Fabiola Toussant and her mother leave Haiti to start a new life in Detroit with her aunt and cousins. When her mother is detained by U.S. Immigration Fabiola must rely on her loud American cousins to help her navigate this new world.

Fabiola and her mother had dreamed of finding une belle vie, a good life, and the corner of American and Joy Streets on Detroit’s West side. In many ways Detroit is nothing like Haiti. The weather, food, the customs are all different. However, the dangerous, gritty side of life in Detroit is similar to that of Port-au-Prince and Fabiola’s cousins are caught up in it. When an opportunity to help her mother is presented to her, Fabiola must make a tough decision. Is she willing to pay the high cost of the American Dream?

I am about half way through the audio version of this book and I am hooked. I love the juxtaposition of traditional Haitian Vodou beliefs and rituals with a contemporary American setting. This story is very much character driven and the characters are fantastic!

You might also like Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older and In Darkness by Nick Lake.

Happy Reading!

~Megan

Happy Reading!

~Megan

Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson
Hardcover, 387 pages
Published January 24th 2017 by Katherine Tegen Books

When she was nine years old Mary B. Addison killed a baby. Allegedly. The infant died while in the care of Mary’s mother. Mary never said she killed, but  the media filled in all the blanks. Mary spent six years in “baby jail” and at the age of sixteen moved into a group home. Here she is abused and tormented by the other residents and the adults turn a blind eye. Her only solace is Ted. When Mary gets pregnant she realizes that in order to protect her new and growing family she has to set the record straight. The odds are stacked against her, but she is smart and determined. Hopefully that will be enough.

This debut novel is so heartbreaking. I just started listening to the audiobook today and am about half way finished. I will definitely be watching for more books by Tiffany Jackson!

Happy Reading

~Megan

5 Star reads of 2016:

1. The Tournament at Gorlan (The Ranger’s Apprentice: the Early Years #1) by John Flanagan. I am a die-hard Ranger’s Apprentice fan, so this was an obvious win for me.

2. The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma. I read this one for the Cybils Awards committee I was on this year. It was so weird and surreal; I couldn’t help but love it. This book also made me realize that I have yet to read a book about ballet or ballerinas that I didn’t like. I love how books have the power to captivate me in ways that real life doesn’t. If you asked me, I would say I had no interest in ballet. But apparently I want to read all the books!

3. Lady Killer by Joelle Jones. This new graphic novel is right up my alley. Josie Schuller is the model wife and mother. Her family is the picture of 1960’s domestic bliss. Except Josie has a secret. She is a cold-hearted killer for hire. This first volume is wickedly delightful! Bloody and hilarious. I am desperate for more.

4. Becoming Unbecoming by Una. This graphic novel memoir tells the author’s personal story of sexual violence set against the real-life manhunt for the 1970 Yorkshire Ripper. Readers are forced to confront disturbing cultural norms as the author explores what it is to grow up in a society where male violence is expected and often unpunished. A chilling story that sadly remain timely.

5. Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray. Book 2 of the Diviners series picks up shortly after the events of book one. Evie O’Neill is the new It Girl, but she isn’t the only Diviner in town. Ling Chan, like Henry, is a dream walker. When New Yorkers start falling victim to “the sleeping sickness” it becomes evident to the Diviners that something evil is infecting people’s dreams.

6. A Darker Shade of Magic and A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab. Kell is a Traveler, a rare magician who has the ability to travel through the parallel worlds of London. Oh, the world building! The first book sets the stage for the spectacular magic action of book two. I devoured these nearly back-to-back and now I have to wait forever for more!

7. Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay. I had the privilege of hearing Roxane Gay speak at a conference. She is amazing. Her collection of essays about feminism are awesome. I want to hand this book to every teen girl I know. I listened to this one, but I will definitely be revisiting my signed copy in the future.

8. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds. This story of police brutality and race is a disturbing reflection of current events.

9. Smarter Faster Better: The Secret of Being Productive in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg. From the author of The Power of Habit comes a book that explores the science of productivity. I LOVE these kinds of self-help books and the places they take me. This one lead me to read my first Oliver Sacks book.

10. Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson. Humans have finally made it outside of our solar system and are about to establish a new colony on a new planet. It has taken over 170 years of travel, but they have finally reached Aurora. Things do not go according to plan…This was some awesome science fiction!

How lucky was that? I have exactly ten 5 star books for the year. Lots of 4 stars, but I guess I am being stingy with stars.

Happy Reading!

~Megan

So far this year my reading has been driven by the Cybils Awards. I am a Round 2 judge for the Young Adult Speculative Fiction category. I have seven books to read, review, and discuss with my fellow judges before we announce the winner in February. I am not permitted to review any of the books here yet, but check out the link above if you curious about what I have been reading.

With the new year also comes a new set of reading goals. I use Goodreads to keep track of my reading and have challenged myself to read or listen to 250 books this year. That’s crazy, I know, but I am going to try. Graphic novels totally count towards that goal. I might have to create my own mini-readathons throughout the year. In addition to the number of books I want to read, I have some goals for the types of books as well. I need to become more familiar with adult science fiction and fantasy, so I will be reading more in that area. I also feel like it is time to read more of the popular authors who always have enormous holds lists (I’m looking at you Grisham and Patterson). I know they are already popular and don’t need me to talk them up, but if I have a better sense of why they are so popular I can better recommend other titles that readers might not necessarily seek out. So, I suppose my true reading goal this year is to widen my reader’s advisory expertise!

I warned you I still have a lot to say Moving along.

Finished:

• A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton-3/5. Originally published in 1982, this book introduces PI Kinsey Milhone. I will pick up more of this series.
• After You by Jojo Moyes-4/5. The follow-up to Me Before You. Sweet, sad, and hopeful. Lovely.
• A Northern Light by Jennifer Connelly-4/5. Historical fiction based on the real life murder of Grace Brown in 1906. I don’t know why it took me so long to read this one!
• The Innocent by David Baldacci-3/5. The first of the Will Robie series. Will is paid assassin for the U.S. government. Plenty of action!
• The Tournament at Gorlan by John Flanagan-5/5. The first book in The Early Years series, features a young Halt! I love everything about the Rangers and am so excited for a new series!

Currently Reading:

Current Audio:

On Deck:

Ok, that’s enough for today!

Happy Reading!

~Megan

Saturday was spent lounging around reading and continuing my Star Wars marathon.

This was my first time seeing Episodes II and III and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I like them. My 10 year old nephew LOVED them! Hopefully we will squeeze Episodes IV-VI before the new movie comes out.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts.

Finished: 

• The Fate of Ten by Pittacus Lore-. The epic alien invasion begins…and ends on a giant cliffhanger, as usual.
• This is Your Life, Harriet Chance by Jonathan Evison-
• Dr. Mütter’s Marvels by Cristin O’Keefe Apotwicz-. I seem to gravitate towards strange or gruesome nonfiction and this one certainly fits the bill. Dr. Mütter was a pioneering American surgeon who revolutionized the science of surgery. Fans of the show The Knick will want to check this one out! Also, I now have to add The Mütter Museum in Philadelphia to my list of weird places to visit!
• Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris-. I first read this collection of stories years ago, so I was delighted to discover the edition I selected to listen to had six new stories! Santaland Diaries is just as funny as I remember and I have found a new favorite in 6 to 8 Black Men, a story about Christmas traditions in Holland. For the reader who dislikes the schmaltzy Christmas stories. These are sardonic and hilarious.
• Winter by Marissa Meyer-. The Lunar Chronicles has come to an end. WHY?!? After 800+ pages, I am still not ready for it to be over. A perfect ending to a favorite series.

Current Audio:

Currently Reading:

Currently Obsessed With:

Happy Reading!

~Megan

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is brought to you by Teach Mentor Texts.

Finished: In the two weeks since I last wrote a Monday post I have accomplished so little that I can actually easily include all of my finished books here.

• Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King-. This collection of short stories features both brand new and previously published works. As with most collections of stories some shine and some are merely fine. The real treat here is that the author introduces each story and explains how or why he came to write it.
• Wytches by Scott Snyder-. You thought you knew everything about witches? Forget what Disney has to say, these crones are terrifying! The evil lurks just under the surface and watches through the trees. This was a fantastic opening volume and the art work is simply stunning. Over and over I marveled at how intriguing and gorgeous the hideous images were.
• The Straw King (Dorothy Must Die #0.5) by Danielle Page-. In this fifth prequel novella readers learn more about the Scarecrow. All he ever wanted was a brain, but he soon discovers that knowledge may not be enough to protect his throne from an invading army. Another fun addition to the Dorothy Must Die family.
• Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith-. The third book in the Cormoran Strike series is now my favorite. Someone from Cormoran’s past is targeting Robin and the agency, driving away business and putting both PIs in danger. Can Cormoran figure out who it is before it’s too late?
• The Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling-. Still a favorite, 5-star read. I am loving rereading these books while my nephews discover them for the first time. On to Goblet of Fire!
• The String Diaries by Stephen Lloyd Jones-. Hannah and her family are on the run from a centuries old monster; a Hungarian shapeshifter bent on revenge. Told from three points of view, the story unravels at a break-neck pace, sucking readers in and constantly confusing them with the monster’s identity. This is the first book in ages that has kept me up long past bedtime! Absolutely loved it!

Current Audio:

• The Fate of Ten by Pittacus Lore. Admittedly this is not the best series ever written, but I kind of need to know how things end. Also, they are just kind of fun!
• 14 by Peter Clines. I am still not sure why I requested this one from another library, but so far, I am glad I did. It’s like The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (minus angry spirits) meets Lost and then gets turned into an episode of Scooby Doo. Again, quite fun.

Currently Reading:

Happy Reading!

~Megan

This week there is at least on teen program every single day. Some days there are two!

Today in the Teen Room you can play Exploding Kittens! I love The Oatmeal web comics and this card game does not disappoint. Also, it’s really fun to say that we will have exploding kittens in the teen room. I also grabbed Bananagrams and Yahtzee! I am ready for cold weather afternoons.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Teach Mentor Text, be sure to stop by and see what others are reading!

Finished:

• Baba Yaga’s Assistant by Marika McCoola-. The famously fearsome witch, Baba Yaga is looking for an assistant in this fantastic debut graphic novel. Masha learned all about magic from her beloved grandmother. When her grandmother dies and her father brings home a girlfriend, Masha feels lost in the world. Seeking a place to fit in, she enters the woods in search of Baba Yaga. Is she clever enough match wits with the old witch and her magic house?
• The Mystery of Hollow Places by Rebecca Podos-. Imogene and her father have been a team since her mother left them when she was a baby. When Imogene is seventeen her father, once a forensic pathologist and now a well-known writer of medical mysteries, disappears, she decides to apply everything she has learned from his books and track him down. Her search leads her to answers to questions she has asked her whole life. This debut is a quiet but engaging story. The mystery is more of a puzzle and it is the vehicle for a great deal of personal reflection and discussion of mental illness.
• The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt-. I’m not sure I really need to say anything about this one. It’s adorable.
• The Eye of Zoltar by Jasper Fforde-. This third installment of The Chronicles of Kazam is my favorite. Jennifer Strange has new task: find the legendary magical item known as The Eye of Zoltar and babysit the spoiled princess of the Kingdom of Snodd. The quest is dangerous with a fatality rating of 50%, but lives depend on her success. This under appreciated series has it all-magic, adventure, humor, and dragons. I can’t recommend this series enough.
• The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trail of the Century by Sarah Miller-. I devoured my advance reader copy of this book over the weekend. I love nonfiction that reads like a suspense novel, and this book certainly delivers. Miller offers a well-researched narrative of the investigation of the murders of Lizzie Borden’s parents. I realized that I actually knew very little about what was known as the trail of the century. Grisly and compelling. I can’t wait to add this to my collection and recommend it to my teens!

Current Audio:

Currently Reading:

Happy Reading!

~Megan

November is NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), so all you writers out there should check out their website and get involved. The library will be hosting a NaNoWriMo discussion panel and writing event this Saturday, November, 7 10am-4pm. Come “write” in, all are welcome!

Next week is a busy week for teens at the library! There is still time to join our Skype interview with Shelley Pearsall which will take place Tuesday, November 10 at 7:15pm. For older teens preparing to take the SAT, the Princeton Review will be here Wednesday, November 11 at 7:00 pm to talk about test taking strategies and tips. Please call the library or register online for this class. If you want to skip the class and just take the test, there is still room in the SAT practice test session on Saturday, November 14. The test starts at 9:30! Be sure to register. Not interested in these events? How about a SmashBros Smashfest? Celebrate National Gaming Day on Saturday, November 21 10 am-5 pm. Sign up now so I can have brackets ready to go!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts. This is two weeks worth of reading and I am keeping it even shorter than usual!

Finished:

• Fables vol. 22: Farewell by Bill Willingham-. I thought this was a great wrap-up to an amazing series. Can’t wait to reread from the beginning.
• Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson-. A delightful and often painfully honest look at mental illness.
• Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld-. I was kind of meh about this one. Interesting premise and I will pick up the next volume before writing the series off.
• The Mirror World of Melody Black by Gavin Extence-. I LOVED The Universe Versus Alex Wood, so I was thrilled to have a new novel by the author.  This was another book about mental illness, and while not as amazing as his first book, it was a welcome addition. He continues to be an author to watch for me.
• Crap Taxidermy by Kat Su-. So wickedly creepy. I am fascinated by taxidermy.
• Poorly Drawn Lines by Reza Farazmand-. Weird and fun.
• Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff-. The second half of this novel saved it from being a 4-star rating. This is the book everyone is talking about. It was shocking and wonderful.
• The Worrier’s Guide to Life by Gemma Correll-. I can sadly relate to most of these cartoons…

Current Audio:

Currently Reading: (I am doing a terrible job of reading right now!)

Happy Reading!

~Megan

I wish I may, I wish I might, um, no, that one is for stars. Let me try again.

Dear Book Genie, I wish I could experience some of my favorite books for the first time again.

Dear Book Genie, I wish I still had my childhood copies of Richard Scarry’s Busytown books.

Dear Book Genie, I wish I had time to reread all of Game of Thrones.

Dear Book Genie, I wish I had more bookshelves.

Dear Book Genie, I wish I could visit the most beautiful libraries in the world.

Dear Book Genie, I wish that I could meet A.S. King. I am going to be picky here, too, crafty genie. I want to hang out with her and be inspired by her and probably eat burritos with her.

Dear Book Genie, I wish I could read faster.

Dear Book Genie, I wish I could hang out with Laura Ingalls Wilder. You know, on the prairie.

Dear Book Genie, I wish was excited rather than overwhelmed by my TBR list.

Dear Book Genie, I wish I could get paid to read books. I also wish that people understood that librarians do not get paid to sit around and read all day. Not. At. All.

Happy Reading!

~Megan