The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

Title: The Grace Year

Author: Kim Liggett

Genre: Young Adult

In this dystopian YA tale, all the girls in Garner Country must take part in The Grace Year. However, no one is allowed to talk about it or what happens during it. All they know is that the girls leave the village for a year with their magic and return without it, ready for marriage...if they return at all. 16 year old Tierney wants a life where she isn't someone's property and where the girls aren't always pitting themselves against each other. When it's time for her Grace Year, she realizes that what she was told to fear isn't what she should actually fear.
This book felt like the perfect combination of The Handmaid's Tale and The Salem Witch Trials. There's suspense, fear, survival, and female empowerment all rolled up into one amazing book. Easily the best book I've read this year!

- Megan

Check out  The Grace Year by Kim Liggett @ the library!

I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

Title: I'm Thinking of Ending Things

Author: Iain Reid

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Horror, Suspense 

A  young woman is thinking of ending things with her boyfriend, Jake. She likes him but doesn't see the relationship as long term. She hasn't even told Jake about the mysterious voicemails she's been receiving on a regular basis from her own number. Someone would tell a serious boyfriend about that, right? Even though she is thinking of ending things, she agrees to go to Jake's childhood home to meet his parents. Since she's thinking of ending things, there is no pressure. They drive through a worsening snowstorm to the country farmhouse. Jake's parents are odd and ask her unsettling questions, but it is the drive home when things take a turn for the worse. 

 

I'm Thinking of Ending Things is a psychological thriller that really gets your adrenaline pumping after that detour. You'll find yourself questioning what you're reading and if you missed any clues along the way. Now a movie on Netflix, this is a quick thriller that is perfect for a dark and stormy night. 

- Beth

Check out I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid @ the library!

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Title: The Great Alone

Author: Kristin Hannah

Genre: Domestic Fiction

Ernt Allbright returns from Vietnam a troubled, broken man. After losing yet another job and discovering he's inherited a house in Alaska, he tells his wife, Cora, and his daughter, Leni, that they are moving. In Alaska, the Allbrights get a crash course in homesteading and with the help of a handful of other "colorful" Alaskan transplants, the Ernt family learns to survive and finds that the sunny Alaskan summer combined with manual labor helps Ernt’s PTSD. Leni and Cora are hopeful that things will be better in Alaska, but Leni quickly realizes that Ernt’s good mood won’t last long. The darkness of winter is coming.

The bulk of the book is the relationship between mother and daughter and the coming of age story of Leni. She starts school, meets a local boy, Matthew, and falls in love with both him and the untamed beauty of the Alaskan wilderness. Growing up dealing with her erratic father and her mother's ever present denial of her husband's increasing irrational and abusive behavior are the real tests of survival. These prove to be harsher and more threatening than the most brutal Alaskan winter. In the end, Cora and Leni are lead to a desperate act that impacts the rest of their lives.

- Karen 

Check out  The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah @ the library!

Books! Live with Katie 9.23.2020

Today was our first Books! Live with Katie event on Facebook. If you missed it, here is the video, as well as a list of the books we talked about. Our next live event will be October 28th, at 10 AM on Facebook Live. Don't worry, we will archive the video on both Facebook and YouTube for those of you who can't make it live!

Books Featured:

Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Patterson

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

It Had to Be You and Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

One to Watch by Katie Stayman-London

Pretty in Plaid by Jen Lancaster

Nobody Will Tell You This But Me by Bess Kalb

Books Looking Forward to Reading:

The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemison

Want by Lynn Steger-Strong 

One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London

Title: One to Watch

Author: Kate Stayman-London

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Bea Schumacher is a plus-size fashion blogger who rails one day about the complete lack of bigger contestants on the reality match-making show Main Squeeze. When the show's new producer hears this, she thinks she knows how to boost the show's flagging interest - make Bea the next contestant. Twenty five men, gorgeous locations, amazing clothes, and the usual reality TV twists and turns ensue. When you've had as little luck with love as Bea, you don't know who to trust when ulterior motives abound. Will Bea find love or will she walk away empty-handed?

If you like reality shows like The Bachelor, you will probably like this book. The author has playfully adds some blog posts, podcasts, and ads that respond to the reality show. A quick, fun read.

- Sarah R.

Check out  One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London @ the library!

Go to Sleep (I Miss You) by Lucy Knisley

Title: Go to Sleep (I Miss You)

Author: Lucy Knisley

Genre: Graphic Novel, Autobiographical, Humor

A new mom finds comfort in creating little drawings of the joys and obstacles of having a newborn baby. I found similarities between many of her thoughts to what went through my mind when I first had my child. Most pages had me giggling and showing the picture to my partner. I would definitely recommend this to anyone with kids and Knisley's other books have also proved to be a real treat!

- Gina

Check out  Go to Sleep (I Miss You) by Lucy Knisley @ the library!

Numbers in Motion: Sophie Kowalevski, Queen of Mathematics by Laurie Wallmark

Title: Numbers in Motion: Sophie Kowalevski, Queen of Mathematics
Author: Laurie Wallmark, Illustrated by Yevgenia Nayberg
Genre: Children's Non-fiction

If you don't know the name Sophie Kowalevski, you're just like me before I stumbled upon this book. It is the story of a Russian girl who grew up with mathematics all around her (her room was literally papered with it). Sophie's journey to eventually become a university chair at Stockholm University when most women weren't even allowed to attend college is inspiring. The story is brief, but informative and beautifully illustrated. Learn something new and pick up this book. This title is recommended for ages 7-12. Who knows? You just may encourage a budding mathematician...

- Sarah R.

Check out  Numbers In Motion : Sofia Kowalevski, Queen of Mathematics by Laurie Wallmark @ the library!