender and class. There's also some superbly poignant romantic tension. I listened to the audio book versions (available on OverDrive and Libby) read by award-winning narrator Kate Reading. She gives each of the many characters a unique voice without ever going over the top. Highly recommended!

- Rachel K.

Check out A Study in Scarlet Women and A Conspiracy in Belgravia @ the library.