Adult

Prep : a novel by Curtis Sittenfeld

Middle-class Indianan Lee Fiora gets a scholarship to the elite college prep Ault School in Massachusetts. In her four years there she leaves behind her friends, family, Midwestern character, class, values, naiveté, isolation and virginity. Lee isn't a traditional protagonist. You pull for her but with reservations. She is self-defeating, shallow, blasé, an indifferent student (although her academic mediocrity beats anything I accomplished in high school hands down). Why do you relentlessly follow Lee, root for her? Her new world is one of girls with first names like Hunter and Horton, lacrosse, sailboats, vanilla milkshakes, "flattened" personalities, pearl necklaces, mothers called Tinkle and Yum, salsa that is "like, ketchup with onions in it" and students who believe they're beyond racism. The school crest is printed on a set of highball glasses available in the school store. In short, an ultra-WASP redoubt. A school where "being rich, in the end, counted for the most." Soon Lee finds she neither fits into this world or her old home in South Bend, Indiana. It is this, more than anything, that makes you sympathize with her, because it's the essence of the human predicament to not fit into this world-and to believe (at least in adolescence) that everybody else does. Sittenfeld keeps you absorbed. Prep is addictive. It's fascinating to see Lee go through roommate trauma, class snobbery landmines, boyfriend disasters and the long struggle to form a self that makes some kind of sense. The writing is almost totally without pretense. It snags you and won't give you up. You don't want to wander away from it, or wonder why Sittenfeld does this or that. It's honed. It can be a good thing going through adolescence again, this time at a blessed remove. Fiction, or fiction as good as this, makes it bearable, enjoyable, something you can actually handle.

Life by Keith Richards

Even if you have never had any interest in The Rolling Stones or their lead guitarist, Keith Richards, this is a fascinating read. Starting with Keith’s early musical influences and childhood in England and covering his youth, his obsession with American blues, and his complicated relationships with band mates, this book reveals a hidden side of this music legend.   If all you know about him is that he did a lot of drugs, wrote Satisfaction in his sleep and was the inspiration for Captain Jack Sparrow, you'll come away convinced that no one else could have survived and produced his body of work. Yes, he discusses his drug use, his legal problems, and his hostile relationships with both Mick Jagger and Brian Jones, but the most surprising revelation is what a lovely and family oriented person he’s become in later years.   Shy, thoughtful, bright, well-read (he once said he wanted to be a librarian and has an extensive personal library), and one of the most respected guitarists in the rock world, his passion is, and always has been, the music.  If you have any curiosity about his life, the music culture from the 60’s on, or the times he’s lived through, read this book!  By the by, The Rolling Stones celebrated the 50th anniversary of their first gig in July, 2012, and they’re still alive and rocking!

The Magicians by Lev Grosssman

Quentin Coldwater, angst-ridden teen prodigy suffering from a bad case of  "There must be more to life than this," has been obsessed since childhood with a series of novels about a magical land called Fillory. But Fillory isn’t real, and magic isn’t real . . . or is it? When Quentin finds himself admitted to Brakebills Academy, a secret magical college, he has to re-assess everything he has ever believed. If this sounds like a cross between The Chronicles of Narnia and the Harry Potter novels, read on; though Grossman pays tribute to the work of C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling along with dozens of other fantasy authors, what he delivers is still a startlingly original novel, by turns satiric, suspenseful, and laugh out loud funny. The author does not hesitate to raise all the hard questions that would arise if magic were real and humans could wield it. Would it make your life better? Could you be trusted with such power? Would you really want to leave this world behind and live in another, and are you willing to pay what it would cost? Audio fans will enjoy Mark Bramhall’s interpretation of the text; his smooth pacing and skill at characterization will keep the listener mesmerized chapter after chapter. There is a sequel entitled The Magician King and Grossman is working on a third novel, The Magician’s Land, slated for release in 2013.

A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson

A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty is a powerful saga of three generations of women, plagued by hardships and torn by a devastating secret, yet inextricably joined by the bonds of family. Fifteen-year-old Mosey Slocumb-spirited, sassy, and on the cusp of womanhood-is shaken when a small grave is unearthed in the backyard, and determined to figure out why it's there. Liza, her stroke-ravaged mother, is haunted by choices she made as a teenager. But it is Jenny, Mosey's strong and big-hearted grandmother, whose maternal love braids together the strands of the women's shared past--and who will stop at nothing to defend their future. Suffused with humor, while plumbing depths of family secrets, betrayals, and growing up.

Memoirs of an imaginary friend by Matthew Dicks

We've all had imaginary friends at some point or another. The thing is, most of us give them up before too long. So what happens to those imaginary friends when we forget about them? Memoirs is a kind of autobiography of Budo, the imaginary friend of autistic kindergartner Max. Max needs him more than most children: he doesn't like using the school bathrooms unless they're completely devoid of other occupants (Budo keeps watch outside the door); he hates it when his mother kisses him goodnight (Budo has to keep track of how many goodnight kisses his mother bestows upon him while he's asleep). Budo doesn't mind his duties, though. All this means that Max needs him, and the more Max needs him...the longer he can exist. As Budo explains: Its very strange to be an imaginary friend. You cant suffocate and you cant get sick, and you cant fall and break your head, and you cant catch pneumonia. The only thing that can kill you is a person not believing in you. (140)Dicks has given Budo an elaborate set of rules to abide by. No one can see him but Max, and his abilities are limited to what Max has imagined for him: he can pass through doors and windows, but not through walls; he cant communicate with adults or other children (but he can talk to other imaginary friends). He cant pick things up, either. All of these things come into play when one of Max's overzealous special ed teachers decides that she knows more about Max's well-being than his own parents (what were they thinking, enrolling an autistic child in a public school?) So she decides to take custody of Max without Max's parents permission (which technically is kidnapping). Naturally, Budo wants to help Max return home to Mom and Dadbut that would mean encouraging Max to take things into his own hands and that could threaten Budo's very existence. I wont lie. Memoirs takes its time setting up the rules, and its about eighty-five pages in before the story really gets started. Dicks also focuses more on the premise than the characters. Budo (How do you even pronounce that? Budd-o? Boo-do?) spends a lot of time repeating himself, giving example after example about how imaginary people are different from real people: Its not the fence that blocks [an imaginary friend] from entering. Its the idea of the fence. ... I don't leave footprints because I'm not actually touching the ground. I'm touching the idea of the ground (60). I look like I breathe, but all I breathe is the idea of air... (140). And at one point, Budo accidentally backs into the corner of a wall (The idea of the corner, I mean...) (233). Yeah, yeah, we get it already. As other readers have noted, though, there are times where Budos childlike voice pushes the story into the territory of YA cross-over instead of adult fiction. This is not to say that Memoirs has plenty of elements to make a good story: Max's evolution from inflexibility to self-sufficiency, his poor parents struggles with having an autistic child, not to mention the almost unbearable suspense of the novels second half (if you find yourself struggling through the first half, don't worry. It picks up really soon). So if you're not too fond of childlike narrators, you may want to look for something else. If you liked Emma Donoghue's Room, however, chances are that Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend will be just the right fit for you.

Loveman's : meet me under the clock by Tim Hollis

Local author, Tim Hollis, has penned another glimpse into a fascinating part of Birmingham's history. Back in the day, when everyone "went downtown," Loveman's Department Store was a favorite place to shop. Hollis gives readers the history of the Loveman family, the 1934 fire, changes during 1960's and new life through the McWane Center. The book is loaded with black and white photographs and copies of advertisements which bring a smile when thinking about the good old shopping days.

 

Children

Lulu walks the dogs by Judith Viorst ; illustrated by Lane Smith

For those of you who loved Lulu's first adventure in Lulu and the Brontosaurus, here's a brand new title from Judith Viorst chronicling Lulu's latest exploits. Lulu sets her sights on something big and she won't rest until she has it! When she asks her parents to get it for her they tell her she'll have to earn the money for it herself. They simply can't afford it. So that settles it, Lulu is stubborn and determined if nothing else. So she sets off to find a job so she can earn all the money she needs. She tries things like reading to old people, baking cookies, and spying. Obviously none of those work out because the book is called Lulu Walks the Dogs. She decides that she has just enough time to walk a dog in the morning before she goes to school...well, if she has time to walk one, surely she can handle two. As long as she has two she might as go ahead and take on three. She'll have her money in no time if she walks three every morning before school. But no plan can be perfect. Fleishmann, the neighborhood goody-two shoes, selflessly volunteers to be Lulu's assistant free of charge. While this might seem like a nice gesture, to Lulu it is a complete nightmare. I think it's a feeling everyone can relate to. This Fleishman kid plays flute for fun, he's flawlessly polite, he's even so smart that they don't make him go to school every day! He makes her so furious that she won't accept help from him, at least not until she's in over her head. Judith Viorst and illustrator Lane Smith make a perfect pair for this series. Smith's illustrations perfectly express the humor and offbeat attitude of the story. The parts of the book which would normally only be amusing are downright hilarious with the help of Smith's tasteful yet offbeat style. If you've never read Lulu and the Brontosaurus, then don't worry, you won't be lost. This book doesn't require any prior knowledge to enjoy the characters and the story. This narrator becomes as much of a character as any other in the book, they directly address the reader with asides and “time outs" which seem to answer your questions the moment you ask them. Well...almost all of them. This book is a great middle grade novel which is would no doubt be funny to all readers whether they're children or adults. It would make a wonderful book to read aloud, I was alone while reading it and I was tempted to sing Lulu's money song, “Jimmy, Johnny, Joseph, Jake! How much money will I make? Laurie, Lucy, Lynn, LaVerne! How much money will I earn?" It's a fast and funny read. Highly recommend.

Witches! : the absolutely true tale of disaster in Salem by Roaslyn Schanzer.

This is a nonfiction, multiple award-winning account of the "disaster" in Salem, Massachusetts, in the 1600s. No new ground is opened, but the text explains the events and consequences in a clear, nuanced account. The author doesn't spend any time blaming the girls or the religion of the participants, but she does not spare her disdain of the judicial system that allowed this "disaster."

Huff & puff by Claudia Rueda

Everyone knows the story of the three little pigs and the big bad wolf. In Claudia Rueda's new picture book, Huff & Puff: Can You Blow Down the Houses of the Three Little Pigs, this classic childhood story gets a new twist. With simple texts and sketch illustrations, Huff & Puff is a great way to introduce your toddlers to this classic tale. Rueda does add her own spin though. The reader is the wolf! That's right. After each pig is introduced there is a cut out in the book with the text Huff and Puff. But don't worry, there is a delightful surprise at the end of this story.

 

Teens

Words in the dust by Trent Reedy

Thirteen-year-old Zulaikha lives a hard life in rural Afghanistan. She has a cleft palate--a split lip that disfigures her face, making it difficult to eat or talk. Her beautiful sister Zeynab is her best friend and strongest ally. Her overwhelmed and grouchy pregnant stepmother prays for a son, and her much-adored father is scornful of his houseful of girls. By chance, Zulaikha runs into an American soldier who offers to pull in some favors and get her surgery, for free. Zulaikha is on an emotional roller-coaster as she copes with her sister's upcoming wedding as fourth wife to an uncaring older man, and her hopes and dreams are dashed when there's a problem with the helicopter flight that is supposed to take her to the doctor. Reedy does a great job of portraying the complexities of her father--a powerless yet very, very proud man who wishes the best for Zulaikha, but can't or won't understand something as simple as a weather delay, taking it as a personal affront. This is a man that Zulaikha looks up to and adores, who is regarded as a liberal and kind man, but also doesn't hold back from brutally punching his pregnant wife in a fit of pique.

Shine by Lauren Myracle

"Cat" is a 15-year-old girl, coming of age in a small Southern town where the small group of local teens peacefully co-exists, including their gay friend, 18-year-old Patrick. One morning, Patrick is found near-death, having been beaten with a baseball bat and tied to a gas pump in front of the convenience store where he worked the previous evening. Mindful of the powerful people in the area who keep him employed, the sheriff only does a half-hearted investigation into the attack, concluding that it was likely done by "college boys" who don't live in the area. Cat isn't so sure, and takes it upon herself to follow up on what everyone had seen and heard in the days before and after the attack, and find out who may have had issues with the gregarious young man. As she gets closer to the truth, she receives threats and is urged to drop the matter, but she feels she owes it to Patrick for not being a better friend to him at times. This is a well-written story that will obviously remind some of the murder of Wyoming college student Matthew Shepard (Some of the proceeds of the book are donated to his memorial foundation.) Best appreciated by teens or young adults, but a worthwhile read for all.

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Seventeen year old Cass inherited two very special things from his father: a powerful athame and the ability to use it to dispatch murderous ghosts.   His mother, and as close to a sidekick as anyone has ever become, shuffles him around the country following leads onghosts and racking up high body counts, ghostly bodies that is.  The ghost currently at the top of his hit list is Anna Dressed in Blood, the spirit of a young girl murdered in 1958 who still haunts her home, brutally murdering anyone who sets foot in the house.  Cass’s usual MO is to move to town, start school, and see who wants to gossip about the local legends.  He finds his mark in the most popular girl in school and, unfortunately, her recently ex-ed boyfriend.  Cass gets them to take him to Anna Dressed in Blood’s house, but is utterly unprepared to be knocked in the head and shoved through the door of the house to meet his doom.  What started as an immature prank quickly turns gory and horrifying.  It will take all Cass’s skills, and the unlikely help of the town nerd, to get him out of this one.