A Very Mercy Christmas

 By Kate DiCamillo

Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen

Junior Easy

Reviewed by Julie from the Altona Branch

    A Very Mercy Christmas is a children's picture book new to SCRL just in time for Christmas.

    What first caught my eye was the illustrations. I love detailed, bright colorful pages and this book certainly didn't disappoint.

    Stella Endicott feels joyful and wants to go caroling but can't find anyone to go with her.  One by one, everyone refuses her request to join her. Everyone that is, except Mercy Pig and General Washington, the cat.  Eventually Stella asks the question, "Do you think just one person can carol?"  As it turns out, one person with joy can touch a lot of lives and something miraculous can happen on Deckawoo Drive.

    Read this book with your children/grandchildren and talk about what brings you joy!

To place this book on hold, click here.

Where Oliver Fits

 By Cale Atkinson

Junior Easy

Reviewed by Nicole from the Winkler Branch

    Oliver is a little puzzle piece who is looking for the place where he fits in.  He sets out on a journey to discover his place. Will it be with the blues and reds or with the square pieces?  It seems no matter where Oliver tries, he can't find his place, so he decides to try to change his appearance so he can fit in.  Even with his altered appearance, he still struggles to find his place.  Will he realize he's the happiest and can find where he fits in when he's himself?  This is a sweet story about discovering who you are and where you fit in when you embrace being your true self.

To place this book on hold, click here.

The Book of Dust

 By Philip Pullman   

Book One in La Belle Sauvage Series

Young Adult Fiction

Reviewed by Cathy-SCRL Director

    I read the 'His Dark Materials' series by Philip Pullman a few years ago and when I discovered 'The Book of Dust', I realized I missed the whole beginning of Lyra's life.  It was kind of like starting a movie halfway through. I had lots of ah-ha moments!

    I loved the main character, Malcom.  he was a kind, gentle boy who had a love of learning and a good heart.  He felt drawn to baby Lyra, who was being cared for by nuns.  When a terrible flood happened, Malcolm saved Lyra from both the water and the dangerous people who were trying to harm her.  The tension of their escape was scary and exhilarating.  The fact that Lyra is alive does not ruin the story but sets the stage for the following books and series by this author.

To place this book on hold, click here.

Cape

By Kate Hannigan

Junior Fiction

Book 3 in The League of Secret Heroes series

Reviewed by Janine from the Winkler Branch

    Set during World War Two, Cape features Josie, a young woman obsessed with superheroes and puzzles, who wishes she could do something to help with the war effort.  While working at a diner to help her mom make ends meet while her dad is off fighting in the war, Josie decides to try out for a position as a puzzler in an effort to do something useful.  Josie's test is rejected, however, she meets two other girls, Akiko and Mae, and they are soon bonding over their love of comic books and superheroes.  The girls want to do what they can to help and they soon discover that they all have superpowers and they become the newest (and youngest) superheroes, ready to do what they can  

    Cape was inspired by real women from World War Two, the ENIAC Six, who helped usher in the modern computer age.  Originally, the women had been using their math skills to help plot the trajectory of bullets, but with the inception of the ENIAC (considered the world's first electronic, digital, general-purpose computer), the problems could be calculated much faster. This required the women to learn programming, figuring out different methods for getting the results they needed. Their top secret project soon became a target for German spies, but Jose, Mae and Akiko are ready to help save the day.

    Cape is a fast paced novel perfect for anyone who likes superheroes, alternate retellings of history, or wants to learn more about World War Two.  Some of the chapters are written in the comic book style, which helps move the story along. I liked that the author provided some of the actual history at the end of the book, as well as recommended resources.

To place this book on hold, click here.

Born Survivors

 

By Wendy Holden

Adult Non-Fiction

Reviewed by Michelle from the Altona Branch

    Born Survivors tells the true and awful story of three women, all newlyweds and newly pregnant.  They are shipped to Auschwitz during WWII and what they endured there during their pregnancies was nothing short of horrible.  Starved and half dying, all three mothers give birth while incarcerated and, miraculously, all three infants survive to adulthood.

    The endurance of the human spirit is perfectly captured in this amazing book!

To place this book on hold, click here.