Customer Review - Sea

Sea
by Heidi R. Kling [YA Kling]

It was a great book about a girl getting over her fears of flying and meeting a very nice guy, and helping him find his father after a terrible hurricane and tsunami. -- review submitted by Teresa G. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

Antiques Disposal

Antiques Disposal
by Barbara Allan

This is the sixth entry in breezy Trash n' Treasure series. Brandy Borne and her mother, Vivian, are always looking for merchandise for their antique booth in the mall. Big Jim Bob, Vivian's old friend, and owner of a storage rental business, tells her that there might be something valuable in an abandoned unit that will be up for auction. Vivian and Brandy have the winning bid and take some of the boxes home. They go through them and find a 1946 drawing of Superman, a set of Havilland China and an old cornet. Brandy stashes the cornet with the other cornets in the garage and they go back to the storage unit for more boxes. When they get to there, Brandy and Vivian find that someone broken into the unit stole the rest of the boxes and killed Big Jim Bob. That night someone breaks into the Borne house and steals a cornet from their music room. Why does someone want that old cornet? Barbara Allan is the pseudonym for the husband and wife writing team of Barbara and Max Allan Collins. -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the works of Donna Andrews and Ellery Adams.]

[ official Antiques Disposal page on the official Barbara Allan web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Benediction

Benediction
by Kent Haruf

Nebraska author, Kent Haruf, has written another compelling story that includes small town living, family issues, terminal cancer, an estranged son, death and hope. -- recommended by Meredith M. - curator of the Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors [You might like to go back and read his other titles if you haven't already -- Plainsong, Eventide, The Tie That Binds.]

[Also available in book-on-cd and downloadable E-book formats.]

[ Publisher's official Benediction web page ] | [ Wikipedia page for Kent Haruf ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Customer Review - Shadow of the Moon

Shadow of the Moon
by Rachel Hawthorne [YA Hawthorne]

It was a bit weird and very funny. I liked it enough but it really has the exact same plotish thing as all the others in this series. -- review submitted by Teresa G. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

A League of Their Own (on DVD)

A League of Their Own
[DVD League]

I absolutely love this movie! Two sisters join the first professional baseball league for women. As they tour and play more games you start to see the toll it takes on their relationship. I really like the touching ending as well, but you will need to brush up on your baseball lingo. It includes an all-star cast including: Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Tom Hanks, Rosie O'Donnell, Madonna, Jon Lovitz, and Bill Pullman. Tom Hanks is particularly comical. Won a few Golden Globes, and several other awards. -- recommended by Jeremiah J. - Bennett Martin Public Library [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The Sandlot, The Rookie, Trouble With the Curve.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Customer Review - Divergent

Divergent
by Veronia Roth [YA Roth]

This was amazing and I would recommend it to anyone with a sense of adventure and a love for romance. This book is set in the future and everyone lives in a faction. Each faction has a different reason that war destroyed the world. The two main factions are Abnegation who believes the cause was selfishness and they don't believe in doing anything for themselves. They also don't have any mirrors and only get to see themselves once a year when they get their haircut. The other main faction is Dauntless who believes the was fear. They aren't scared of anything. When each kid turns sixteen they have to choose a faction either the one they were born into or a different one. They get tests taken to find what faction they should be in. The main girl Tris gets results that only a few people get and she has to keep it a secret for her own safety and others. You'll have to read the book to find out the rest. I picked up this book because I heard some good reviews of it from Youtube. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. -- review submitted by Jetta T. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

Maddie on Things

Maddie on Things
by Theron Humphrey [636.7 Hum]

The cover illustration of this one definitely caught my eye -- a gangly dog (a Maine Coonhound), awkwardly posed on the spare tire on a beat-up old vehicle. That was enough to make me glance inside, only to discover dozens more photos of Maddie, posted on top of other things, all over the country. Some are sweet shots, some are bizarre. The photos are interspersed with author Humphrey's recollections of his cross-country tour with his photogenic dog, and the people and places they encountered in their travels. I'm not sure that this book felt like it had any serious point to make, but if you're interested in quirky travelogues with some silly photos of an infinitely patient and lovable dog thrown in, this should be right up your alley! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Maddie on Things web site ]

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Customer Review - Born at Midnight

Born at Midnight
by C.C. Hunter [YA]

This book is written very well! I never wanted to stop reading!!!! I loved the dialogue, and I felt as if I was in the book with Kylie!!! -- review submitted by Raven H. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

Attachments

Attachments
by Rainbow Rowell

Is there such a thing as love at first sight when you've never seen the other person? That is the question Lincoln asks himself. Lincoln works for a newspaper as IT Security. Primarily going through all the flagged company emails and sending off the occasional warning for misuse. Then he starts reading Beth and Jennifer's correspondence. They're violating every rule in the book. But at the same time Lincoln can't help himself. Those heartfelt and funny emails between friends make his long, lonely work nights manageable. Then he starts to fall for Beth. But after months of not reporting them or finding out who Beth really is, he can't exactly introduce himself. "I'm the guy who reads your email and also I love you." That conversation would be very awkward. Rainbow Rowell has a way with characterization that amazes me. I couldn't help myself but relate to the characters. I really felt for Lincoln and even though you only see Beth through her emails I really did love her character. For such a simple premise Rowell really goes in depth with her characters and make them fully formed personalities and believable people you would want to know. Though it is in many ways a love story it also felt very coming of age. I would definitely recommend! -- recommended by Wyatt P. - Gere Branch Library [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Rainbow Rowell's novel for teens, Eleanor & Park.]

[ official Attachments page on the official Rainbow Rowell web site/blog ]

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Customer Review - Full Moon

Full Moon
by Rachel Hawthorne [YA Hawthorne]

This is a great book. I loved all the romance and havoc. It was really funny and sweet at all the right moments. -- review submitted by Teresa G. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

12 Angry Men (on DVD)

12 Angry Men
[DVD 12]

Perhaps one of the greatest movies ever made. This theatrical release, directed by Sidney Lumet, was released in 1957, and was based on a 1955 stage play, which in turn was based on a 1954 television film -- all written by Reginald Rose. This 1957 film has one of the best casts ever put together for a movie -- headlined by Henry Fonda, but with superb supporting work by Lee J. Cobb, Martin Balsam, E.G. Marshall, Jack Warden, John Fiedler, Jack Klugman, Edward Binns, Joseph Sweeney, Ed Begley, George Voskovec and Robert Webber. The plot, in a nutshell, is that these twelve men are the jurors on a murder trial, and they've been sent away from the courtroom to debate the case and make their decision regarding the guilt or innocence of the accused. All but one of the jurors are set to believe this was an easy case, but Henry Fonda's character has questions -- he's not certain "beyond a reasonable doubt" that the accused is guilty, and his questions begin a lengthy process of each juror re-examining the evidence, the testimonies, and their own preconceptions. Set in the stifling confines of a hot, stuffy jury room, this intense drama pits conflicting opinions and moralities against each other head on, and touches on issues of racism, classism, and the American system of justice. This is an unforgettable production, and although it has more recently been remade in a 1997 TV-movie version (with an equally stellar cast), nothing beats this original. -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the 1997 TV-movie, if you can track it down.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ MGM's official 12 Angry Men web page ]

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Customer Review - Royally Crushed

Royally Crushed
by Niki Burnham [YA Burnham]

The book was pretty good. The plot of the story was something that wasn't everyday but in the midst of it, the main character was going through things that were really relatable. The way that the story was written was really humorous and it was almost as if the main character was talking to you. Although the voice of the main character was funny, she could get kind of whiny, which proved to be fairy annoying. Overall, it was a good book, but it did have its flaws. -- review submitted by Taylor J. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

Murder, She Rode

Murder She Rode
by Holly Menino

Tink Elledge is disappointed that she cannot ride her prized gray horse, Exit Laughing, in the Brandywine, a prestigious three-day equestrian event. She reluctantly turns the reins over to her protégé, Alejandra Delgado, and prepares to watch from the sidelines. A few days before the event a truck accident kills a respected horseman and a promising colt. The young woman riding in the trailer with the colt, Patty McLaren, escapes injury. A few days later Patty, who is Alejandra's roommate, disappears. Menino uses the backdrop of the Brandywine, where the horses go through dressage, cross-country racing and stadium jumping events, for Tink's investigation of Patty's disappearance. This is an excellent debut novel where Menino's love and knowledge of horses and equestrian events shine. -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department

[ official Murder, She Rode page on the official Holly Menino web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Red (on CD)

Red
by Taylor Swift [Compact Disc 781.642 Swi]

This is Taylor Swift's fourth album, and it but remarkably steps out of the "country" genre she is known for. My two most favorite songs on the CD are "We are Never Getting Back Together" and "I Knew You were Trouble." These break-up song titles, inspired the title of the CD in which Swift says all of her emotions which have run rampant the past few years are summarized in the color "red"-- "there is nothing beige about it." The CD overall is great, and I really appreciate Swift's knack for writing her own lyrics-- they're very clever. -- recommended by Jeremiah J. - Bennett Martin Public Library [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Speak Now - Taylor Swift, or Taylor Swift (self-titled album).]

[Also available in vocal selections format.]

[ official Taylor Swift web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Customer Review - Eragon

Eragon
by Christopher Paolini [j Paolini]

The book starts out with a discription of an elf named Arya riding through the forest and she appears to be carring a very important object. A shade, or a bad warlock, named Darza attackes Arya and trys to take the object but she uses magic to transport it far away. On the other side of the country a boy named Eragon is tracking a deer when a burst of blue fire scares the doe away. When the smoke clears he sees an oval shaped blue rock. He goes around trying to find out what it is but no one seems to know. One night the rock began to move and out popped a little baby dragon. As Eragon raised Saphira, his dragon, a local storyteller named Brom started to take a particular intrest in what happened to his rock. After a while the town started to become suspitious of Saphira and two creatures called the Raz'zac came and scared Eragon and Saphira enough to leave. Brom came with them after explaining that he could help. So they set off on a journey to kill the Raz'zac but there are a few complications, Eragon feels compelled to rescure a beautiful elf from a near by town, Brom doesnt think that is a good idea. When they go to resure her Brom is stabbed and a man named Murtagh saves Eragon. After a few days Brom ends up dyeing and since Eragon doesnt know exactly what to do he ends up headed to find the Varden along with Saphira, Murtagh, and the sick elf. It takes a long time but they finally reach the Varden and for some reason Murtagh is put in prison. When Eragon askes why they say its because he is the son of an evil man named Morzan. There is little down time though because almost as soon as they get to the Varden a bunch of creatures called the Urgals attack. The only way the Varden ended up winning was because, with the help of Arya (the elf Eragon had saved) and Saphira, Eragon killed Darza whom seemed to be controling the Urgals. -- review submitted by Whitney L. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

Run Lola Run

Run Lola Run
[DVD Run]

This is an extremely suspenseful (relatively short) German film; Manni has lost 100,000 Deutschmarks to pay off a mob boss and is about to rob a grocery store; it is up to Lola who "runs" to stop him or come up with the money on her own. Three different scenarios play out of how things might go down; at only 81 minutes this film is extremely action packed and will have you on the edge of your seat the whole time. -- recommended by Jeremiah J. - Bennett Martin Public Library [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Downfall, The Counterfeiters, Das Boot (some of the other German films at LCL).]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official Run Lola Run web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Customer Review - The Clique

The Clique
by Lisi Harrison [YA Harrison]

I loved this series. It had humor, drama, romance, and was very captivating. Going into middle school, it was interesting to see how their friendship could overcome so many obstacles and hardships and still stay strong, for the most part, through it all. I loved this series and was sad to see it end. -- review submitted by Peyton M. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

Spider-Man Noir

Spider-Man Noir
by David Hine, Fabrice Sapolsky and Carmine DiGiandomenico

I haven't been following contemporary comics too closely in recent years -- too many reboots of long-standing continuity to allow me to enjoy yet another rehashing of the same old origin story for favorite old characters. But, when I saw Spider-Man Noir, a small graphic novel, on the new books display recently, I was captured by its unique take on the Spider-Man mythos. Instead of simply retelling the story of how Peter Parker got bit by a radioactive spider, lost his Uncle Ben, and took up the life of a web-slinging vigilante in a contemporary setting, Spider-Man Noir throws the action back to the late 1920s/early 1930s era of prohibition, speak-easies, corrupt cops, and reporters out to make names for themselves. Peter's spider abilities are attributed to a mystic curse, and many of his familiar enemies (The Green Goblin, Kraven the Hunter, the Vulture, etc.) are given completely new spins. This multi-issue comic book was compiled into a smaller-than-usual trade graphic novel, with gorgeous illustrations. I loved how the artists managed to capture the visual essence of some of comicdom's most recognizeable characters, but cloaked them in early 20th century clothes and dialog. This title really makes me to read Marvel's other "Noir"-set storylines, but I do wish to complain about the size at which they reproduced this comic-book story. The pages are crammed with lots of details, and lots of lines of dialog, and reproducing it at a smaller-than-expected size makes it much harder to read. None-the-less, I really enjoyed this alternate-history title and recommend it, especially to longtime Spider-Man fans! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the other Marvel "Noir" comics/graphic-novels.]

[ Marvel's official Spider-Man Noir database page ] | [ Wikipedia page for the Marvel Noir saga ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Customer Review - Stolen Children

Stolen Children
by Peg Kehret [YA Kehret]

This book, Stolen Children, is one of my favorite books, because the author shows lots of details. Which makes the readers like me, really feel like we are in the book. I would recommend this book to others because it always has interesting events that happen, and never in this book is it boring. I love this book and I hope others will consider it to be one of their favorites also. -- review submitted by Karlie V.M. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, a New Hope

William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope
by Ian Doescher [791.437 Doe

May the Verse be with you! This book is a re-telling of the Star Wars story (now known as Star Wars IV, A New Hope) in Shakespearian style, or in other words, written in iambic pentameter form. As a fan of both Star Wars and all things Shakespeare, I found this book to be witty, creative and well written. The author's use of well-known Shakespeare monologues as applied to Star Wars is exceptionally clever. The illustrations are also well done. Quoting the book jacket: "This is the book you're looking for." -- recommended by Kim J. - Bennett Martin Public Library [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Star Wars by George Lucas (both the book and movie); Vader's Little Princess by Jeffrey Brown; Hamlet by William Shakespeare (and all other plays by Shakespeare as well).]

[ Publisher's official William Shakespeare's Star Wars web page ] | [ official Ian Doescher web site ] 

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Customer Review - The View From Saturday

The View From Saturday
by E.L. Konigsburg [j Konigsburg]

I really did not this book. For starters, the author spent way to much time on explaining the characters. For another thing, the author kept saying they were going to compete in something but you don't find out until the end and it turns out to be a trivia! The book was also very confusing . It didn't tell you anything you wanted to know but they leave out what you do want to know!!! I strongly DON'T recommend this book to anyone. -- review submitted by Felicity N. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

Haven's Wake

Haven's Wake
by Ladette Randolph

Ladette Randolph, a fifth generation Nebraskan, writes about small town life, love, accidental death, loyalty, conflict, family and tradition. -- recommended by Meredith M. - curator of the Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors [Ladette has written other books, A Sandhills Ballad, and short stories in This is Not the Tropics. She is also the editor of two anthologies, A Different Plain: Contemporary Nebraska Fiction Writers and The Big Empty: Contemporary Nebraska Nonfiction Writers.]

[ official Haven's Wake page on the official Ladette Randolph web site ]

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Two Customer Reviews - Catching Fire

Catching Fire
by Suzanne Collins [YA Collins]

This is the second time I have read Catching Fire, yet I was holding my breath throughout the whole book. I love the plot in this book, because Katniss is torn between marrying Peeta, who loves her but she must act like she loves him also, or choosing Gale, who she is in love with and has known her whole life. Katniss has become the leader of the rebels without her knowing, ever since she had held up those berries at the end of the Hunger Games. Then, Katniss and Peeta end up in the Games again, and have to try to survive. Suzanne Collins is an amazing writer, with spectacular ideas for books. I love how in this book, opposed to The Hunger Games, Katniss becomes a rebel and shows more of her true side throughout the book. -- review submitted by Helen L. - a customer of the Gere Branch Libray


In this second book of the Hunger Games trilogy Katniss and Peeta go on their district tour as they still try to keep up their star-crossed lover status. Everyone is happy until the Quarter Quell comes up. Tributes that have won are being put in the Games once again. Haymitch can't go so Katniss and Peeta train together. When they are in the Capitol Snow keeps a close eye on them. During the interview Peeta "proposes' to Katniss to make them look like they are in love. As the Games approach they meet past winners such as, Johanna Mason and Finnick O'Dair. When they are put in the arena they discover it is like a clock. Then when Katniss blows the force field it goes dark and she is in a helicopter with Gale. He says that Peeta and some of the other tributes had been kidnapped by the Capitol because they did not have time to save them. Then Gale says something that changes Katniss foeever. What is it? Read to find out! -- review submitted by Ashley A. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

Check out the libraries' If You Like...The Hunger Games booklist for additional reading suggestions similar to this title.

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (on DVD)

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
[DVD Hobbit]

I expected a lot from this movie, but it still exceeded my expectations. Martin Freeman, who plays Bilbo, did a wonderful job, as did the rest of the cast. There are some new characters and some returning from the trilogy. As before the music and scenery really contribute to the feel of the story. They have broken the book's story line into three parts, and will again be making three movies. In this first one, Bilbo sets off on an adventure with Gandalf and bunch of dwarves. The dwarves are resolved on re-claiming their home and gold under the Lonely Mountain which had been claimed by the dragon Smaug a few generations before. On this journey Bilbo meets Gollum and finds the One Ring. I highly recommend this movie to anyone. -- recommended by Kristen A. - Gere Branch Library [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The Hobbit : An Unexpected Journey : Official Movie Guide. by Sibley, Brian; Tolkien, J.R.R.]

[Also available in a variety of other formats.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official The Hobbit web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Customer Review - A Spy in the House

A Spy in the House
by W.S. Lee [YA Lee]

The first book in a successful mystery series, A Spy in the House was gripping, as well as having a well-thought-out plot. The mystery was very original, different from the normal robbery or murder that you find in most books, but still full of plot twists and revelations. You will fall in love with the main character, a young woman named Mary Quinn, as she works on her first case. Saved from being hung for robbery at the age of twelve, Mary had been taught at a school for girls who didn't have the chance for a proper education. But when she finishes her school, Mary finds herself hopeless at other careers, and is given the opportunity to investigate crimes as a part of the secretive, women-run organization called The Agency. Her first case leads her to investigate a case of smuggling goods from India. But along the way,she learns even more than she was expecting, not just about the case, but herself and the people around her. -- review submitted by Sammy B. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

The 5th Wave

The 5th Wave
by Rick Yancey [YA Yancey]

The Others have come to Earth and at the dawn of their 5th Wave humanity is in shambles. Cassie is alone, doing what she must to survive. Staying alone is her best option because you can't know who is human and who is Other. Then Cassie meets Evan and she must make her decision to trust or surrender, because Evan is the only one who can help Cassie rescue her brother and herself. Yancey does well at creating palpable tension that had me eagerly turning pages to find out what happened next. I can already see a blockbuster movie being made based on this book and I would gladly be the first in line to see it. This is not only an incredible action story, but Yancey's writing is impeccable. I did have a few issues with the way the story was laid out and thought the twists could have been more surprising, my issues were incomprehensible however in comparison to my vast enjoyment. I eagerly await the sequel and in the meantime will make do (happily) with Yancey's other works, starting with his Monstrumologist series. -- recommended by Wyatt P. - Gere Branch Library

[ official 5th Wave page on the official Rick Yancey web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

The Georgia O'Keeffee Collection

The Georgia O'Keeffe Collection

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way... things I had no words for." -- Georgia O'Keeffe.This timeless collection of paintings and photography is available through our CAMIO Database (Catalog of Art Museum Images Online). O'Keeffe is hailed as the "Mother of American Modernism." Her work explores up-close blossoms, Western American (New Mexico) landscapes and subject matter, as well as some city-scapes and photography as well. Femininity, birth, life, and death are strong themes in her art. I encourage you to explore these timeless pieces of American History, as well as other artists and images CAMIO has to offer. -- recommended by Jeremiah J. - Bennett Martin Public Library [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Georgia O'Keefe (DVD); 759.13's; O'Keeffe: The Life of an American Legend, by Hogrefe.]

[Please note: The CAMIO database is available only while on a terminal that is physically within one of the Lincoln City Libraries.]

[ official Georgia O'Keeffe Musuem web site ] | [ Georgia O'Keeffe: About the Painter site from PBS' American Masters ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Aloha, Lady Blue

Aloha, Lady Blue
by Charley Memminger [Downloadable Audio]

Stryker McBride, a retired crime reporter, lives on his dry-docked houseboat at the plush Bayview Yacht Club, waiting for the one of the elderly members to die so that he can move his boat, the Travis McGee, into one of the coveted boat slips. Meanwhile, McBride and his German Shepards, Kane and Lono, provide security for the club. One day, his old high school classmate, Amber Kam, calls and asks McBride to look into the death of her grandfather. The wealthy old man drowned in six inches of water in a taro patch. Wai Lo Fat's death was ruled an accident but Amber isn't sure. McBride investigates and his journalistic instincts are aroused when he learns that Fat was the second member of a secret Chinese society formed during World War II to die this year. McBride is beaten up for asking too many questions. And one of the biggest gangsters in the islands, Auntie Kealoha requests a meeting. McBride doesn't quit unit he unearths some old and shameful secrets. -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the works of Douglas Corleone.]

[ official Aloha, Lady Blue web site ] | [ official Charley Memminger Twitter feed ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

A Street Cat Named Bob

A Street Cat Named Bob
by James Bowen [Biography Bowen]

James Bowen's recent bestseller is a sweet "animal and their human" tale, that should appeal to anybody who loved the books about Dewey the Library Cat. Bowen was a recovering drug addict barely making a living at busking in the high-traffic areas of London, when he crosses paths with an injured male ginger cat in the hall of his flophouse. Despite attempting to avoid making the connection, Bowen feels drawn to the cat, and takes the stay in, nursing it back to health and finding a new purpose in his own life. In describing his rewarding new relationship with this extraordinary feline, Bowen reconnects with life -- leaving behind the life of a starving street musician and taking on the challenges of a licensed vendor of news magazines. He also reconnects with friends and family from his past and gets completely off of drugs. In his own works, Bob, the street cat, saves Bowen's life. Bob has become something of an internet celebrity, following the posting of some YouTube clips of James and Bob during their street musician days. You can now follow Bob's adventures on Twitter and Facebook, too! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Dewey.]

[ YouTube videos associated with Street Cat Bob ]  

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Customer Review - The Running Dream

The Running Dream
by Wendelin Van Draanen [YA VanDraanen]

I really enjoyed this book. It's very realistic, and it was one of those books which I couldn't put down. I chose this book because it was a Golden Sower, but I also picked it up because it was a realistic fiction book. The title of the book really does reflect on what the book is about. It's about a girl who loses her leg in a tragic car accident, and is gaining confidence to learn how to run again, because she loves running and track, and wants to run again. It's her dream to run again. And she has these 'running dreams' where she is running in her dream, even though she can't in real life. -- review submitted by Amilia B. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

Customer Review - Bad Island

Bad Island
by Doug TenNapel [YA TenNapel]

This book was a graphic novel. It was about a boy, Reese, and his family getting shipwrecked on a mysterious island on a sail boating trip that his dad had planned even though no one wanted to go on it. When they get there, it seems eerie and they find strange things and animals. When they find something like a strange tablet it leads them to a place where everything gets created from. At the beginning it can be a little bit confusing because they start in the middle of a story. It all comes together in the end. Read to find out how! -- review submitted by Ashley A. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

Moonrise Kingdom

Moonrise Kingdom
[DVD Moonrise]

I haven't seen many Wes Anderson films, despite their critically acclaimed status -- I've missed both Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, but did enjoy The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. The the trailers for this one were quirky and attractive so I gave it a shot. Moonrise Kingdom is intensely quirky, filled with odd performances and a twisty plot. I was looking forward to seeing memorable performances from the adult stars, such as Bill Murray and Frances McDormand, but instead it is the youthful first-time actors who really steal the show. Bruce Willis and Edward Norton contribute a lot to the film's appeal, but it is Jared Gilman as Sam and Kara Hayward as Suzy that anchor this oddball film. Part of the film's charm is uncovering the plot as it goes, so it's hard to describe the film without spoiling it a bit. In a nutshell -- it's 1965, and two 12-year-old social outcasts connect, fall in love and run away together, all on a small New England coastal island. Throw in a well-meaning but slightly bumbling cop, two troops of scouts, and a pair of addled, legalese-spouting inattentive parents, and you've got a sweet, weird romantic adventure. -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the other films of Wes Anderson.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official Moonrise Kingdom web site ]

Have you seen this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Customer Review - Falling for Romeo

Falling for Romeo
by Jennifer Laurens [YA Laurens]

I loved it. It was the perfect amount of competition between them, and so sweet all throughout the book when they see eye to eye for a minute and then go back to being prideful. -- review submitted by Teresa G. - a customer of the Gere Branch Library

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site, particularly during the Summer Reading Program. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

Hell or High Water

Hell or High Water
by Joy Castro

This book is more of a psychological study of sex offenders and of the main character, reporter Nola Cespedes than it is a mystery. Nola desperately wants move from writing fluffy social articles to reporting hard news. Her editor finally gives her the chance, and one would think that Nola would jump at it but he practically has to force her take it. He wants her write an article on the problems registered sex offenders have reintegrating into society after being paroled. The parolees come from all walks of life – those who struggle on daily basis to a wealthy man who lives an isolated life with his mother in their garden district mansion. The book spends as much time exploring Nola's psyche as it does on the sex offenders. Nola grew up poor with a single mother and still feels that she does not measure up to her friends who grew up in comfortable middle class homes with two parents. The mystery comes in the form of the search for an au pair who disappeared from a restaurant while dining with her charges and their father. Even though I didn't always like Nola, I felt compassion for her as I kept turning the pages intrigued by the story that unfolded before me. Castro teaches creative writing and literature that the University of Nebraska. The sequel to this book, Nearer Home, will be published soon. -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the works of Hank Phillipi Ryan and Jan Burke.]

[Also available in downloadable audio format.]

[ official Hell or High Water page on the official Joy Castro web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!