This is an exceptional story of France during the Nazi occupation, seen through the eyes of a young blind girl. With superb plotting and compelling characters, this is hands down my favorite read for 2014.
~ Susan, Tim, John
Innovative, engrossing, and a great story, this is one of the finest science fiction novels I've read in years. ~ Tim
When my fellow bookseller, Andrew, told me to read this book, I was a little skeptical at first. I don't usually read about pirates, but I do love to read about food and this turned out to be a winner! Full of action and romance and unusual food! ~ Alison (also recommended by Andrew)
This is the first volume of a mystery trilogy taking place in Belfast during The Troubles. The central character—a Catholic, college-educated Detective Inspector in the Royal Ulster Constabulary—is an enigma to his colleagues. His first big case is a highly political string of murders that rattles the Ulster mafia and challenges the prevailing religious and social morés of both Ian Paisley and the Pope. A compelling, provocative read! ~ Susan
As this brilliant, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel opens, young Theo survives a New York City terrorist attack that kills his mother and leaves him tormented. In the next few years he journeys from the upper echelons of New York society to the suburbs of Las Vegas, and finally to Amsterdam. As he tries to adapt to each new situation, all the while shielding a secret from the day of the attack, the plot centers on his trauma, longing and regret. A frantic and tense climax creates a path of redemption for Theo. Unforgettable characters, great attention to detail, exquisite writing, and a grand scope combine to make this a rare literary treat. ~ Jane
In this old-fashioned mystery set in a creaky old house at the top of a steep hill, Milo and his family are settling in for a quiet Christmas when unexpected guests start arriving at their smuggler’s inn. Milo solves the puzzle with the help of his new friend, Meddy, and her role-playing game which lets him use detective skills he didn’t even know he had. Perfect for fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society! Ages 10-13. ~ Alison
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This is the first book in a magnificent fantasy series, which takes place during the Napoleonic Wars, with the key exception that dragons have been a part of society for a long time. A British Naval captain accidentally captures a dragon egg. Once born, the dragon will accept no one else, and from there a grand adventure begins. Novik has captured the feel of 19th century literature without the denseness, and the sheer amount of thought she’s put into her altered history is both evident and amazing. It’s a thoroughly researched and wholly entertaining series. ~ Jo
The incredible, sometimes heartbreaking story of Noah and Jude, who are twins, is told in alternating voices with powerful, emotional language and multiple plot twists and turns. This one will stay with me for a long time. Amazing! Ages 14 & up. ~ Alison (Also recommended by Victoria)
Winner of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award, this is an utterly absorbing, heartbreaking, and beautiful novel. ~ Tim
ruin the story. Ove is a curmudgeon and a grump whose life is suddenly interrupted by boisterous new neighbors: Pregnant Parveneh and her husband Patrick who, Ove notes, can’t even back up a trailer successfully. Ove is cantankerous. He has no patience with imperfection. He snaps at pleasantries. He rages against those who ignore the rules. And he’s an absolute delight. This is my favorite novel so far this year. ~ Ann
The first Mars landing has been aborted and all but one person has made it off the planet. Mark Watney is alone on Mars. It’s dark, cold, airless, and chances are he will die long before anyone even thinks to look for him. But the human spirit is strong, even on Mars, and Mark won’t give up easily. This sci-fi novel is funny and smart and full of great science. ~ René
This novel is nothing less than a stubborn, joyful, life-saving journey from the author of the fabulous Mink River. (The protagonist here, Declan, was glimpsed in that novel). I did not want to leave this book at the last page. Magical realism with characters that sing to your heart! ~ Victoria
Plunging into this ambitious, amazingly researched novel, I was not of this century but part of the great age of discovery and debate. In 1800s America, plain Alma Whittaker becomes a scientist by absorbing vast quantities of knowledge through her father's gardens, greenhouses, and collections of botanical art and scientific journals. She creates a fulfilling career for herself while studying the wonders of life, and her character grows in depth with her profound knowledge. Gilbert touches on the themes of a deeper spirituality and psycho-sexuality, creationism versus evolution, and the revelations of Darwin's Origin of the Species. This is a grand read, an adventure into a more innocent era and a thought-provoking experience that I enjoyed immensely. ~ Julie (Also recommended by Jane)
You don't need a ticket to Peru to enjoy this refreshingly candid, humorous yet very informative account of exploration in the land of the Inca. The author, a city creature, keeps us smiling as he struggles in the footsteps of Hiram Bingham, the original “discoverer” of Machu Picchu in 1911. Along the way we get a vivid feel for life on the trail in cloud forest and jungle, along breathtaking peaks and ridges, and among the ruins themselves. Adams leavens the narrative with history, politics, customs and culture, making for a very balanced and fascinating introduction to this magical part of the world. ~ John
This is a book full of scenarios that illustrate science in the best possible way. Munroe picks weird and impractical questions from an assortment of submissions and thinks them through logically, applying science to both informative and hilarious effect. Whether you have an hour or ten minutes, there’s something here to entertain. The science is thorough, the questions absurd, and the stick-figure illustrations whimsical. The combination is absolutely worth picking up. ~ Jo