ISBN:  0805073337
Pages:  258
Publisher:  Henry Holt

Barbara Covett is a single and rather lonely teacher at St. George’s school.  When Sheba Hart joins that staff as the new pottery teacher, Barbara takes notice of her and anxiously waits for Sheba to notice and become friends with her.  As their friendship develops, unbeknownst to Barbara, Sheba also began a relationship with one of her students, Steven Connolly.  When the affair is discovered and Sheba’s life is turned upside down, Barbara is there to take care of Sheba and chronicle her secrets.

Written as a personal chronicle of scandalous events, Heller presents facts from the narrator, Barbara’s, point of view.  The reader is painted a picture of the steadfast Barbara and often spacey and selfish Sheba.  Some of Barbara’s past is revealed, but ultimately she makes herself out to be some kind of heroine of the narrative.  What makes this such a fascinating read is that Heller leaves the audience hang as to the outcome of events.  It is a novel that makes one look deeper into the circumstances and makes one think deeply about events and the various relationships in the story.  A definite interesting read that will make you think.

Score:  4 out of 5

Library Wars: Love & War, Volume 1 by Kiiro Yumi (Story and Art) and Hiro Arikawa (Original Concept)

Pages: 200

ISBN: 9781421534886

In an alternate Japan, the Library is the last defense against censorship of books.  Iku Kasahara has dreamed of joining the Library Defense Force ever since high school when a treasured book she wanted was saved by a member of the Defense Force.  Now that she is making her dream a reality, it is obvious that she is going to have to work harder than she thought.

An interesting look at what could happen if the government would begin to take an active role in what it’s people were allowed to read.  This is very similar to Fahrenheit 451 (which I recommend reading as well), but it is a story of its own.  The story focuses on Kasahara who is having a somewhat difficult time making her dreams come true.  The characters are well-developed and fleshed out.  I found the story to be a cautionary tale as to what could possibly happen if we allow others to dictate what we read.  This is a great read for young adults and librarians alike.

The art style is not typical of shojo manga as you can tell the difference between the male characters and there are no sparkles or flowers in the background.  There are many close-ups to facial features which aids in character development.  It also guides you to sense what the character is feeling.  While there is not much action, the action that is there is drawn clearly.  The subject matter can be serious, but Yumi is able to add a little comedy to the mix, which adds some playfulness.

Score: 4 out of 5

Kissing Coffins (Vampire Kisses, Book 2) by Ellen Schreiber (2005)

Pages:  176

ISBN: 9780060776220

This installment of the Vampire Kisses series takes off from the end of the first book.  Raven is ecstatic – she has finally found someone like her (goth) and he likes her.  The only problem now is that Alexander has taken off for parts unknown, leaving Raven wondering what exactly is going on.  After doing some digging, Raven discovers that Alexander is in Hpsterville and incidentally she has an aunt living there.  She takes off in search of her love and finds herself in trouble and only Alexander can save her.

It is obvious that this series is four younger teens.  There is little emotional development and depth to the characters.  The exposition is limited and the characters have very shallow emotions.  Schreiber has seen fit to hit us over the head with the fact that Raven is goth and drops punk bands names like no tomorrow.  Kissing Coffins is a quick read with little depth.  However, it is something for the younger Twilight fans to read.

Score: 3 out of 5

The Elusive Bride (Black Cobra Quartet, Book 2) by Stephanie Laurens (2010)

Pages: 464

ISBN: 9780061795152

The second installment of the Black Cobra Quartet follows the journey of Major Gareth Hamilton (for the backstory, see the synopsis for Book 1) and his copy of the letter.  After their brief meeting, both Major Hamilton and Emily Ensworth, niece of the Governor of Bombay, have an instant attraction.  When Emily learns that Major Hamilton has left she does all in her power to discover his destination and beat him there.  What she doesn’t know is that he is on a mission to destroy as many of the Black Cobra cult as possible.  As soon as Major Hamilton espies Emily on the dock, he saves her from certain death.  He decides the only way to keep her safe is for her to join him on his journey north to England.  As they elude danger and political intrigue throughout the middle east, it becomes apparent that they are more than attracted to each other.

While there are many exotic locations and much action, this novel falls short.  The main characters are somewhat unbelievable and annoying at times.  There is plenty of action but the descriptions are too long and one loses interest.  Laurens began each chapter with a journal entry from Emily.  Frankly, I could have done without these entries.  They seemed to make the chapters continue forever and served little purpose.  This book was fairly tedious and not one that I would recommend.

Score: 2.5 out of 5

The Untamed Bride (Black Cobra Quartet, Book 1) by Stephanie Laurens (2009)

Pages: 448

ISBN: 9780061795145

The Governor General of India, Marquess of Hastings, orders five soldiers (Colonel Derek “Del” Delborough, Major Gareth Hamilton, Captain Rafe Carstairs, Major Logan Monteith, and Captain James MacFarlane) in the East India Company to discover and dispatch the leader of a rebel cult, the Black Cobra.  After nearly exhausting their search for proof of the identity of the Black Cobra, Captain MacFarlane discovers, almost by chance, the needed proof while escorting the Governor of Bombay’s niece.  While on their way, the cultists attack and Captain MacFarlane sacrifices himself in order to make sure the proof (a letter)  gets to the right hands.  He enlists the aid of the Governor’s niece who brings the proof to the remaining four officers.  They then make copies of the letter and each set off on different paths to return to England with the proof of the Black Cobra’s identity.

Colonel Delborough is the first to leave with his copy of the letter.  His route takes him directly to London.  Once he arrives at the predisposed inn, he discovers that he has been saddled with escorting Deliah Duncannon to their hometown.  While Del is trying to get out of his escort duty, the Black Cobra’s assassin strikes, but Deliah warns him in time.  Since she has seen, and been seen in return by the assassin, Del decides to take Deliah with him.  Del is surprised to discover that Deliah is quite the ally in his goal in catching the eye of the Black Cobra’s men.  Not only are these two a good team in the field, but in the bedroom as well.

Since this is the first book in the series, there is some backstory to get through. Once the main character begins his journey, we are treated to a cookie-cutter plot, especially if you have read other novels by Laurens.  The main characters are somewhat interesting and fleshed out, but at times become predictable.  If you have read any of the Cynster or Bastian Club novels, then be prepared for the onslaught of visiting characters.  Overall, a decent read with some action (both in and out of the bedroom) and some tender moments.

Score: 3.5 out of 5

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (2008)

Pages: 320

ISBN: 9780060530921

Nobody “Bod” Owens is a normal boy who happens to live in a graveyard.  When Bod was a baby, his family was murdered and the graveyard he wandered into decided to take him in as one of their own.  The man responsible for his family’s deaths is still out there and looking for him.  Bod continues to walk in the strange place between the living and the dead while having many adventures and misadventures alike.

This series of short stories is nothing short of magical.  From the start Gaiman sucks you into the supernatural world that Nobody Owens inhabits.  Even though the majority of the characters are dead, they are vibrantly alive in the reader’s imagination.  The graveyard itself is a vividly dark character that seems to beckon you.  While the narrative is essentially a retelling of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, it is an emotional story of its own that shows you how wonderful it truly is to be alive.

The audio book, narrated  by Gaiman himself, is absolutely fantastic.  He has given each character their own voice and sends your imagination souring.  This really is an audio book that should be heard.  To get a sample of what it sounds like, here is Neil Gaiman reading the first chapter of the book during his book tour.

The Graveyard Book won the 2009 Newbery Medal, the 2009 Hugo Award for Best Novel, and the Carnegie Medal in 2010.

Score: 5 out of 5

Pages: 384

ISBN: 9781439101070

Julia Miller and Richard Allen despise each other… and are also betrothed and have been since they were small children. In order to get out from his father’s thumb, Richard left England nine years ago and never looked back. Since no one has seen or heard from Richard Allen in over nine years, Julia decides it is time to get on with her life and have him declared dead. There is just one problem – Richard is very much alive and has returned to England to declare his love for another woman. Richard is discovered (and then beaten) by his love’s husband and consoles himself with a beautiful woman. Unfortunately, it happens to be the woman he hates most in the world. After circumstances pull the two together, will they dwell in the past or let their future begin?

In the first part of the novel, we are given the back story to why these people hate each other so. It was tedious to get through and the story, for me, didn’t really begin towards the middle. Once it did though I really started to enjoy the characters and become more interested in the outcome. Overall, this was an okay read with decent characters, but not something that you must read. If you are a fan of Lindsey or have read the other Mallory books, then this is for you.

Score: 3.5 out of 5

Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1 by Stephenie Meyer (Story) and Young Kim (Art) (2010)

Pages: 224

ISBN: 9780759529434

Isabella “Bella” Swan decides to move back with her father, Charlie, to a town in the Pacific Northwest. Once she gets back to Forks, she remembers why she preferred to be in Phoenix. While attempting to adjust to her new school and new people, she has an interesting run in with the Cullen family, specifically with Edward. She is completely fascinated by him and apparently he can’t stand her. Over time, the two develop a friendship that seems to be more.

This manhwa (Korean manga or comics) adaptation of the wildly popular Twilight saga had much to live up to, and did. The images were stunning and breathtaking. Young Kim’s beautiful art style brought the tale to life much better than the Hollywood movies. Kim conveyed the emotions brewing between the surface with subtle color and lines. For a better look into the artist, check out his interview with Twilight News.  My main issue with the novel was the typesetting and speech bubbles.  It really seemed to hinder my enjoyment of the beautiful art and made it someone difficult to read at times.

I cannot recommend this book enough. The art was beautiful and even though I know the story, I couldn’t turn the pages faster to see what was going to happen.

Score: 4 out of 5

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer (2010)

Pages: 192

ISBN: 9780316125581

In this short story, we are given a closer look into the brief life of Bree Tanner and the events surrounding the creation of the vampire army from Eclipse. Stephanie Meyer fleshes out the characters of the vampire army, including Bree Tanner. This story opens up with Riley creating his vampire army of newborns and concludes with the aftermath of the battle between the Cullens and Victoria.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner is a quick, enjoyable read. The tone and rhythm of the text is similar to the Twilight series. My main issue is that there was no break in the text. It was difficult to be able to find a place to stop for a break.  This is something a little extra for the fans, definitely worth a look at your local library.

Score: 3 out of 5

Pages: 294

ISBN: 9780312965686

Description: In Cornwall, England, three members of the same family have suddenly died. Among the dead is Olivia, the reclusive writer whose war poetry gave Ian Rutledge a handhold on sanity while he fought in the trenches of France. Although no evidence indicates foul play, a concerned and influential relative suspects that the deaths are actually murders, and she convinces Scotland Yard to send someone for a thorough investigation. Rutledge’s rival, Bowles, sees the Cornwall incident as an opportunity to get the shell-shocked World War I veteran away from London, where a recent Ripper-style killing spree promises celebrity for the detective who can crack the case.

Accompanying the Inspector to Cornwall is Rutledge’s constant “companion” Hamish, the young Scot whom he unwillingly had to execute on the battlefield and whose tormenting voice sounds in Rutledge’s head, forcing him to face unpleasant truths.

Review: Inspector Ian Rutledge returns to London still fighting his own demons. Scotland Yard is on an all out manhunt for a Ripper copycat. In order to get the glory for himself, Bowles sends Rutledge out on the case in Cornwall to keep Rutledge out of the way in London. When Rutledge arrives to Cornwall, the case seems pretty straight forward. A double suicide and an accident. What really shocks him is that one of the suicides happens to be the author of the poems that got him through the war. As he makes more inquiry’s, Rutledge discovers there is more to this case than meets the eye. Will the town recover from the revelations made and will Rutledge ruin the one person that helped get him through the horrible war?

This was a more emotional book that I had anticipated. I was able to connect to the characters as a large part of the book dwells on people returning and changing from war. Although I myself have not been to war, I am a military spouse and have sent my husband to war. There are changes that people go through and I felt that Todd really captured those feelings. Another big part of the book was how appearances (especially in the family) are deceiving and how families deal with their secrets. I couldn’t put the book down as it completely captivated me. The characters are beautifully written and very much believable. I cannot wait to get the next book in the series. A must read.

Score: 4.5 out of 5