Tuesday, March 24, 2015

YA - The Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen



Cyn has a major thing for Ryan, but her best friend Annie has a HUGE thing for the new librarian Mr. Gabriel.  Cyn's problems with this are many.  First, he's like 30 and second, Cyn's pretty sure that he's a demon.  As Annie falls deeper in love with Mr. Gabriel, Cyn sees him for what he is.  He is slowly sucking the life out of everyone at their high school.  With all of this going on Cyn is still focused on being the best Tech Manager she can be for the school's upcoming production of Sweeney Todd.  After a little while, Mr. Gabriel can no longer be ignored.  People are dying!  Worst of all, Annie is completely under his spell.

Honestly, I picked up this book because of the title, I mean, I am a librarian after all.  I'm so happy I did.  The characters are well developed.  We have a strong female heroine, and while she is a tad bit boy crazy (for Ryan only), she never loses sight of her missions - putting on the best school play in history and saving her best friend from a demon's clutches.  This book was really fun.  Lots of twists and turns, and quite a few laugh out loud moments.  Michelle Knudsen has quite a few children's books under her belt, but I wouldn't be surprised if we see some really good YA from her in the future.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Fict - In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

Amazing fictional account of real-life heros - the Mirabel sisters -  in the Dominican Republic of the 1960's.  Their code name was "las mariposas",  Spanish for butterflies.

The communist movement was sweeping 3rd world countries, Fidel Castro was mobilizing rebels in Cuba, private property and businesses were being confiscated, and people were disappearing in the night. 

Told from the perspective of the lone surviving sister, it's a  moving story of  family ties and relationships during the rise of the brutal Trujillo dictatorship.  Families everywhere had hard choices to make for themselves, their businesses, and their futures.

 Perfect blend of history and drama.

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Fict - The Vacationers by Emma Straub


I almost stopped reading after the first few pages after finding out that Sylvia (frustrated 17 yr old virgin) is upset about HAVING to go to Spain with her family before heading off to the Ivy Leagues.  Boo Hoo! Then we meet mother Franny (famous journalist who thinks cooking fabulous gourmet meals cures anything); father Jim (serious NY editor who has just been caught cheating on his wife with a summer intern); Bobby (lazy, suntanned prodigal son dabbling in real estate in Florida; and Carmen (Bobby's Latino gym-rat Lucite-heeled cougar girlfriend). Add a middle-aged gay married couple contemplating adoption, then mix well and bake for 2 weeks in a gorgeous vacation home in the hills on the Spanish island of Malorca.  We are non-discriminatory here with our stereotypes: the aging, scowling, handsome continental tennis pro; a seductive, tan Adonis Spanish tutor with rippling muscles; a reed-thin JetSet English land lady popping in; and a puzzling person named Terry who recklessly whizzes around dirt roads on a motorcycle. The only thing missing is the Mafia hit man I hoped would show up to make all these self-absorbed, annoying people go away. (Except for Carmen - I think he would have liked her.)