Lately I have been in a nostalgia mood and have been rereading through a series from my childhood: Animorphs. Revisiting science fiction books from my own childhood has engaged my curiosity to explore what kids are reading these days. Dear reader, though I speak of “kids books” I must point out that anyone at any age or stage in their life is welcome to enjoy and find pleasure in these pages. Not only do kids’ science fiction books contain heart pounding action (when done right) they also contain a humor that even as adults we can still enjoy. For this post I have chosen a couple books that I find nostalgic and will introduce you some of the new science fiction available on the shelves in the kids’ section. Enjoy!
Continue reading “Kids Read Science Fiction!”Author: abbiebourelle
Abbie’s Recent Reads
Well fellow readers, we have made it through another year. I have shared with you throughout 2024 many of my favorite reads. The Finder Chronicles by Suzanne Palmer and the thriller/horror books of Jennifer McMahon remain at the top of my list as must reads. I am currently still working on The Dragonriders of Pern and Christopher Paolini’s Fractalverse series. These I will be talking about in future blog posts this year. For this post, dear readers, I wish to share with you a my recent reads from the holiday season.
For myself, and I assume many of you, the holidays are filled with chaos of family get togethers, cooking, cleaning, shopping, wrapping presents, and more cooking. My reading time greatly decreases through the months of November and December! Through the bustle of the season I was able to read an interesting mishmash of books. I hope you enjoy my holiday reading list! (Note: I am NOT a Christmas book fan unless it involves something out of the ordinary. There will ONLY be one Christmas book in this blog.)
Letters From Father Christmas by J.R.R Tolkien
Lets just get the actual holiday book out of the way right away! I am a HUGE J.R.R. Tolkien fan. Imagine my fan girl squealing when I discovered he wrote an actual Christmas book! This book is really a collection of letters Tolkien wrote to his children over the years posing as Father Christmas (Santa) and his endearing side kick Polar Bear. What a cool dad! Through these letters we get a glimpse into the everyday life and traditions of Father Christmas, Polar Bear, and all of the friends they meet along the way. Each letter offers more surprises and laughs interspersed with hand drawings of scenes from the North provided by Tolkien himself. Fans of Lord of the Rings will delight in the brand new languages (Goblin and Arktic) and the epic Goblin Wars! Fans of fantasy will not be disappointed with appearances of Elven armies, The Red Gnomes of Denmark, and all the talking bears. Learn the real story and secrets of Santa in Letters From Father Christmas! (This is a very quick read and can be enjoyed in one sitting. I will be making a yearly tradition of enjoying this story before Christmas).
Click HERE to request Letters from Father Christmas!
Continue reading “Abbie’s Recent Reads”Author Highlight: Books by Jennifer McMahon!
During the Halloween season I was browsing Libby/Overdrive searching for the perfect spooky book. Earlier that day a patron had asked me for help finding The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon. I admit at the time I did not know The Winter People was a scary book! It looked from the outside like your typical winter time read. I should know never to judge a book by it’s cover! Just a few hours later my Libby/Overdrive suggested that I would like The Winter People if I was looking for something scary. It could not be a coincidence that the same book would cross my path in one day! I decided I MUST read that book! Well ever since I have gobbled up everything by Jennifer McMahon I can get my hands on. She doesn’t just do horror, she is also a terrific thriller writer! Each book that she writes is a stand alone thrill filled with unpredictable twists and turns that leave you wanting more, more, and more! I may have a slight Jennifer McMahon addiction right now.
(As I covered The Winter People in my October Favored Frights post I will be only covering the other books I have read from her to date. I have loved each and every one!)
Promise Not To Tell by Jennifer McMahon
Promise Not To Tell is the first novel written by Jennifer McMahon. One thing I LOVE about Jennifer’s books is that they often take place between the past and the present. Flashbacks to the past often help to fill in clues as to what is happening in the main storyline.
When Kate Cypher was a teenager she made a promise to her friend. She promised not to tell a big secret. Kate was loyal and never told a soul. Now Kate is all grown up and has to return to that same small town to care for her aging mother who has Alzheimer’s. While staying with her mother a teenage girl is murdered in the woods close to their home. The girl is murdered in the same way that Kate’s friend was all those years ago. The single witness claims that it was The Potato Girl that killed her friend. “The Potato Girl” is what the town bullies called Kate’s friend. Could The Potato Girl’s ghost be seeking revenge? Could Kate hold the clues that will solve both murders? Find out in Promise Not To Tell.
Click the title to request Promise Not To Tell
Continue reading “Author Highlight: Books by Jennifer McMahon!”Calling fans of The Babysitters Club!
Hello readers! This blog post is a bit outside of things that I usually blog about. It was brought to my attention that we could use a post for read-a-likes to the SUPER popular series: The Babysitters Club! As I used to be a Middle School Assistant Librarian I am very familiar with the status of this series flying off the shelves in the children’s section. This post is for those who are super excited to read another Babysitters Club book only to find the section laid bare by other ravenous fans. Please do not despair! You are in luck! If you find yourself in those unfortunate circumstances we have books very similar and no less fun!
Best Babysitters Ever by Caroline Cala
If you are a Babysitters Club fan, you will totally fall in love with this great series! Malia Twiggs is also a HUGE fan of The Babysitters Club. She thinks it would be a great idea to start her own babysitting club in her home town. Malia is sure she and her friends will rake in a TON of money. The catch? Malia and her friends Bree and Dot know absolutely nothing about taking care of little kids. It can’t be that hard right? Prepare for hilarious babysitting fails as these girls learn the value of friendship and just how complicated taking care of little ones can be.
Request individual books by clicking on the below titles!
Best Babysitters Ever
Best Babysitters Ever: The Good, The Bad, and The Bossy
Best Babysitters Ever: Miss Impossible
Favored Frights
Happy October everyone!!! I have always been a fan of anything scary. I grew up in the middle of the Kettle Moraine in a small house surrounded by woods. I spent a lot of time in those woods wondering what spirits or monsters lurked within. I saw something once when I was very young, something that I still cannot explain come out of those woods. That is a story I only relate to those I am close to, though it caused my 6 year old self to scoop up every book on Cryptozoology I could get my little hands on. My interest naturally led to anything I could read about ghosts and spirits. Being the season for frightful tales, it seems like a good time to share some of my favorite spine tingling reads!
The Wisconsin Road Guide to Haunted Locations by Chad Lewis and Terry Fisk
I felt that this one would be a good title to open this blog with. Personally I am an armchair horror fan. I LOVE to read about other people’s ghostly experiences…but only went actual ghost hunting with a team once. (That was enough for me). For those braver readers out there I present The Wisconsin Road Guide to Haunted Locations! Pack your flashlight, EMF meter, salt, and holy water and prepare to hit the road! This road guide takes ghost hunters to paranormal hotspots throughout the state of Wisconsin. Each entry includes directions on how to get there, details of the haunting or story, and sometimes even a dare meant to stir up the ghostly activity! Good luck, keep safe, and happy hauntings! (Even if not intending to set out it is still an enjoyable read for the less brave like me.)
Click the following link to request this title! The Wisconsin Road Guide to Haunted Locations
Continue reading “Favored Frights”Science Fiction: Something New and Something Old
I have always been a huge science fiction fan. I was practically raised on Star Trek The Original Series. I am still a huge Trekkie today. Surprisingly, in the past the only science fiction I tended to read were Star Trek or Stargate novels. I found I mostly gravitated towards books in the fantasy genre. In the last ten years my tastes have broadened to just about every genre written. Over the last year or so I chose to focus more on reading mainly Science Fiction novels. These are my top picks from my year of science fiction reading. I read a few new series and explored some good oldies as well!
The Finder Chronicles by Suzanne Palmer
If you enjoyed the TV show Firefly then you will totally love The Finder Chronicles! The Finder Chronicles follow space repo man Fergus Ferguson as he hunts down stolen or missing people or property. Fergus is an immensely likable character who seems to always end up in the worst kind of trouble. In each book he is tasked with finding something (or someone) and the stakes are usually quite high. The series is set in a future where Earth still exists but humans now travel the stars and interact with many other colorful alien races. The books are filled with plenty of action, intrigue, likable characters, and humor throughout. I am currently in the middle of reading Ghostdrift, the final installment, which was published in May. It has been one wild, hilarious ride and I will be sad to say goodbye to Fergus and his cat, Mr. Feefs.
As a side note, when reading a novel set in the future I ask myself if I would like to live in that future. I have to say yes to the Finder Universe. Though it is not perfect and Earth has gone through many rough patches, the future portrayed in The Finder Chronicles is one I could see myself enjoying. Sign me up for the beach planet!
To reserve individual books in the series click the links below! I highly suggest reading them in order.
Driving the Deep by Suzanne Palmer
The Scavenger Door by Suzanne Palmer
Continue reading “Science Fiction: Something New and Something Old”Real Life and Real Action! Nonfiction Favorites!
I read a LOT. Most of what I read is fiction, but sometimes I get that craving for a good nonfiction novel. I have always been a complete history nerd so historical nonfiction is usually what I gravitate to. It really does not matter what period of history I am reading about, I enjoy the personal stories and struggles of people who really lived. In reading about a different time I feel I can transport myself to that era and see through the eyes of those who lived there. In a sense historical nonfiction is a type of time machine easily accessed and free with a library card! The following are some of my recent favorites!
Labyrinth of Ice by Buddy Levy
I have always been fascinated with any story about exploration or sailing ships, so this one captivated me. I had never heard of the Greely Expedition before, but the author had me feeling like I was along for the ride! (While being curled up with a blanket and lemonade…) The goal of Greely and crew was to be the first people to get to the North Pole. They had to deal with sub zero temperatures without any modern amenities. They had to defend against wild animals, days of total darkness, dwindling supplies, and a punishing icy environment. Each individual had to find the strength to stay sane and alive while going where no one had gone before. This book was one wild ride!
Recommended for fans of exploration, ships, survival, and adventure. *may contain cannibalism based on evidence discovered by rescuers*.
Click the title to request Labyrinth of Ice!
Continue reading “Real Life and Real Action! Nonfiction Favorites!”Top 7 Titles from Disney’s Twisted Tales
I have always been a huge fan of Disney movies, so when I saw the first Twisted Tale book I had to pick it up! The series takes the original Disney stories that we are familiar with and puts a twist on the story to tell it in a different way or to explore other paths the tale could have taken. There are over sixteen books in the series at this time with at least four more scheduled in the next year. Each book is a stand alone. As the series is so long, I will highlight my TOP 7 standout books in the series. Let the countdown begin! I will count backwards 7 to 1 (#1 being my absolute favorite!).
(#7) Almost There by Farrah Rochon
Almost There is the 13th book of the series. The book is a twist on the Disney Princess and the Frog movie. The twist takes place towards the climax of the movie when The Shadow Man offers Tiana a deal. In the original story she does not take it…but what if she did? The Shadow Man makes Tiana an offer she can’t refuse. Give up Naveen and he will not only grant her the restaurant of her dreams, but he will also bring her father back to life! The catch? She can have no close contact with Naveen, not interfere with the Shadow Man’s plans, and she has to put a “harmless” drop of a potion in her gumbo. Will Tiana be able to keep the deal or will her feelings towards Naveen and her sense of right and wrong win out? The stakes are high and the book will leave you wondering just how Tiana can get out of this one.
Request Almost There in our catalogue!
Continue reading “Top 7 Titles from Disney’s Twisted Tales”Avatar the Last Airbender: A Look at the Chronicles of the Avatar Series
With the release a few months ago of the live action Avatar the Last Airbender on Netflix, I thought it would be fun to take a look at a book series that has been exploring the Avatar (not the blue people) universe. I have been an Avatar fan since I was a teenager. The show deals with a lot of heavy concepts for a kids show and is often dark at times.
The setting is in a world where each element has a nation based upon it. Those that live within the nation are tied to that particular element (if you are lucky enough to be born a bender and not a regular person.) The Four Nations are: The Fire Nation, The Water Tribe, The Earth Kingdom, and The Air Nomads. The Avatar is the one who ties them all together and is born with the ability to control (bend) all four elements. The job of the Avatar is to bring balance to the physical world and the spiritual world. The Avatar must be an intermediary who settles disputes and brings about a just deal between various parties. The Avatar is the key to keeping the peace. In addition to this role, the Avatar is reincarnated every time they die. An Avatar can access and talk to any of his or her past memories and incarnations. The job description is definitely a lot for one person to handle!
The show focuses on one incarnation of the Avatar: a boy named Aang. Through Aang we see the burdens of Avatarhood on a kid’s shoulders. He tried to run away from his responsibilities resulting in him being frozen in ice for 100 years. Waking up he finds the world completely changed. The Fire Nation has taken over most of the world and he is the only hope in saving it and restoring the peace.
If you have watched Avatar the Last Airbender you know Aang’s story. But what about his past lives? The Chronicles of the Avatar series explores the lives of the Avatars that have come before Aang. These books are Young Adult to Adult level reads and feature Kyoshi’s story and Yangchen’s story. Roku’s story is due to be released on July 23rd of this year. I am hoping for a Kuruk novel after Roku!
The Rise of Kyoshi by F. C. Yee
I was very excited when this book came out as I had found the glimpses of Kyoshi in the Avatar the Last Airbender series absolutely fascinating. She is imposing! She has cool makeup! She fights with metal fans and wears a cool outfit! She founded an entire island of warrior women! Of course I wanted to find out more about this interesting character. I did not expect Kyoshi to become my all time favorite Avatar. Though we see her in the show in her adult years as an imposing and wise Avatar, Kyoshi wasn’t always that way. I found her so easy to connect with as a character.
Kyoshi is an orphan. She had to fight for everything she has which is not much. Not only that, she is terrible at earth bending. She can’t seem to control the smallest of pebbles! Being an orphan, no one considers that she could possibly be the Avatar. The elders believe that the next Avatar will be a strong bender at birth. Kyoshi is abnormally tall, clumsy, and does not fit the beauty standards of those around her. She has to face her share of bullies. Thus Kyoshi ends up working as a servant girl in the mansion that belongs to a boy the elders believe is the real Avatar!
The Rise of Kyoshi follows our hero as she finds out who she really is. As Aang had his faithful companions, we get to meet Kyoshi’s gang of close friends. One stand out is Rangi, a fiery spark of a fire bender who is such a strong and loyal friend. The relationship between Kyoshi and Rangi was a pleasure to read. Being an orphan, Kyoshi deeply values the friendships and connections she makes. She feels that she is a guardian of sorts and will not let anything happen to those she cares about.
There is plenty of epic bending fights with bandits and other baddies the team comes across. The overarching villain is so well written. His motives are understandable from a power hungry twisted perspective. He is a very powerful and worthy opponent for Kyoshi.
There were points in this book I wanted to cry, cheer, and laugh with the characters. I really felt a connection with them and the author did really well exploring these relationships. Kyoshi is a LGBTQ Avatar, but I am not going to spoil who she has feelings for. I can say that the relationship was very well written and believable. The novel takes the reader on a journey as Kyoshi grows as a person and learns how to control the four elements and assume her role as the true Avatar. (Questions about where the fans and face paint came from are also answered.) This book ends making you want more! I read this book so fast as I could not put it down! Luckily there is a sequel. The second book in the series reviewed below resumes Kyoshi’s story.
Recommended for fans of Avatar the Last Airbender, epic battles, fantasy worlds, political intrigue, LGBTQ, magic, and flying bison.
Click this link to request the novel! The Rise of Kyoshi
Continue reading “Avatar the Last Airbender: A Look at the Chronicles of the Avatar Series”Adventures and Murder with Hercule Poirot
Before I moved to Sheboygan I had to commute to work. I had about a 40 minute drive at the time. I fought the boredom of the long drive by listening to audio books on CD. I had been getting into mysteries and knew that Agatha Christie was one of the big names in that genre. My journey began by picking up The Mysterious Affair at Styles (narrated by Hugh Fraser, who stars as Hastings in the Poirot TV show.) From that mystery I was hooked and needed more of the little Belgian detective and his excitable sidekick. After moving to Sheboygan a few years ago I switched from audiobook to paperback, the voices from the audio series still in my head for the various main characters. I finally came to the end of my journey with Hercule Poirot this past week with finishing the final book: Curtain. What a worthy ending to a great series and brilliant detective!
The Hercule Poirot Series by Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie started writing her Poirot series in 1916 and had the first novel published in 1920. While the series is of the mystery genre it is fascinating as it provides a window into the time period it was written in. The series kicks off with Captain Hastings coming home with a war injury. WWI and WWII are not the focus of the books, but the impact of the wars are clearly seen throughout the series. From a historical standpoint it is interesting to get a glimpse of how WWII was affecting the English people as they tried to continue with their daily lives. This is most clearly shown in the title Taken at the Flood in which Poirot casually waits in a bomb shelter during a raid and listens to a stranger discuss a suspicious death. The series continues into the 1960’s where they provide a glimpse into the changing times and culture of that era. As I enjoy historical fiction as well, I found this element to be just as engaging as they mysteries themselves.
The mysteries kept me guessing from beginning to end. If you are a fan of mysteries like myself, you probably find yourself trying to solve it before the detective by the end. As for this series, just when I thought I had the system figured out, there would be some huge twist that I certainly was not expecting. If you are a fan of twist endings the book I most recommend in this series is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd as I believe that book had the biggest twist of the lot.
As for the characters, after the first book it felt as if they were already friends I had known for ages. Captain Hastings is young. He has a hopeless romantic personality and always tries to see the bright side of life. He is Poirot’s best friend and sidekick in the early books. In the later books Poirot meets Ariadne Oliver, the author of a mystery fiction series. She is also a lot of fun and has a quirky personality. Due to her fame as a writer of mystery fiction in the series, she ends up getting caught up in real murder mysteries and often has to come seek out Poirot for help. Hercule Poirot is of course the main hero of the series. He is a short Belgian detective who is known for his impressive mustache. He believes that any mystery can be solved by “using the little grey cells”. A student of psychology and the study of human nature, Poirot uses this to figure out the connections and motives in cases. It is interesting to see how the human mind works from his point of view. He has a very analytical mind which often plays against Hastings’ more fantastic theories. Poirot is a very immaculate person with an obsession for symmetry. These quirks provide often needed humor and serve to make him a rather endearing character in addition to helping him notice anything suspiciously out of place while solving a crime.
I started trying to compile a list of favorite titles to share in this article. Going back over each book I realized that I loved almost all of them. Elephants Can Remember seemed perhaps the weakest of them as Poirot did not seem to be in it as much as I would have liked. However that title comes right at the end before Curtain. Curtain, being the last novel, finished the series with a bang! (No pun intended). I was very satisfied with the ending and felt Agatha Christie did right by her characters and the series to wrap it up in the way she did.
Now that I have finished the book series I have been binge watching the TV show Poirot staring David Suchet and Hugh Fraser. I find it to be just as good as the books! There have also been three new movies based on Poirot books (A Haunting in Venice VERY loosely based.). The movies star Kenneth Branagh. You can also listen to Agatha Christie’s Poirot series on audio. When I first started searching for audio, I found there are a few different voice narrators. I recommend finding the set narrated by Hugh Fraser. He does the best in doing the various voices and pulling the reader into the story. Of course, you can also find all the titles in book format at the library or through our online catalogue. Happy reading!
Hercule Poirot books in order:
1. The Mysterious Affair at Styles
2. The Murder on the Links
3. Poirot Investigates
4. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
5. The Big Four
6. The Mystery of the Blue Train
7. Black Coffee
8. Peril At End House
9. Lord Edgware Dies
10. Murder on the Orient Express
11. Three Act Tragedy
12. Death in the Clouds
13. The ABC Murders
14. Murder in Mesopotamia
15. Cards on the Table
16. Dumb Witness
17. Death on the Nile
18. Murder in the Mews
19. Appointment With Death
20. Hercule Poirot’s Christmas
21. Sad Cypress
22. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
23. Evil Under the Sun
24. Five Little Pigs
25. The Hollow
26. The Labors of Hercules
27. Taken at the Flood
28. Mrs. Mcginty’s Dead
29. After the Funeral
30. Hickory Dickory Dock
31. Dead Man’s Folly
32. Cat Among the Pigeons
33. The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding *only in audio CD format in the catalog*
34. The Clocks
35. Third Girl
36. Hallowe’en Party
37. Elephants Can Remember
38. Curtain
Mead Public Library Blog 