FDL is excited to have developed its latest strategic plan with community input in order to move the library forward. This Thanksgiving and always, we’re appreciative of those who shared their time and unique perspectives to better the library and East Peoria. Our board and staff are committed to using this plan to continue providing vital services. Learn more at https://fondulaclibrary.org/plan/.
November is Native American Heritage Month. We pay tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans. Check out this list of Native authors who write fiction and nonfiction works.
–Post by Susie Rivera, Adult Services Specialist
#FDL is an update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.
A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross
Reviewed by: Susie Rivera, Adult Services Specialist
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Suggested Age: Adults
What is the book about?: The isle of Cadence is a Scottish-inspired land full of enchantment that is split between the East and West by feuding clans, the Tamerlaines, and the Breccans. Spirits of nature inhabit the realm where the locals use enchantments for protection. Jack Tamerlaine, a gifted bard, has been studying music on the mainland for several years when he is called back to Cadence to help solve a mystery of disappearing girls. He is met by his childhood nemesis, Adaira, heir to the lairdship of the isle. Jack and Adaira race against time to find the missing lasses but also find out much more than they bargained for about their own lineages and hearts in the process.
My Review: Expertly narrated by Ruth Urquhart, this novel is like warm hug! The writing style is descriptive and lyrical. I could not wait to start the next book in the series, The Fire Endless. This is a duology which is great for those who don’t want to start a long fantasy series. But, I enjoyed the characters so much that I wish Ross would write another novel in this world. At times I wanted the plot to would move forward a little faster, but other than that, I didn’t have any complaints.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Cozy, Magical, Enchanting!
Give This a Try if You Like… The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi, Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
Rating: 4/5
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
Reviewed by: Deb Alig, Circulation Assistant
Genre: Historical Fiction
Suggested Age: Recommended for Grades 9 – 12
What is this book about? This book takes place during the era of the American Civil War. The main character, Henry Fleming, or the “youth” as he is often called, is a teenage boy who leaves home and enlists in the Union Army because he wants to experience what he imagines to be the glory of war. The story begins with the fictional 304th New York Infantry Regiment waiting to engage in battle. When battle finally begins, the Confederates are repelled. Henry survives the scuffle only for his regiment to be attacked again. This time his fear gets the best of him and he flees, shamefully deserting his regiment. Henry runs off into a nearby forest and encounters a group of wounded soldiers. He bumps into a tattered soldier who has been shot twice and who proudly declares that his regiment did not flee from the fighting. The tattered soldier asks Henry where he has been hurt, and knowing that he is not hurt, Henry scurries away feeling embarrassed and ashamed by the soldier’s question. After encountering the wounded soldiers, Henry wishes that he too could earn a Red Badge of Courage, or a wound obtained bravely in battle. Moving on from the wounded soldiers, Henry finds his regiment. In the final battle, he experiences a rush of new found courage and proudly carries the Union flag after the color sergeant falls. As described by Crane, the “sickness of battle” transformed the “youth” from a boy into a man.
My Review: Stephen Crane was born after the Civil War, yet The Red Badge of Courage reads as if it was written by someone who was there. Crane obtained his facts about the war by spending time with Civil War Veterans and by reading articles published about the war in Century Magazine. Many Civil War scholars are impressed with Crane’s work, especially with his detailed descriptions of the battlefields, the military maneuvers, and the artillery and infantry engagements. Some historians even believe that the battle described in the book is based on the real Battle of Chancellorsville.
I chose to read The Red Badge of Courage because I recently took a vacation to visit Civil War museums and battlefields. I visited the Chancellorsville Visitor Center and that is where I saw a first edition copy of The Red Badge of Courage published in 1895. Placards highlighted the plot and setting of the book and encouraged visitors to read it, especially for a genuine Civil War experience. After taking tours and exploring museums and battlefields, The Red Badge of Courage brought to life all that I had seen and heard. I highly recommend reading it.
Three Words that Describe this Book: historical, traumatic, riveting
Give This a Try if You Like: Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen; Jack Hinson’s One-Man War by Tom C. McKenney; Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt
Rating: 5/5
It’s that spooky time of year! Check out this list of titles that have been popular in 2023! Click on a title to view it in our catalog and place a hold.
Not Your Ex’s Hexes by April Asher
The Spite House by Johnney Compton
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
Cursed at Dawn by Heather Graham
Shadow Dance by Christine Feehan
The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn
Last to Leave the Room by Caitlin Starling
Bad Luck Vampire: An Argeneau Novel by Lynsay Sands
The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin
The Forest Demands Its Due by Kosoko Jackson
Howl at the Moon: An Urban Fantasy Fairy Tale by Deborah Wilde
–Post by Susie Rivera, Adult Services Specialist
#FDL is an update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.
Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly
Reviewed by: Becky Houghton, Reference Assistant
What is This Book About?: Told from the perspective of three women during the U.S. Civil War and based heavily on fact and historical documents, Sunflower Sisters details the roles of women during the war from nurses to spies to slaves. Georgianna “Georgy” Woolsey takes a very active role in the war by training and serving as a field nurse in Maryland, the Capital in Washington and the Gettysburg battlefield. Georgy, her mother, and sisters all aid the Union war efforts in various ways as abolitionists. In contract, Anne-May Watson is a southern slave owner originally from New Orleans, but an inheritor of a tabaco plantation in Maryland. Through a cruel, abusive overseer, Anne-May mistreats those working on her farm and does all she can to keep the institution of slavery alive and well in the south. Jemma, a young slave girl, and her family are Anne-May’s property and their efforts to escape slavery and serve to end the institution comprise the third perspective of the story. Told chronologically through each of these women’s stories, a gripping, vivid tale of the Civil War years is revealed.
My Review: I loved this book! Kelly’s writing style of relating the events through the eyes of three different women from very diverse backgrounds gives a strong sense of accuracy to her accounts and draws the reader into the story that she tells. While some events related are not pleasant, Kelly’s strong characters and how they handle the events kept me engrossed in story. It is realistic because many of the characters and events portrayed actually existed as is revealed in the author’s note at the end of the novel. I have always enjoyed both fiction and non-fiction about the civil war, so highly recommend this book to the lovers of historical fiction!
Three Words that Describe this Book: Gripping, Powerful, Realistic
Give This A Try if You Like… Martha Kelly’s previous titles Lost Roses or Lilac Girls or if you just enjoy books about the tumultuous Civil War years in the United States.
Rating: 5/5
Fondulac District Library is celebrating our 10th Birthday in our current location! Our building at 400 Richland Street hosted its grand opening November 2, 2013. In honor of this big anniversary, we’re inviting you to take part in our Instagram library memories photo contest!
Rules:
Contest runs October 4-November 1, 2023.
Winners will be announced November 4.
Pictures must feature some aspect of Fondulac District Library.
Any person featured in an image must provide consent before the picture is taken.
Post photos to Instagram using the hashtag #fondulaclibrary10 in your caption.
Make sure your profile is public OR follow Fondulac District Library (@fondulacdistrictlibrary) on Instagram so we can see your entry.
Three winners will be determined by our library board president, Ellen Hanks.
Join us in celebrating 10 years of supporting your freedom to read!
400 Richland Street has hit the double digits! Mark your calendars for the library building’s 10th birthday open house celebration on Saturday, November 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join us for fun activities, a special story time, treats, a sculpture dedication in the Reading Garden for long-serving Trustee Colleen Cole, and more. Watch the library’s webpage and social media pages for more information about the upcoming festivities!
It’s hard to believe that an entire decade has passed since the opening of the new location. This chapter of the library’s history has been filled with innovative programs, community events, and the addition of numerous modern resources and services for library patrons. All of us at FDL are excited to see what is on the next page of this adventure, and we hope that you will be a part of the story. Stop by to check out the party – and some new books, music, games, equipment, and other materials too!
The House on Tradd Street by Karen White
Reviewed by: Dawn Dickey, library volunteer
Genre: Paranormal Fiction
Suggested Age: Adults
What is the book about?: Real estate agent Melanie Middleton had only met eccentric Nevin Vanderhorst, owner of an historic Charleston, South Carolina home, one time before he unexpectedly died, leaving his entire estate to her. The only problem? Despite specializing in selling historic old houses, Melanie despises them. She prefers new houses with less history – and fewer ghosts, because Melanie can see and hear and smell and sense the ghosts. Mr. Vanderhorst’s will stipulates that Melanie must live in the house for one year before she can sell it, and she must use inherited money from Mr. Vanderhorst’s estate to renovate the house to its former glory. With the help of her trusted friend Sophie (who knows lots about Charleston’s historic houses) and famed journalist Jack who offers to help with the renovations, Melanie reluctantly undertakes the huge task of renovating. But from the very beginning, it seems the house and its ghostly inhabitants have different ideas about Melanie living there and about the fate of the house. Let the spooky happenings begin!
My Review: I was looking for a spooky read as Halloween approaches, and The House on Tradd Street did not disappoint! There are ghostly presences, doors that mysteriously lock and unlock apparently without human intervention, displaced items that pop up where they aren’t supposed to be, life-threatening “accidents,” and much more. Tied in with the supernatural happenings is the mystery of what really happened to Mr. Vanderhhorst’s mother, who disappeared when he was a small child. I love the many layers of this book: who or what is creating the havoc at the house, what happened to the mother, and Melanie’s own estrangement from her parents. The characters are likeable, vulnerable and cranky at the same time, and the house is a character in itself! Author Karen White deftly ties the layers together and then, little by little, unknots them. These layers create suspense and make for an edge-of-your-seat, page-turning read!
Three Words That Describe This Book: ghosts, peril, romance
Give This a Try if You Like…Ghosts or the Ghost Whisperer television series; ghostly reads such as Darynda Jones’ series
Rating: 5/5
This week, during 2023’s Banned Books Week and as we wrap up the Central Illinois Reads: Freedom to Read initiative, the library is proud to share this video displaying intellectual freedom in action.
On May 4, 2023, Fondulac District Library hosted a panel discussion with East Peoria Community High School students about the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. The book, about a teenage girl’s journey through her trauma after a sexual assault, is often challenged and/or banned due to its portrayal of lived experience and mature content. The eight participating students spoke thoughtfully, eloquently, and maturely in sharing their insights about the book and the complex issues it includes, as well as the challenges it often receives.
We thank EPCHS’s Jill Dawson for organizing this group of students and Ben Diggle for videotaping this event.
(Please note that microphones were not used for this event, and volume adjustments will be necessary throughout viewing.)