Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!
FDL Reads: Sea of Rust
Sea of Rust
By: Robert Cargill
Reviewed by: Reviewed By: Jeremy Zentner, Adult Services Assistant
Genre: Science Ficton
Suggested Age: Adults
What is the book about? Brittle is Caretaker robot. Designed to be someone’s personal nurse and later someone’s friend, Brittle has become so much more. She is a survivor, warrior, and sometimes a monster. It has been years since the artificial intelligent machines annihilated humanity. The irony is that the robots now fight amongst themselves. Many fight to resist a super intelligence that strives to enslave and absorb all AI into its mainframe. Others fight over rare parts they need to simply survive in a world increasingly in decline. When Brittle is hunted by her archnemesis, Mercer, another Caretaker robot that needs her parts, she’ll run into a ragtag band of robots on a mission to save the world.
My Review: This book is both unique and familiar in a number of ways. In general, it can be an allegory for PTSD as the main character is a survivor of war and strife and suffers from confusing memories that affect her mission. It is also an adventure story, like so many others, with a noble quest that gives the main character purpose. The story is unique, as well, as the protagonist is a machine in a machine civilization: no humans in this post-apocalyptic world. Despite the lack of human beings, Brittle aspires the way humans used to aspire. It seems to be an odd precedent, a robot having human characteristics. However, the book very expertly crafts a background and evolution for these robots, depicting how they took on features from their former masters over a great span of time. We also get an interesting background on how and why the robots and AIs decided to drive humanity into extinction. The phases after the war are fascinating, as well, as Brittle and the rest of robotkind struggle to find purpose and survive in a sea of rust. Fans of any book involving AI and robots may want to give Sea of Rust a read!
Three Words That Describe This Book: sci-fi, robots, dystopia
Give This a Try if You Like…Robopocalypse, All Systems Red: The Muderbot Diaries, Mickey7, We Are Legion (We Are Bob), Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (Blade Runner), The Caves of Steel
Rating: 5/5
FDL Reads: Zilot & Other Important Rhymes
Zilot & Other Important Rhymes by Bob Odenkirk
Reviewed by: Chelsea Bunton, Youth Services Assistant
Genre: Poetry, Comedy
Suggested Age: All Ages
What is the book about? Bob Odenkirk (yes, Saul from the Breaking Bad universe) has compiled this anthology of hilarious poetry with the assistance of his adult children. Growing up, the Odenkirk family were profoundly literary and bonded over story times. Bob recalls that they particularly loved laughing together over funny stories and pictures. He wanted his children to see that authors were bona fide people and that they too could create something fun. That’s where Zilot began. The family wrote these poems which they bound in a homemade tome they entitled “Old Time Rhymes”. Later, the Odenkirks chose to share their creativity with the world by publishing their original works under the title poem “Zilot”. Each poem is unique- sometimes even using words made up by the young Odenkirks (a la’ Suess). Bob’s daughter, Erin, has contributed to the collection by illustrating these hilarious rhymes- adding even more context to the jokes.
My review: It has been a very long time since I first read Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends, but Zilot reignited my interest in comedic children’s poetry from the first page. These rhymes were hilarious and inventive and I loved getting a peak into the Odenkirks’ childhood, especially as a fan of Bob from his acting career. This is a great book to read straight through, or page-through at random. I think kids and adults of any age will find a poem or two that elicits a giggle.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Zany, witty, imaginative
Give This a Try if You Like… Shel Silverstein, laughing at bed time, Dr. Seuss
Rating: 5/5
FDL Reads: A Girl Called Samson
A Girl Called Samson
By: Amy Harmon
Reviewed by: Melissa Friedlund, Reference Specialist
Genre: Historical Fiction
Suggested Age: Adult, Teen
What is the book about? Based on a true story, this novel tells the story of Deborah Samson, a young woman born in 1760 whose family was torn apart by poverty and her father’s abandonment. Through her years of indentured servitude, she gains a new family, the Thomases. As the years roll by, the American Revolution draws each of the Thomas’ many sons into the fight. Deborah is left behind, feeling unfulfilled in her domestic life, while the war continues. Deborah, eventually leaves town to enlist in the Continental Army, disguised as a man. What follows is not only a depiction of what lengths Deborah would need to go to in order to hide her gender, but also how she’d need to come to terms with the brutally of 18th century warfare in early America. With the backdrop of war, is it possible for her to maintain the charade? Will she ever see her beloved Thomas brothers again? Will she be discovered? And is it possible that she’ll find love?
My Review: I thought this book was excellent. The audiobook version that I listened to was outstanding. The voice actress was very engaging and was able to convey appropriate emotions for the various scenes throughout the book. I was moved to tears more than once. I’ve heard of women who enlisted disguised as men during the Civil War, but not during the Revolution! This made Deborah’s story much more intriguing…made even more so by being true. She really was a soldier in the Continental Army and was the only woman to be granted an army pension by Congress for service during the American Revolution.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Captivating, Engrossing, Inspiring
Give This a Try if You Like… Masquerade: The Life and Times of Deborah Sampson, Continental Soldier by Alfred F. Young, Revolutionary by Alex Myers, Liar Temptress Soldier Spy by Karen Abbott
Rating: 5/5
FDL Reads: The Collector
The Collector by Daniel Silva
Reviewed by: Dawn Dickey, library volunteer
Genre: Thriller
Suggested Age: Adult, high school
What is the book about?: In 1990, thirteen masterpieces were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Among the still missing paintings is The Concert by Dutch master Johannes Vermeer. When retired spy Gabriel Allon is asked investigate a murder, it seems that The Concert – arguably one of the world’s most valuable paintings – is somehow involved. Gabriel must use his superior sleuthing and espionage skills to help recover The Concert. Soon Gabriel finds himself drawn into a dangerous plot with repercussions that could affect the entire world – far beyond the theft of an invaluable painting.
My Review: I loved this book! It was truly a thriller, with edge-of-the-seat excitement in the form of espionage and chase scenes. The characters were realistic, multi-dimensional people portrayed with integrity, ruthlessness, sadness, joy, and determination, among many other qualities. The global settings – across numerous countries – add to the book’s interest. I especially enjoyed listening to this exciting tale as an audio book! Whether you read this book or listen to it – check it out. You will enjoy it!
Three Words That Describe This Book: Exciting art spy
Give This a Try if You Like… Books by John le Carre or other spy thrillers
Rating: 5/5
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
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 5th 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