FDL Reads: The Rose Code
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
Reviewed by: Becky Houghton, Reference Assistant
Genre: Historical fiction
Suggested Age: Teens, Adults
What this book is about: Cryptanalysts during World War II in Great Britain decrypted all the messages from the Axis powers that were able to be intercepted and changed the outcome of the war for an Allied victory over Hitler. These analysts were often young women who had never held jobs before this time and men who were unable to serve in the active military. The Rose Code is their story. It is the story of Osla, a beautiful debutante, Mab from London’s impoverished East End and Beth, a spinster daughter abused by her demanding mother. These three and many others come together at a secret decoding facility known as Bletchley Park and help to win the war while discovering their true potentials.
My Review: I enjoyed this book. Quinn told the story of behind-the-scenes heroines and heroes, the codebreakers of World War II using characters with whom the reader can connect. Osla, Mab and Beth unite in a powerful friendship that fortunately continues after the war is concluded. Quinn has used both the war and the Royal Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip as the background for sharing truths about changes in society, the role of women, and political intrigue generated by World War II. The story is told in multiple settings, the war years and 1947, at the time of the wedding. This technique creates a dramatic tension for the reader as the two stories come together into one exciting conclusion.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Intriguing, Informational, Absorbing
Give This a Try If You Like: The Alice Network and The Huntress by Kate Quinn
Rating: 5/5
Star Wars Week 2022
Are you ready to find the Force at FDL? Join us April 3-9, 2022, as we celebrate one of the most beloved sagas of all time with programs, activities, and crafts for all ages throughout the week! Featuring a screening of Star Wars: A New Hope, team trivia night hosted by Joe Roderick, story time with Kylo Ren, Jedi training, a cosplay meet & greet, and MORE surprises – there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Register for programs and watch our social media pages for more announcements!
Star Wars Film Screening
Monday, April 4 • 5:30-7:30 p.m. • All Ages
Grab a pillow, a blanket, and your favorite galactic PJs and come watch Star Wars: A New Hope on the big screen to kick off a week of Star Wars activities at FDL! Drop In
3D Printing: Star Wars Snowflakes – Zoom
Tuesday, April 5 • 4 p.m. • Ages 8+
Learn how to design a Star Wars snowflake on Tinkercad. Finished designs will be printed on the library’s 3D printer to pick up on a later date. Register
Constellation String Art
Wednesday, April 6 • 5 p.m. • Ages 8-14
Use a galaxy not-so-far away as inspiration for this stellar craft! Choose a favorite constellation or create your own design, then use string to make it come alive for a unique piece of art. Register
Star Wars Trivia Night
Thursday, April 7 • 6-7:30 p.m. • Ages 13+
Grab your friends and test your Star Wars knowledge at trivia night, hosted by Joe Roderick! Register in teams of 4-8 for the chance to win awesome prizes or a fun door prize. Register
Story Time with Kylo Ren
Friday, April 8 • 10 a.m. • Ages 2-6
Kylo Ren is visiting the library for a special story time! We’ll read a book with one of the galaxy’s favorite characters and make a craft inspired by the Dark Side. Drop In
DIY Kyber Crystal Necklace
Friday, April 8 • 4 p.m. • Ages 13+
In the Star Wars universe, kyber crystals are rare and powerful. Choose the light side or the dark side and create your own kyber crystal necklace using a quartz crystal point and a simple wire wrapping technique. Register
Jedi Training
Saturday, April 9 • 10-11:15 a.m. & 1-2:15 p.m. • Ages 5-19
Create your own custom lightsaber – a Jedi’s most trusted tool. Then our Jedi trainer will help you find the Force and sharpen your Jedi skills before you test them against a powerful Sith! Register
Cosplay Meet & Greet
Saturday, April 9 • 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. • All Ages
Wear your favorite Star Wars gear and get your photos taken with members of the 501st Legion and other local Star Wars cosplay groups. Get a snack from the Friends of FDL and check out all the activities in the library between Jedi training sessions! Drop In
Plus, visit the library for Take & Make crafts for all ages, a scavenger hunt, a Star Wars basket drawing from the Friends of FDL, a StoryWalk in the Reading Garden, and more surprises throughout the week!
#FDL: Audie Award Winners
The Audie Awards for 2022 were recently announced. The Audies are given by the Audio Publishers Association for the best audiobooks of the year. Check one of these out for a “sure bet” listen. We offer several audio formats including eAudiobooks, CD books, and Playaways, available to place on hold through our online catalog. A full list of winners is below:
Audiobook of the Year: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Audio Drama: Sherlock Holmes – The Seamstress of Peckham Rye written by Jonathan Barnes
Autobiography/Memoir: Somebody’s Daughter written and narrated by Ashley C. Ford
Best Female Narrator: The Parted Earth by Anjali Enjeti
Best Male Narrator: Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World written by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Business/Personal Development: Machiavelli for Women written and narrated by Stacey Vanek Smith
Faith-Based Fiction nor Non-Fiction: The Gift of Black Folk written by W.E.B. Du Bois
Fantasy: Rhythm of War written by Brandon Sanderson
Fiction: The Final Revival of Opal & Nev written by Dawnie Walton
History/Biography: Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other written and narrated by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish (with a foreword written and narrated by Diana Gabaldon)
Humor: How Y’all Doing? written and narrated by Leslie Jordan
Español- Spanish Language La casa de Bernarda Alba written by Federico García Lorca
Literary Fiction & Classics: All Creatures Great and Small written by James Herriot
Middle Grade: Playing the Cards You’re Dealt written by Varian Johnson
Multi-Voiced Performance: Heresy written by Melissa Lenhardt
Mystery: Later written by Stephen King
Narration By the Author(s): A Promised Land written and narrated by Barack Obama
Non-Fiction: The Joy of Sweat written by Sarah Everts
Original Work: Heroine written and narrated by Mary Jane Wells
Romance: Reel: Hollywood Renaissance, Book 1 written by Kennedy Ryan
Science Fiction: Project Hail Mary written by Andy Weir
Short Stories/ Collections: Blackout written by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon
Thriller/Suspense: Local Woman Missing written by Mary Kubica
Young Adult: Be Dazzled written by Ryan La Sala
Young Listeners: I and I Bob Marley written by Tony Medina
#FDL is an update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.
FDL Reads: Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen
Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen by Sarah Kapit
Reviewed By: Alice Mitchell, Youth Services Manager
Genre: Realistic fiction
Suggested Age: Kids (8-13)
What is This Book About? Vivy has been working on her knuckleball nonstop since meeting MLB star VJ Camillo, which is why she decides to start writing letters to him as part of a school project. Vivy writes about how thrilled she is when a local baseball coach notices her pitching in a park and invites her to be part of his team. Vivy’s parents aren’t as excited as she is, and her mom worries about her being the only girl on a boy’s baseball team, not to mention a girl with autism.
My Review: As far as debut novels go, Kapit’s is a fantastic achievement. She noticed a lack of nuanced portrayals of characters with autism and took it upon herself to fill that void, using her personal experiences to make Vivy a realistic character. Lots of kids gravitate towards books written in letters and emails, and this book will definitely grab its reader’s attention with Vivy expressing her achievements and pitfalls. Additionally, in spite of only being portrayed in Vivy’s letters, everyone in her life is well fleshed out and has their own unique personalities and challenges to work through. Kids will empathize with Vivy’s baseball ambitions, the bullying she encounters, and how hard it can be to be honest with the people you love the most.
Three Words that Describe this Book: excitement, growing up, teamwork
Give This A Try if You Like… A High Five for Glenn Burke by Phil Bildner; Rick by Alex Gino; Stand Up, Yumi Chung! by Jessica Kim; Jennifer Holm; A Boy Called Bat by Alana K. Arnold; Front Desk by Kelly Yang
Rating: 5/5
Who Doesn’t Love Spring?
Winter is turning into Spring! The weather is warming up and everyone wants to get outside. The trees will bud, flowers will bloom, and the birds will return!
What activities will you enjoy outside… baseball, bike riding, hiking, or camping? What seasonal chores will you help with… raking leaves, planting the garden, or mowing the grass?
Where is your favorite place to read outside? Under a tree, on the front porch, in your tree house, or on the back deck? Will you read in the car or in the hotel on Spring Break? The official start of Spring is just around the corner (March 20, 2022), and the library has loads of Spring-themed books for you to read!
Board Books
It’s Spring! by Samantha Berger
Dr. Seuss’s Spring Things by Dr. Seuss
Spring = Primavera by Ailie Busby
Spring: Touch and Feel by Roger Piddy
Countdown to Spring by Janet Schuman
Picture Books
Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Pak
Wake Up, It’s Spring! by Lisa Campbell Ernst
Spring is Here by Will Hillenbrand
Kitten’s Spring by Eugenie Fernandes
Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit by Il Sung Na
The Thing About Spring by Daniel Kirk
Abracadabra, It’s Spring! by Anne Sibley O’Brian
Spring by Ron Hirschi
NonFiction
Spring by Cynthia Amorosa
How Do You Know It’s Spring? by Lisa M. Herrington
Chapter Books
Spring According to Humphrey by Betty Birney
Clementine and the Spring Trip by Sara Pennypacker
Tales from a Not-So-Dorky Drama Queen by Renée Rachel
The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall
TBH, This is SO Awkward by Lisa Greenwald
Things to Do!
Crafts to Make in the Spring by Kathy Ross (Hoopla, Axis 360)
Let’s Ride a Bike by Ruth Walton
Biking by Paul Mason
Edible Gardening by Lisa Armstutz
Organic Gardening for Kids by Elizabeth Scholl
Cool Backyard Camping by Alex Kuskowski
My Great Outdoors Book by Josie Jeffery
– Kris, Youth Services Specialist
FDL Reads: Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nostrat
Reviewed By: Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist
Genre: Nonfiction (Cooking)
Suggested Age: Adults
What is This Book About? Chef Samin Nostrat simplifies advanced cooking techniques for home cooks by breaking them down to four aspects: salt, fat, acid, and heat. If a person can master flavor, texture, and temperature, they will be able to cook anything. Samin balances the book with illustrations, charts, personal experiences, and recipes in this narrative blend. This book was the basis for the Netflix series of the same name where Samin visits locales around the world, as well as adds her own Persian family influences.
My Review: This book is more than a cookbook. I picked up new strategies I can apply to my own cooking as well as few new recipes to try. Samin offers good tips such as salting techniques for meat and the benefit of letting some ingredients come to room temperature before cooking. While the book is not completely full of recipes, she also includes a few delicious ones. We tried her buttermilk roast chicken and a tart dough recipe she got from a fellow chef. I wouldn’t tag her strategies or recipes as “quick and easy” or for “busy weeknights.” I appreciate her love for slower, more thoughtful methods even though they are not always realistic if you are not a chef. Not everyone has time to prepare homemade tart dough or pasta from scratch, but this book provides a good start for home cooks who want to experiment and step up their game. I listened to the audiobook version, which Samin narrates well. I enjoyed her appreciation for good food and her anecdotes throughout.
Three Words that Describe this Book: Delicious, thorough, detailed
Give This a Try if You Like… Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child, How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman, The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by Deb Perleman
Rating: 4/5