The Name Of This Book Is Secret

 Author: Pseudonymous Bosch (pen name of Raphael Simon)

Junior Fiction

Volume 1 in the Secret Series

Reviewed by Mikaela-Summer Reading Programmer

Rating: ⅘ scoops of mint chocolate chip ice cream

Review:

This book truly goes out to the kids (and adults) with habitually overactive imaginations. The Name of This Book Is Secret is written in a style reminiscent of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, through the framing of a narrator who constantly breaks the fourth wall- a whole chapter is blacked out “for our own protection”- which is a further testament to the author’s dedication to feeding into imagination. It’s through this elaborate framing device we meet Cass, an eleven-year-old girl best known for her constant survivalist prepping, and sort-of friend Max-Ernest, a boy who cuts all of his hairs the exact same length so as to not leave any out.

Our preteen protagonists are thrown into a world of mystery, history, and the unknown by way of discovering a magician’s abandoned tome- along with the evil Ms. Mauvais and Dr. L who seek the book for their own nefarious purposes.

I don’t want to give away too much- this story is layered with twist after turn, and despite its junior fiction categorization it’s an exciting read for all ages. There’s a whimsy Bosch has brought to the world, one that I appreciated as a middle schooler, and now as an adult. Read this book, for your own good!

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A Gentleman in Moscow

By Amor Towles

Adult Fiction

Reviewed by Cathy-SCRL Director

    Just imagine being sentenced for life to live in the servants quarters of an elegant Moscow hotel as pert of your house arrest for being a Russian aristocrat. This story tells of a Count who adapts to his circumstances and becomes part of the society of staff who run the hotel.  Both poignant and at times, humorous, it is a peek into the bizarre Bolshevik mentality in the early 1900's.

    I enjoyed this book as it was about relationships, both good and bad, great food and excellent wine.  It was an educational experience to read about the daily struggles of the average Russian.  I would highly recommend it if you enjoy cultured history.

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A Piece of the Moon

 By Chris Fabry

Adult Fiction-Inspirational

    An eccentric millionaire hides his fortune of silver, gold, and cash in the hills of West Virginia, using only a few Bible verses to lead to the treasure.  Many people, eager to obtain the cash, spread out across the hills in an attempt to discover the hiding place.

    In the small town of Emmaus, Waite Evers and TD Lovett have much more pressing matters to attend to and are not interested in the hunt for treasure.

    When a friend of Lovett's disappears, he is drawn into the search, trying to decipher the Bible clues to help him solve the puzzle.  Then, government agents and the millionaire's estranged son arrive in town and TD begins to suspect that there is a much more costly piece to the treasure that no one was expecting.

    A heart-warming thrill of a read, this book combines mystery, Christianity, and country. Chris Fabry weaves an excellent tale of what true treasure really is.

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Keeper of the Lost Cities

 By Shannon Messenger    

Junior Fiction-Fantasy

    Keeper of the Lost Cities is a book about a girl named Sophie Foster.  Sophie lived in the "human world" until an elf named Fitz (who thinks Sophie's hot) came and told her that she in an elf. She did not believe him, so Fitz proved it to her by bringing her to the elvin world, where she was then forced to live.

    As it turns out, a group of bad guys called 'The Neverseen' are after some secret information that was planted in Sophie's head.  Will she survive? Find out in Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger.

    I enjoyed this book because it had many problems that I relate to. I absolutely love how her friendships evolve, especially her friendship with Keefe.  If you love fantasy, you will love this book.

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