Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine – Of Books and Libraries
Have you noticed the tendency of authors to focus on books and reading? Take The Reader by Traci Chee as an example of this self-reflective preoccupation. This is not surprising given that writing and books, and readers and reading, are at the center of an author’s life. However, there are others for whom books are
The Detective’s Assistant by Kate Hannigan
The Detective’s Assistant was inspired by the life of Kate Warne (1833-1868), who is credited as being the first professional female detective in the United States. She worked for the Pinkerton Detective Agency in Chicago and was instrumental in uncovering the Baltimore Plot; a plot by secessionist to assassinate president-elect Abraham Lincoln. Author Kate Hannigan
Flesh & Bones by Paul Levine
I very much enjoyed listening to Flesh & Bones by Paul Levine. It is a fun story about a lawyer, Jake, who takes a case defending a model, Chrissy. Jake is a former pro football player turned lawyer and Chrissy is an international fashion model. After too much booze and drugs as well as a series of bad
Worth by A. LaFaye
Farming in the late 1800s was backbreaking work full of uncertainties. Worth describes the difficulties of farming, the fragility of life, and the conflict between farmers and ranchers for land during the pioneer years. Nathaniel Peale, 11, lives on a Nebraska homestead with his parents. He takes pride in the way he is able to
Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick
This is an especially timely book; Texas and Florida are still reeling from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Zane and the Hurricane captures many of the difficult situations that people face before, during and after a hurricane. Zane Dupree travels from New Hampshire to New Orleans to get to know his great-grandmother and to see where
Crow by Barbara Wright
I did say I was presenting only one book per state, but once I listened to Crow I knew I had to include it as well. Crow tells the story of the only successful coup d’état in US history; the only time a non-elected group overthrew a legally elected government. Eleven-year-old Moses lives in a
The Lawyer by John Ellsworth – Promising but Falls Short
The Lawyer by John Ellsworth is a legal thriller that takes place in Chicago and features a criminal attorney, Michael Gresham, who ends up being played by one of his clients. The story has a few unexpected twists and Michael negotiates his relationship with his ex-wife, the people he is defending, the FBI, a Mexican cartel,
Stella by Starlight by Sharon Draper
*Stella Mills’ character is loosely based on the author’s grandmother who grew up in a small, segregated African-American town similar to the fictional town of Bumblebee. Like the protagonist in the story, Sharon Draper’s grandmother enjoyed writing by moonlight. Narrator Heather Alicia Simms’s rich and expressive voice is a perfect match for Stella by Starlight.
Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm
There are so many good audiobooks that take place in historical Florida! Many of the books I’ve listened to so far are serious in tone and deal with important but tough issues. This laugh-out-loud book was a nice change of pace. Note: Full of Beans is a prequel to Jennifer Holm’s Newbery Honor book Turtle
The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich
The Birchbark House is the first in a 5 book series written by master storyteller Louise Erdrich and inspired by her own family’s history. The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich follows 7-year-old Omakayas and her family throughout a calendar year, season by season. We meet Nokomis, her beloved grandmother; Deyday, her father who is a
Unbound: A Novel in Verse by Ann E. Burg
Many books about slavery mention the Underground Railroad as an aid to helping slaves reach the northern states which had abolished slavery. Unbound is interesting since it focuses on people who escaped slavery but who did not make it to the north. In doing research for her novel, Ann Burg referenced Born in Slavery: Slave
Countdown by Deborah Wiles
The audiobook Countdown by Deborah Wiles is amazing! It includes actual radio and television news clips, snippets of popular songs, and excerpts from famous speeches. Realistic sound effects have been added to really bring the story to life. This was the second book I listened to for the Audiobook Tour. Countdown, the first book in the