FDL Reads: Reviews - Fondulac District Library

FDL Reads: Katie the Catsitter

Katie the Catsitter by Colleen AF Venable

Reviewed By: Alice Mitchell, Youth Services Manager

Genre: Superhero fantasy (graphic novel)

Suggested Age: Kids (7-12)

What is This Book About: Katie desperately wants to join her friends at camp this summer, instead of being left behind to read glittery postcards about it. When her mom considers sending her if she can raise the money to attend, Katie immediately starts on fundraising efforts. Unfortunately, all of her attempts end in funny failures so things are looking bleak until Katie’s mysterious upstairs neighbor hires her to pet sit. Katie thinks she might be a bit out of her league when she discovers that Madeline has 217 cats, and once their owner leaves they go berserk. Katie grows suspicious at the cats’ antics as well as Madeline’s behavior. Why is it that Madeline is always out when super villain Mousetress commits her crimes?

My Review: If you ever wanted to believe that your troublesome pets are actually angels, this is a perfect book. I could read biographies of all 217 rambunctious cats and be entertained for ages. I love that they all get names, personalities, and are able to help out Madeline – I mean, Mousetress – with her heroic efforts. This alternate New York City sets up a really interesting society with Yelp-approved super-heroics. Katie and her friends are easy to relate to also. Despite the fantastic nature of Katie the Catsitter, they have normal problems such as struggles with potentially growing apart and wondering if they’re still as important to each other as they used to be. All in all, this is an energetic superhero story with 218 delightful sidekicks.

Three Words that Describe this Book: upbeat, superheroes, friendship

Give This A Try if You Like… The Click series by Kayla Miller, Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol, the Bad Guys series by Aaron Blabey, the PAWS series by Nathan Fairbairn, Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd, and Sparks! by Ian Boothby

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

Susie Rivera2024-02-12T10:16:50-06:00February 12th, 2024|

FDL Reads: Queenspotting

Queenspotting: Meet the Remarkable Queen Bee and Discover the Drama at the Heart of the Hive by Hilary Kearney

Reviewed By: Rebecca Cox, Business Manager

Genre: Nonfiction

Suggested Age: Adults

What is This Book About? Queenspotting is part introductory honey bee biology and part “Where’s Waldo?” as Hilary Kearney introduces the readers to the dynamics of a honey bee colony. The book puts scientific concepts into easy to understand terms and the 48 fold-out visual puzzles offer a fun break and game for both adults and kids!

My Review: I am a 5^th Year Beekeeper and this is my favorite book to recommend to both beginner beekeepers and people who are just interested in these fascinating little creatures! I love how Kearney is able to break down concepts that seem complicated (such as the different “castes” or types of bees in the colony or the different types of queen cells that can be present when a beekeeper is looking at frames). The fold out puzzles have practical application for beekeepers since the ability to locate the queen is one of the most important skills to have. The puzzles are also fun to challenge kids (or husbands!) with to see who can find the queen the fastest! This book is not a long read and the information is written in such an engaging way that it’s honestly hard to put down!

Three Words that Describe this Book: Inspiring, Informative, Beautiful

Give this a try if you like… Nature’s Best Hope by Douglas Tallamy; Slow Down: 50 Mindful Moments in Nature by Rachel Williams; Storey’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

FDL Reads

Susie Rivera2024-01-31T15:23:07-06:00January 31st, 2024|

FDL Reads: Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson

Reviewed by: Susie Rivera, Adult Services Specialist

Genre: Fantasy

Suggested Age: Teens, Adults

What is this book about? Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is Sanderson’s third secret novel in his Kickstarter-backed Secret Novels project that he started in 2020. Nikaro is a painter on a world where nightmares run wild. Painters are civil servants who are able to “trap” nightmares with paintings. His city, Kilahito, is perpetually dark but powered by cyan and magenta hion lines. It has the feel of a modern-day Tokyo. Yumi is a traveling priestess living in a very different location. She has the power to summon mystical spirits who are able to help her people. One day the two are unexpectedly thrust into each other’s worlds and must adapt to the vastly different ways of life.

My Review: This novel takes place in Sanderson’s Cosmere. There are several references to other novels and a couple characters from a different series show up. Sanderson fans will be delighted! However, newbies to the Cosmere could potentially jump into this book, even though it takes place farther into the timeline, and enjoy it as a stand-alone. Sanderson himself has started to recommend it as a beginning point for those interested in the Cosmere novels. I enjoyed his attempt at writing romance. I knew going into it that it would not be the same type of romance as Fourth Wing or ACOTAR. I loved the characters connection and how they got to know each other. The big reveals at the end were very reminiscent of other Sanderson works, but unique and exciting on their own. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a Japanese/Korean-inspired fantasy with a clean romance story.

Three Words that Describe this Book: Duality, Mystical, Sweet

Give this a try if you like…Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson, This is How You Lose the Time War by
Amal El-Mohtar, The Fragile Threads of Power by Victoria Schwab

Rating: 4/5

Find it at the library!

Streaming audio available on hoopla

FDL Reads

Susie Rivera2024-01-28T14:26:39-06:00January 28th, 2024|

FDL Reads: Virtually Me

Virtually Me by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

Reviewed by: Jacob Roberts, Youth Services Specialist

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Suggested Age: 8-11 years

What is this book about? Virtually Me follows a group of middle school kids, post-pandemic, as they start a new school year. The group consists of Bradley, Edelle, Hunter, Jasper, and Keiko. Each of them have chosen to take a chance on the new virtual reality school in an attempt to start fresh or keep up with their reputation. As the book goes on, though, they discover it becomes harder and harder to keep their pasts a secret. Soon they learn that perhaps the people they want to be in virtual reality have been them all along.

My Review: Morris and Brown do a great job at bringing all the real hopes, fears, and anxieties of middle school to the virtual world. They use relatable text to challenge the reader to question what it means to be a good friend. They also give great examples of how to treat everybody no matter what they look like or the reputation they hold. Virtually Me highlights the great possibilities and anxious worries of what virtual reality can be when implanted into the everyday practices of our society.

Three Words that Describe this Book: Fun, timely, friendly

Give this a try if you like… Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova, Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas, Truly Tyler by Terri Libenson

Rating: 4/5

Find it at the library!

Susie Rivera2024-01-11T18:21:50-06:00January 11th, 2024|

FDL Reads: Book Lovers

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Reviewed By: Jeremy Zentner, Adult Services Assistant

Genre: Romance

Suggested Age: Adults

What is This Book About? Nora is a ruthless literary agent who will stop at nothing to get her authors published with the best editors and publishing houses available in New York City. Charlie is one of the editors Nora needs to recruit for her client’s latest book. Charlie is cold, calculating, and brilliant. Just like Nora. After an abrasive lunch-meeting discussing her client’s latest novel, Nora is convinced more than ever that she’ll never work with Charlie again. Until, of course, she unexpectedly runs into him in Small Town, USA. A random occurrence while vacationing with her very pregnant sister who’s on her last hurrah before child number three is born. What proceeds here is a ballet of witty dialogue and small town shenanigans between Nora and Charlie as they carefully maneuver towards each other in a blossoming working relationship that becomes something more.

My Review: This was a delightful novel that managed to subvert the cliches of small town romances while simultaneously being a small town romance itself. What I enjoyed about the novel was that the characters were very unique when it came to the romance tropes. I also appreciated the narrator’s snarky inner-monologue as she weaved through this rather podunk town that had as many charms as it did foibles. The main strength of the book, however, is the dynamic nature between Nora and Charlie. They start out as mild rivals (building on the haters-to-lovers trope) and quickly realize that they compliment each other with their high-intense work ethic and posh lifestyles. They also push each other to break out of molds and have adventures in a rural community that holds quite a few secrets for Charlie and Nora. Book Lovers is a charismatic story that’s easy to read, even for people who don’t really read rom-coms. I listened to this book on the Libby App and the voice actress was INCREDIBLE.

Three Words that Describe this Book: romance, small town, books!

Give This A Try if You Like… Lessons in Chemistry, Part of Your World, The Bodyguard

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

Susie Rivera2023-12-30T10:56:33-06:00December 27th, 2023|

FDL Reads: The Christmas Bookshop

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

Reviewed by: Dawn Dickey

Genre: Fiction / Romance

Suggested Age: 14+

What is the book about?: Carmen Hogan, like her Scottish hometown, is down on her luck. Her longtime job in retail at the town’s last remaining department store is coming to an end as the store closes for good. It’s the end of an era, and, for Carmen, means an uncertain future. Meanwhile, Carmen’s sister Sofia is a successful lawyer in Edinburgh, with a beautiful house which she shares with an equally successful husband and three – soon to be four – children and a nanny. Sofia comes up with a hopefully brilliant solution to help a dear old client, Mr. McCredie, who runs a bookshop filled with dusty, rare and vintage books. Sofia recruits her now out-of-work sister Carmen to help turn around the finances at the bookshop. Carmen can live in Sofia’s (somewhat dreary) basement apartment and even (hurray) help with child care on the nights when nanny has evening classes. Carmen reluctantly accepts, and her bookstore and romantic adventures in the imposing (and hilly) Scottish capital begin!

My Review: Author Jenny Colgan never disappoints. This novel is warm and inviting. The setting, lovely Edinburgh, comes alive for the reader as Carmen finds her way around Edinburgh as a resident and not just an occasional visitor, and I find the setting almost as interesting as the characters. The characters are quirky, crazy but at the same time realistic, learning and growing together in ways that they would not have imagined at the tale’s beginning. It’s a feel-good, laugh-out-loud read that I highly recommend!

Three Words That Describe This Book: Funny, charming, heartwarming

Give This a Try if You Like…romantic comedies or novels by writers like Sophie Kinsella or Cecelia Ahern or Marian Keyes

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

Susie Rivera2023-12-20T15:05:37-06:00December 20th, 2023|

FDL Reads: Born With Teeth

Born With Teeth by Kate Mulgrew

Reviewed by: Melissa Friedlund, Reference Assistant

Genre: Autobiography

Suggested Age: Adult

What is the book about? Actress Kate Mulgrew came from a large Irish Catholic family in Iowa and was, quite literally, “born with teeth.” In this memoir, the title is a metaphor for tenacity and determination. Mulgrew details how she took the reins of her life early on and created the career she wanted for herself. Along the way, we learn about family dynamics, love affairs, career highlights, and a secret daughter given up for adoption in the late 1970’s.

My Review: Listening to the audiobook version narrated by the author was surprisingly engaging. From the jarring way she cruelly blames herself for her baby sister’s death to behind-the-scenes glimpses of her acting career, I was sucked into the story of her life right away. I am a Star Trek fan and am most familiar with Kate Mulgrew’s character from the Star Trek: Voyager series. Her writing style and verbal delivery were enjoyable and not nearly as stiff and formal as Captain Kathryn Janeway. Filled with joys and sorrows, this book moved me to both laugh and cry.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Captivating, Charismatic, Unanticipated

Give This a Try if You Like…A Fine Romance, I Said Yes to Everything, How to Forget: A Daughter’s Memoir

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

Susie Rivera2023-12-14T15:49:41-06:00December 14th, 2023|

FDL Reads: The Longest Race

The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping and Deception on Nike’s Elite Running Team by Kara Goucher

Reviewed By: Rebecca Cox, Business Manager

Genre: Non-Fiction

Suggested Age: Adults

What is This Book About? Kara Goucher, an elite professional runner and Olympian, opens up about her experience on Nike’s special running team the Nike Oregon Project. The Nike Oregon Project was a “secret” and extremely well-funded group of Nike sponsored athletes that was disbanded in 2019 after coach Alberto Salazar was banned by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for violations. Later Salazar was given a lifetime ban after being found guilty of sexually assaulting one of his athletes. This book is the first time that Kara Goucher came forward publicly as the woman behind the sexual assault allegations and fully told her side of the story from the beginning.

My Review: While initially this book doesn’t exactly sound like a feel-good type of memoir, I think it is such an important book to read. I am a runner but I related to what Kara was going through as a woman more than I did as a runner. The types of discrimination that women are subject to and the pressure to “keep their mouths shut” is something that we have seen as commonplace until the last several years. Kara’s story, while at times uncomfortable to read about, ultimately is one of her owning her own story and finding the courage to do something about it. I think everybody can learn from her example and find inspiration in her story.

It is also an interesting behind the scenes look at what it is like to work with a huge company such as Nike. Their ability to turn a blind eye to illegal practices since they are getting the results on the podium that they want is frankly sickening. The last several years of following this story and now especially after reading this book has made me sure that I don’t want any Nike clothing in my running wardrobe.

Three Words that Describe this Book: Inspiring, Informative, Eye-Opening

Give this a try if you like… Choosing to Run by Des Linden, Bravey by Alexi Pappas, Good For A Girl by Lauren Fleshman

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

FDL Reads

Susie Rivera2023-12-07T11:02:25-06:00November 22nd, 2023|

FDL Reads: Super Pancake

Super Pancake by Megan Wagner Lloyd

Reviewed By: Alice Mitchell, Youth Services Manager

Genre: Superhero fantasy (graphic novel)

Suggested Age: Kids (Ages 7-12)

What is This Book About? Peggy Pancake’s parents think she’s completely irresponsible and unreliable. She can’t wake up with her alarm, misses the bus, gets detention, and is so late after school that her parents have to keep rescheduling their family pictures. At Career Day, the Bacon Bullies put a mysterious serum from Dr. Egglentine Egg in Peggy’s lunch that gives her superpowers! Unfortunately, this gets the attention of the evil Dr. Breakfast Sandwich and his henchtoasts.

My Review: Peggy is a character that is easy to sympathize with, from being constantly compared to her brother, getting in trouble at school, and wanting to make friends. The art in this book is really cute! I loved the syrup used to style Peggy’s hair. The world of Breakfast Town is delightful, from the waffle-shaped Winifred Waffle Elementary School to the Bacon Bullies that need to rhyme all of their sentences. I had a fun time reading this book and watching Peggy grow as a person, getting brave enough to stand up for herself and her new friend.

Three Words that Describe this Book: breakfast, self-confidence, friendship

Give This A Try if You Like… Captain Underpants and Dog Man by Dav Pilkey, Investigators by John Green, Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song

Rating: 4/5

Find it at the library!

FDL Reads

Susie Rivera2023-11-14T10:35:09-06:00November 15th, 2023|

FDL Reads: A River Enchanted

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

Find it at the library!

Susie Rivera2023-11-08T15:11:31-06:00November 8th, 2023|